Pump and heater wiring causing: Water sw open error (2024)

D

Dave C In Ontario

Well-known member
Feb 16, 2021
48
Courtice, Ontario, Canada
Pool Size
13400
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
  • Jun 16, 2021
  • Add bookmark
  • #1

My automation panel is still on order, so my electrician temporarily brought main power from my panel, to a disconnect box ( similar to what you'd have for an air conditioner ) Anyway both my intelliflo vsf and raypak 266k heater is powered from that box.
again this is supposed to be temporary until I get my panel.
The heater is throwing Water sw open errors because when the pump stops.. there is nothing except the heaters flow switch to stop the heater.
Should I just run my pump 24/7 at 41 gpm flow so there is always enough flow for heater..
How do people usually do this?
I am trying to run a schedule ( basically run for 8 hours.. off for 5. run 7..off for 4.
If you try to use the internal scheduling of the pump.. how do you control the heater to be in sync..
Or can I just rely on the flow sensor switch in the heater ... that seems wrong to me...

Jimrahbe

Mod Squad

TFP Expert

LifeTime Supporter

Jul 7, 2014
34,322
Bedford, TX
  • Jun 16, 2021
  • Add bookmark
  • #2

Dave,

Why are you worried about the heater errors.. As long as the heater is not running without water there is no real issues.

Personally, I see no value in turning your pump on and off during the day. My suggest is to run it for whatever time you want to run it and have it off the rest of the time..

So.. if you want to run it 12 hours a day, run it for 12 hours and then have it off for 12 hours..

I have a SWCG, so I run my pump 24/7, because I like to make a little chlorine all the time and skim all the time. But.. I don't have a heater so I can run at a pretty low RPM. I am not much of a fan of running in the VF mode..

Thanks,

Jim R.

D

Dave C In Ontario

Well-known member
Feb 16, 2021
48
Courtice, Ontario, Canada
Pool Size
13400
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
  • Jun 16, 2021
  • Add bookmark
  • #3

Jimrahbe said:

Dave,

Why are you worried about the heater errors.. As long as the heater is not running without water there is no real issues.

Personally, I see no value in turning your pump on and off during the day. My suggest is to run it for whatever time you want to run it and have it off the rest of the time..

So.. if you want to run it 12 hours a day, run it for 12 hours and then have it off for 12 hours..

I have a SWCG, so I run my pump 24/7, because I like to make a little chlorine all the time and skim all the time. But.. I don't have a heater so I can run at a pretty low RPM. I am not much of a fan of running in the VF mode..

Thanks,

Jim R.

My original schedule has the heater running at night at just the lowest speed. I live with woods 4 feet from the pool edge..and get a ton of insects pollen, a few leaves.. so I like the constant skim as well. The Day time run at 41 gpm is to allow the heater to run.(min. heater flow is 40)
I lost 12 degrees on my pool temp by having it off just 18 hours yesterday. (down to 50 degrees f last night)
so the day time run is really for me to be able to get in some warmer water when done work.
Anyway, the error code is saying that the heater was not getting water so shutdown..I just thought relying on a safety sensor might be bad.. as the heater gets abruptly shutdown and doesn't have water flow to cool it.
So I was just wondering, is this just the normal way for the heater to be stopped for those without automation panels?
I'm okay with error codes, If they don't mean I'm shortening the life of the heater.
But, if it's normal or no big deal, I'll just go back to the schedule. Thanks..still learning.

Jimrahbe

Mod Squad

TFP Expert

LifeTime Supporter

Jul 7, 2014
34,322
Bedford, TX
  • Jun 16, 2021
  • Add bookmark
  • #4

Dave,

Instead of just having the pump shut off, I'd have another schedule that ran the pump at a slower RPM, to the heater stops working, but there is still plenty of water passing through the pump for half an hour or an hour.. That will be plenty of time to cool the heater down.

Or you could run fast enough to run the heater in the day time and slower for just skimming at night..

Thanks,

Jim R.

  • Pump and heater wiring causing: Water sw open error (3)

Reactions:

Dave C In Ontario

D

Dave C In Ontario

Well-known member
Feb 16, 2021
48
Courtice, Ontario, Canada
Pool Size
13400
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
  • Jun 17, 2021
  • Add bookmark
  • #5

Jimrahbe said:

Dave,

Instead of just having the pump shut off, I'd have another schedule that ran the pump at a slower RPM, to the heater stops working, but there is still plenty of water passing through the pump for half an hour or an hour.. That will be plenty of time to cool the heater down.

Or you could run fast enough to run the heater in the day time and slower for just skimming at night..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks Jim, I like that suggestion..always end a heater schedule with a 20 minute low rpm schedule.

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