September of last year, after doing a lot of research, I purchased a IntelliFlo VF. At that point in time it seemed the right decision, but now, I do not think so.

I have a 20 year old Anthony pool/spa, with the origional Anthony heater and large DE filter. I figure it at about 13,000 GAL. All these years it had a 2HP rated pump. It also has a Polaris with the booster pump. Every thing controlled with mechanical timers.

At the end of last year, I installed solar. The solar was installed with no automation. Wanted to see how the system would react with the solar installed using the new VF pump.

So the two additions to the system were the IntelliFlo VF and the solar. Between priming and the running of the pump, it would run fine some of the time, but most of the time the pump did not like any combination of primming and running in the filter mode.

The pump works perfect in the manual mode, 100% of the time. With or without solar in the system.

The pool has basically been shut down since late last year. Now I would like to add automation, but the IntelliFlo VF is now the problem.

I have had many calls into Tech support, last year and now again this year, and they say they will swap out my speed drive for a 4/160 one. After paying for the VF model I really do not want to do this.

My question is this: After reading a couple of posts, I get the impression that the SunTouch will control my VF model as if it were a 4/160 connected through the com port of the SunTouch. I have not asked Pentair this question, but if in fact this will work, I would like to go in this direction.

My automation needs are pretty basic as it is an older pool, and when I purchased the VF model it was mainly Energy conservation, and to be able to control the speed, and it was is stand alone pump.

Does anyone know if this is a true statement, that the SunTouch will control my VF model as a 4/160 without swapping out the speed drive????

Thanks in advance

I just found your response to a thread in Febuary, where you stated that.

If during the summer months I wanted to use the SunTouch for mainly Solar, and a couple of other things and control my VF as a VS. Then during the winter months use the pump back as a VF stand alone like it was designed. How is that accomplished?? Just unplug the comm cable?? And it lets the speed/motor drive take back over? Or is there more to it than that?

Thanks in advance

When resetting the pump, you are entering a back door menu on the programming and tweaking some settings. All very normal but if it were meant for daily use, it would be in the book.

Yes the RS485 is a very good standard to exchange data with 2 wires up to about 4000 feet, being able to take care of noisy situations along the way. The standard is used quite a bit for controlling sound at large events, air plane cabins, manufacturing etc. It is amazing today what a little software, can do. And just sending the signal over 2 wires. Pretty neat.
Years ago it was all hardware control, today it is all about software.

I understand what you are telling me in regards to messing things up. Part of what I do is developing database software, so I am well aware of what you are telling me.

Could I email you separate?

Regards

I am not sure if you got my separate email, sent from the member page yesterday?

Regards

Have I got this right , it seems a fairly simple work around but no one seems to have mentioned it before so maybe Iam missing something ??

thanks Dave

What did you find out about your Suntouch and your VF. I downloaded the new manual for the Suntouch, and showes menu items for setting the VF. Suntouch did not have this option before now. Did you get your VF going with the menu options in the new Suntouch?

Thanks