Jandy TCX Automation Homeowner Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- We recently had an in-ground pool installed and as part of it I selected a suite of Jandy equipment that included the newer TCX automation solution.
This is our 2nd pool on the first one I installed the Aqualink RS-4 after the fact and it worked well but was excessive for pool that didn't include water features, or a Spa. Therefore this time I went with the more compact less feature rich offering to not over design the automation.
The following paragraph was my (user) error, while using the 2-wire interface you are supposed to set the heat pump to be higher than your app controller set point. This was not stated in the manual, or the Aqualink app which is what led to my confusion. The only real issue with the TCX that I have encountered is heatpump control is not ideal and relies on you setting the heatpump set point higher than you would on your app to allow for the app to properly control it. Eventually they say the through a software update the 4-wire RS485 interface to the Heatpump will be enabled.
Some particulars of the build:
* This is an 18x38 rectangle pool with a 6' integrated bench in the shallow end.
* The equipment is all Jandy Pro-Series:
* VS FloPro 1.85HP pump
* CV460 Cartridge filter,
* VersaTemp JRT3000R Heatpump,
* TruClear Salt Chlorinator,
* FlowVis FV-2 flowmeter,
* Jandy 24W Watercolor RGB LED's
* Jandy TCX automation solution
Pool professional from SW FL
That is awesome you got a flow vis to dial in perfect rpm for the system
Way to take advantage of the system to your benefit
I spent 20mins trying to find literature on if it can control salt via rs485
Few mins in your video I found my answer
clean wiring good job
I'm a pool professional in Phoenix AZ. If you're the homeowner, then damn you've got a great amount of knowledge behind your equipment. Cheers to you.
Thank you!
How long does it take your heater to reach the desired temperature?
Quite a while maybe 5 degree F per day (12 hour run-time) - I asked a similar question on trouble free pool forum about optimal water flow to maximize temp rise. The answers were very informative regarding cost of operating the heatpump and variable speed pump is a major consideration whereas speed by which it raises temp is really environmental (outdoor temp, water temp). What I've seen is ~0.5 degree F per hour is reasonable with outdoor temps in the 70 F. I run the variable speed pump at 1950 RPM which equatesto ~44 GPM through the heater minimize electrical cost of the pump and staying in a reasonable flow zone for the heatpump. We previously had a Jandy JXI 400 gas heater on our last pool and it was considerably faster to raise the temp but also incredibly costly. If it was free I would add a gas heater to our setup to rely on two fuel sources to keep the pool running longer in the fall, and earlier in the spring.
Is it recommended to have a check valve before the salt cell to prevent damage to the heat pump?
Yes - Great catch on the video. It was plumbed backwards initially and I didn't notice till a few weeks in and the pool company came back and re-plumbed it correctly. Salt cell following the check valve to limit back fed highly chlorinated water into the heater. I should make a new video this summer and correct my mistake in understanding on how the 2-wire thermostat control over the heatpump works, and maybe switching over to 4-wire if Jandy updates TCX to accommodate.
Nice rundown! Is the Zigbee switch a special outdoor unit or is it a regular Zigbee switch in an outdoor rated enclosure?
It is a normal zigbee switch in an outdoor enclosure - I can't recall but I believe the installation instructions are for an indoor installation. In our case since everything is off of the phone it didn't need to be indoors.
Does your pool lights not have a GFCI? Or does the Zigby switch work as one?
I believe that circuit runs to a GFCI breaker in my pool sub-panel. I could check but this is my quick answer.
@@russelms01 where’s the sub panel? Your running the lights with its own line right? And then it just contests via blue tooth to automation
Sub-panel is to the left of the pool setup inside the house, on the opposite side of the wall seen in the video. Yes directly wired via its own breaker. The automation communicates via Zigby with the switch which toggles the switch on and off quickly to set the specified light color. The switch is wired into the transformer sitting above it in the video, If I recall that's a 12/15V 300W transformer.
I have a somewhat similar setup as this video but smaller. My light is on a separate breaker that is GFCI. Just replaced the normal switch with a Meross switch that is HomeKit compatible. I have it on schedule to turn on at sunset and off at 11. And can use Siri to turn on/off. Of course can use the physical switch to do the same or toggle colors.
Do you know if the tcx will control a valve actuator?
Yes, It has one valve actuator control line. While I don’t have a actuator it could be added later.
Hey I just got my TCX installed. My heater is also hooked up using the 2 wire thermostat connection. It works fine to control the temperature manually but I can’t add the heater to the schedule. Only the pump shows in the schedule menu. Does yours act the same way? If so that’s a huge bummer since the TCX is advertised as having scheduling.
Yes that is correct mine is the same only the filter pump in the scheduling section. I had thought last year that more app updates with functionality changes would occur but honestly nothings changed in 6+ months, i.e. like enabling 4-wire heater control. My approach is I watch the outdoor temperature and occasionally adjust my schedule if operating the heater past 9pm is economic (outside temps >70F). One other detail is if you have a salt water generator (I have Jandy TruClear) and you set that to Boost it will override the schedule and run the pump for the 24 hrs and in turn the heater will operate during that time outside of the schedule. Good luck getting everything just right feel free to share if you discover any bugs, or tips. So far on our 2nd season I am still very happy with TCX and its functionality.
Hello from Baldwinsville. LPS is coming to install our new pool next week. I am considering adding the tcx system with a similar setup (besides heater). Did you buy the Tcxp kit with the new housing or the conversion kit and a switch? From what I can see the conversion kit would likely work, but I can't find the light switch for the jandy pool lights. Any thoughts?
@@toddschuler399 I purchased the kit which included the light switch if I recall correctly. Also one finding since the video is the Nature2 Fusion Saltwater generator is compliant with automation and works like the TruClear I had before. Thus far this season it’s worked perfectly.
@@russelms01thank you! Looking forward to getting it. Thank you for the video!
What does the app look like?
Short of taking a picture of my app and posting it I found this online which looks nearly identical to my setup except it has more features (waterfall & solar heat) - image.winudf.com/v2/image1/MjIzMzQ3MDhfMTY5NDE0MTU5Nl8wMTc/screen-5.png?fakeurl=1&type=webp
How efficient is the chilling feature of the Jandy Versatemp? I live in mid-atlantic where July has consistent temps 90+ degrees. My pool build will be 20x40 and 22, 807 gallons with full sun exposure during the day. I want to know how many degrees I can expect to reduce temperature in the pool during. Would appreciate any input or suggestions! Thank you
Sorry can't say anything about cooling performance. Our pool of similar dimension but i believe more water due to diving depth will get up to high 80's maybe 90F water temp with a setpoint of 83F on the heatpump under a full sun day with air temp in 90'sF. Haven't encountered a time yet where the pool won't cool itself down.
Pool professional from SW FL
That is awesome you got a flow vis to dial in perfect rpm for the system
Way to take advantage of the system to your benefit
I spent 20mins trying to find literature on if it can control salt via rs485
Few mins in your video I found my answer
clean wiring good job