Pentair has released a new solar pool heating controller called the SolarTouch. This great controller fills a gap between a simple analog solar controller and the Pentair SunTouch pool automation system.
A simple analog solar controller uses a dial and an on-off-auto switch to control the operation of a solar pool heating system. The SunTouch is a digital controller that has advance pool heating control for a pool/spa combination and with multiple heating sources (solar and auxiliary heater). It can also control additional relays for features and lighting and has an optional remote control.
The SolarTouch does everything that the analog controller does except it has precise control with a digital readout. It can also control Pentair’s Variable Speed and Variable Flow IntelliPro pumps. That means you can increase the pump speed when solar pool heating is required and drop the speed back down to normal filtration speed when no solar heating is required or available.
Our first SolarTouch controllers will be installed soon and I will report back with the verdict. I am quite certain that this will become our “go-to” controller, particularly because of the attractive price, digital control, and ability to control a variable speed pump.
Here is the marketing information from Pentair and a SolarTouch Brochure:
Announcing the new SolarTouch™ swimming pool solar controller, which offers full digital control for the most precise, efficient swimming pool heating possible!
Now pool owners can control their pool temperature with the touch of a button. Just set the digital thermostat and SolarTouch will monitor the temperature of the pool water and solar collectors. SolarTouch also integrates with IntelliFlo® and IntelliPro® Variable Speed Pumps, so customers can enjoy unparalleled efficiency, unbeatable digital precision and ease of use. SolarTouch is the smart, easy, efficient way to go solar.
SolarTouch features include:
- Digital calibration of water and solar temperature sensors allow more precise measuring. Temperature control can be set in one degree increments.
- Digital touch controls eliminate the imprecise settings and moving parts of mechanical dials.
- Customers can set their pool temperature and solar temperature differentials with the touch of a button.
- Solar valve automatically drains the solar collectors when the pump shuts off. Durable PTFE seal is maintenance-free for years of dependable service.
- Savings up to $1,500 on your energy bills when you combine SolarTouch with an IntelliFlo® or IntelliPro® Variable Speed Pump.
- LCD display gives sharp, clear readings of air and solar collector temperatures.
- LED indicator lights confirm that SolarTouch automation is working. Service indicator LED indicates when attention is needed.
- Motorized valve actuator is built to last with sturdy steel gears, a highly efficient low-voltage motor, service switch for flow direction and a weatherproof composite enclosure.
- Includes nocturnal cooling and recirculation freeze protection, with filter-pump timer override. 3-year warranty.
I just had a Solar Touch Controller installed and connected to a Pentair VS pump. In my opinion, the signals sent to the pump are incorrectly programmed by Pentair. I have talked with their engineers and they are currently looking into the problem. Normally, when solar heat is called for, the Solar Touch sends a signal to run external program #2 on the VS pump and when solar heat is not needed (pool temp reached) a signal is sent to the VS pump to “return to its schedule”. That’s the good part.
The bad part is if you want to use the “disable” feature by holding the enter key down, the solar actuator shuts off but the Solar Touch now sends a signal to the VS pump to run external program #1 (instead of returning to the schedule).
This solar controller is programmed WRONG.
To mitigate this problem, I have DISCONNECTED the communication line between the Solar Touch and the VS pump and I am running the VS pump MANUALLY at a fixed speed.
Disable happens to be a feature that makes going away (on vacation) a simple operation, but you do NOT want the VS pump to be operating at external program #1 speed, but the normal schedule.
Hopefully, someone from Pentair will read this and wake up! This product does NOT work properly!!!!!
Hi Dave,
I think you are misinterpreting the function of holding the Enter button for three seconds. The purpose of this is to shut off the SolarTouch functions only. It stops sending a signal for pump speed 2, stops the booster pump relay (if used), and turns off heating, cooling, and freeze protection. You would use this when servicing the pool to stop the SolarTouch from sending a signal for pump speed 2 because the SolarTouch overrides the schedules in the pump. For example, if your pump is outside of any scheduled run time and the SolarTouch calls for solar heating, it would start the pump at speed 2, which would have bad consequences if your filter was opened for service. After entering the disabled mode, you still need to tell the pump what you want it to do, which is usually shutting it off for service.
To make sure your pump is in the normal scheduled run mode, press the Start/Stop button to turn the pump off, then press it again to return to its schedule. At this point, the SolarTouch will not send a signal to run external program 1 (or any other signal) when in disabled mode. It ceases to communicate at all in disabled mode.
I was unable to duplicate the behavior that you mentioned, but even if I could, I don’t understand why it is so bad. Returning to the schedule is pretty simple.
Hi Dave,
I reconfirmed this with Pentair. The SolarTouch is incapable of sending a signal to request speed 1. It just stops sending a signal for speed 2 (and 3) when disabled. If you can take a short video of your issue with a mobile phone and upload it to YouTube, maybe we can help you diagnose the issue. If you are in Southwest Florida, I’d be happy to stop by sometime to see if we can figure out what’s happening.
While on the subject, Pentair let me know that the next firmware version will give us the option to select whether timer override for the pump is enabled. We will be able to choose if the SolarTouch can turn the pump on to perform solar heating outside of the scheduled run time. Right now it is set up so that the SolarTouch will always override the schedule to engage external program 2 when solar heating is available. This has caused a few issues in the past, and requires an external timer to bypass now, but it can also be a desirable feature.
I just got a SunTouch installed. The display shows the disabled message but the controller does not respond to the “Enter” key. I can press it as long and as hard as I want but nothing happens. Hardware issue or does anybody know a trick?
The SunTouch does not have an Enter key. This is a feature of the SolarTouch. To put the SunTouch into service mode, follow this video: http://www.fafcosolar.com/learn-more/how-to-put-a-suntouch-solar-pool-heating-controller-in-service-mode/
Can the solar touch be programmed to turn on the intelligence speed pump when solar is not available and it would be desirable to operate the heat pump via sensing flow?
Using the proper automation system, you can call for a specific speed on an Intelliflo pump when the heat pump is in operation. It sounds like you are considering using “solar preferred mode,” which will try to heat your pool with solar, then revert to the heat pump when solar is not able to heat the pool. In this mode, you can set a pump speed that is appropriate for both the solar heat and heat pump.
However, the SolarTouch will not control a heat pump. The Pentair SunTouch will. Although not much more expensive, the capability and complexity of the SunTouch are much greater than the SolarTouch. The only downside is usability. With additional capability, the complexity definitely increases.
I purchased this solar touch system within a year ago and even though the water temperature is in the low 70s the display shows it as over 110°. Of course I cannot set the heat to go above 104 so the system never turns on.
It sounds like either your sensor has gone bad or the calibration has been adjusted incorrectly. It’s time to get a technician out to test the sensor.