IntelliConnect – What does it do and what does it control?

The IntelliConnect from Pentair is a handy piece of automation designed for the 'simple pool.' It offers pool owners basic automation via a wi-fi connection and the 'Pentair Home' application, giving you control of you pool systems anywhere in the world. It has a lot of horse power when you consider what it is, AND what it costs.

It is not designed for DIY installation but is simple enough for a professional regardless of whether it's done at the time of pool installation OR added later. It works on top of any existing load center or timer that already may be installed.

The unit has two (2) 110/220 relays to control a light circuit, air blower, or a single speed pump. These relays are simple 'On/Off' relays and can be set to follow a variety of timers / schedules. If you have Pentair lighting, the relay can be set to automatically toggle through and control the colors. If you are using any of the Pentair smart pumps with serial connection (IntelliFlo), you will simply connect two control wires and have full control over your speeds and pump settings right on the app.

The IntelliConnect has its own air and water temp sensor making freeze protection simple AND it will control any heater with a two-wire connection making it suitable for gas or heat pumps. We have not connected the unit to a Pentair water chiller, and there is no visible 'cool' setting in the app, so we do not believe that the IntelliConnect can control a heat / cool set point together.

The IntelliConnect will not control the IntelliChem system. We install IntelliChem with an IntelliConnect regularly and we do not think that is a drawback. Seeing the pH / ORP would be nice but it's not a deal breaker. Knowing that the IntelliChem is doing its job and managing the water on its own is good enough. The IntelliConnect WILL control the iChlor and the IntelliChlor salt systems from the app which is handy but there is a but... If you have an IntelliChem, we recommend that you connect your Pentair salt system to it and allow it to control the chlorine generation. Even if you don't get to see or control it from the Pentair Home App. Teh IntelliChem will do a better job than you. Let it be in charge.

We have a good number of clients that have installed the IntelliChem on a system with a non-Pentair salt system. The plan is to replace that system with a Pentair salt system and integrate it when the time comes. We don't think that being able to 'see' the salt systems output is worth throwing away a salt Nano or Autopilot system.

At the end of the day the IntelliConnect is for simple pools at a reasonable cost. It does not control actuators or have functions for waterfalls and other custom pool features. At about 1/3 the cost of a full Pentair automation system, we think it's a tremendous value that most families will benefit from and enjoy.

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