NEW MultiWave Pool Controller

[tzontchev]

Solar DC pump is the best. I did research for a while but I didn't find a good solution in US. For some reason, it is very expensive here. I was thinking of ordering from Alibaba. But you never know what you get from China.

If you have more info, I appreciate if you share.

Thanks.

I did spend some time on Alibaba, and I see that most of the pumps coming from there are the same that the retailers are offering.  So far I found that Lorentz is the best on the market.  I did contact the representatives and they told me for Canada it will cost me around $8 000- $10 000.  It is crazy.  The biggest problem with Alibaba is that the solar panels are big and cost lots of money for shipping.

[persimmonx]

Solar DC pump is the best. I did research for a while but I didn't find a good solution in US. For some reason, it is very expensive here. I was thinking of ordering from Alibaba. But you never know what you get from China.

If you have more info, I appreciate if you share.

Thanks.

I did spend some time on Alibaba, and I see that most of the pumps coming from there are the same that the retailers are offering.  So far I found that Lorentz is the best on the market.  I did contact the representatives and they told me for Canada it will cost me around $8 000- $10 000.  It is crazy.  The biggest problem with Alibaba is that the solar panels are big and cost lots of money for shipping.

you don't need the solar panel. You just need the motor. You can buy solar panels locally.
Wow, I didn't know Lorentz  is so expensive. There is a company in Florida that offers solar pool pumps http://www.sunrayus.com/. I don't know how much they cost though. This one sells Lorentz pool pumps http://www.floridasolarpump.com/

[tzontchev]

Solar DC pump is the best. I did research for a while but I didn't find a good solution in US. For some reason, it is very expensive here. I was thinking of ordering from Alibaba. But you never know what you get from China.

If you have more info, I appreciate if you share.

Thanks.

I did spend some time on Alibaba, and I see that most of the pumps coming from there are the same that the retailers are offering.  So far I found that Lorentz is the best on the market.  I did contact the representatives and they told me for Canada it will cost me around $8 000- $10 000.  It is crazy.  The biggest problem with Alibaba is that the solar panels are big and cost lots of money for shipping.

you don't need the solar panel. You just need the motor. You can buy solar panels locally.
Wow, I didn't know Lorentz  is so expensive. There is a company in Florida that offers solar pool pumps http://www.sunrayus.com/. I don't know how much they cost though. This one sells Lorentz pool pumps http://www.floridasolarpump.com/

I do not need it for North America, but one way or the other it is better than VS pump for the money. 

[blueman2]

Well, Intermatic has finally release the new P5043ME controller board that provides control of solar, chlorine generator, 2 heaters, and all the valves you want!  In fact, they have renamed and repackaged the entire PE653RC system around it. I no longer see any firmware updates, so I wonder if they have abandoned the older PE653RC hardware?  There seems to be an implication that the PE653RC is somehow newer hardware, but I do not see any physical changes. 

Their old product page is gone now.  here is link to new systems. 

http://www.homesettings.com/en/Products/Pool_and_Spa/Electronic_Controls/MultiWave.aspx

[dkeefe]

the expansion module is just an addon to the pe653/pe953 so I suspect nothing has really changed.

I'm glad they finally got around to releasing it, though. They promised it 2+ years ago.

[blueman2]

new 3.4 Firmware is now up on their site under resources tab. 

http://www.intermatic.com/Products/Pool_and_Spa/Electronic_Controls/MultiWave/MultiWave_Basic.aspx

Still no word on where to buy the p5043ME.  It is not available even on their own online store.  Very odd. 

edit: and here is the updated User Manual with the new features:

http://www.intermatic.com/~/media/Intermatic/Documentation/Pool%20and%20Spa/Electronic%20Controls/MultiWave/MultiWave%20Quickstart%20Guide.ashx

[dkeefe]

would it kill them to add some release notes? 

it is interesting that the p5043me has a usb port on it for updates. that is nice.

as for the availability of the p5043me, just look at the 3.4 fw release date. I think they are waiting for 2014 to release it.

[blueman2]

Yeah, I love this controller, but Intermatic appears to be a totally bush league company in terms of their operations.  Also, the guy I was dealing with in the past who was wonderful and extremely knowledgeable is gone.  No longer with the company.  And now no one at the company returns any emails or web form contact requests.

[Radjin]

I have a 400k heater, two variable-speed pumps, 8 valves and two lights I would like to control. Can anyone describe what control is available with Intermatic's unit. All of this is Pentair equipment that currently runs on the 1st gen i10+3D remote equipment that is failing.

[rstrouse]

Autelis makes a unit that will communicate with your i10+3D and I have formulated a plugin that exposes all the devices attached to it.  I assume you got one of the old Mobiletouch controllers.  So far I am pretty happy with it.

http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,30275.msg216314.html#msg216314

Autelis device
http://www.autelis.com/pool-control-for-pentair-intellitouch-easytouch.html

[dkeefe]

I have a 400k heater, two variable-speed pumps, 8 valves and two lights I would like to control. Can anyone describe what control is available with Intermatic's unit. All of this is Pentair equipment that currently runs on the 1st gen i10+3D remote equipment that is failing.

the multiwave won't be able to handle all that equipment. it can only control one variable speed pump (poorly), so one of the pumps would only be on/off. the lights are easy, but there aren't enough circuits to handle the eight valves (one would be the limit).

for example:

primary variable speed pump controlled by the serial lines
circuit 1: second pump
circuit 2: pool/spa valve
circuit 3: lights
circuit 4: heat control

and your out of circuits.

you'll need to look elsewhere. sorry.

edit: I forgot about the valve

[billrector]

While trying to pair my 953 to my z-wave stick today, the 953 locked up.  All I have now is a backlit handheld.  I have removed the batteries for several minutes and the same thing happens when I reinstall the batteries.

Anyone else have this issue?  While I'm at it, I don't suppose anyone is controlling an Intermatic CA3750 with the 953 in a two switch configuration?  That does not appear to work either.

Has anyone figured out what firmware version 3.4 from Intermatic brings to the table?

[blueman2]

I have a 400k heater, two variable-speed pumps, 8 valves and two lights I would like to control. Can anyone describe what control is available with Intermatic's unit. All of this is Pentair equipment that currently runs on the 1st gen i10+3D remote equipment that is failing.

Actually, the new Intermatic system can handle all of this with the newly released P5043ME module. 

http://www.intermatic.com/Products/Pool_and_Spa/Electronic_Controls/MultiWave/MultiWave_ECS.aspx

[dkeefe]

I have a 400k heater, two variable-speed pumps, 8 valves and two lights I would like to control. Can anyone describe what control is available with Intermatic's unit. All of this is Pentair equipment that currently runs on the 1st gen i10+3D remote equipment that is failing.

Actually, the new Intermatic system can handle all of this with the newly released P5043ME module. 

http://www.intermatic.com/Products/Pool_and_Spa/Electronic_Controls/MultiWave/MultiWave_ECS.aspx

I have serious doubts about their claims based on their previous track record. Plus, where can you actually buy the p5043me? I can't find it for sale anywhere.

Additionally, as far I I know you still can't control multiple variable speed pumps with our without the expansion module and their existing support for variable speed pumps isn't that great. Although I haven't tried the 3.4 fw to see if it has been improved.

I still contend that the multiwave was never designed with complex pool systems like Radjin's in mind. But for simpler systems like mine (single pump, one light, one heater, no valves, no solar) it works pretty well and is priced very reasonably.

[blueman2]

I have serious doubts about their claims based on their previous track record. Plus, where can you actually buy the p5043me? I can't find it for sale anywhere.

Additionally, as far I I know you still can't control multiple variable speed pumps with our without the expansion module and their existing support for variable speed pumps isn't that great. Although I haven't tried the 3.4 fw to see if it has been improved.

I still contend that the multiwave was never designed with complex pool systems like Radjin's in mind. But for simpler systems like mine (single pump, one light, one heater, no valves, no solar) it works pretty well and is priced very reasonably.

Well said.  More to the point, I agree that I would not buy the Intermatic solution for a complex pool if starting from scratch.  But now that I have one and my pool is getting more complex (will be adding a dedicated spa pump rather than sharing with a pool pump), I am going to give the new module a try.  The do CLAIM to be able to now support 2 VSPs.  And I can integrated my Solar better into a single system.  We shall see!!