How to modify Zodiac Caretaker infloor pool cleaning system?

[capwizard]

Y'all ready for this......Any suggestions? ....I try to use Solenoid Valve for lawn sprinklers or Electric Valve modify Zodiac in floor pool cleaning system, It basically is the valves open in sequence, they do has one call Caretaker 99 UltraFlex II Water Valve.

First my system has 5-port, every 3-5 years I need to change the vavles with this. Zodiac UltraFlex 2 Programmable 8-Port In-Floor Cleaning System $734.95 has 8-port.

This is how they built the Zodiac infloor pool cleaning system.
Caretaker Cleaning System 1 - Bundaberg Lifestyle Solutions

This how the system works?
Performance Pools - Cyclean In-Floor Cleaning and Circulation System

How do I change the rebuilt kit?

How can I change the Caretaker Cleaning Head

PS: How can I make this tool( my pool cleaning Heads are as same as last part of video) to change the Nozzle or Heard? I am not good at machinarium.

PS: found one, two, three four shouldn't be that hard to build one!

[capwizard]

Re: How to modify Zodiac Caretaker infloor pool cleaning system?

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[capwizard]

Re: How to modify Zodiac Caretaker infloor pool cleaning system?

Use microcontroller to do the job or this.

The Solenoid Valve for lawn sprinklers are 24v, use MOSFETs as switches.

[sam_sam_sam]

Re: How to modify Zodiac Caretaker infloor pool cleaning system?

What micro controls have you programmed before I could do it with a Basic Stamp Controller from Parallax very easily if you known how much time you need between each valve
and which valves order they need to be in

Also need know if you need to use a time chip or not and this depends how long your program is and if you want to turn it ON at a certain time of day or not

[capwizard]

Re: How to modify Zodiac Caretaker infloor pool cleaning system?

It is very good idea to use a Basic Stamp Controller from Parallax to do the easy programmering. "

How much time you need between each valve? " is about 60 seconds. I can not believe Zodiac Caretaker used wheel to do the timing is like go back to WWII.

" which valves order they need to be in " I try to use AC- 24v Solenoid Valve for lawn sprinklers change to DC 24v for easy MOSFET to control.

[budm]

Re: How to modify Zodiac Caretaker infloor pool cleaning system?

"I try to use AC- 24v Solenoid Valve for lawn sprinklers change to DC 24v for easy MOSFET to control." Using Valve that is made to run on AC and try feeding with 24VDC is not a direct way to drive it, you need to check the DCR of the that AC valve so you will know how much current it will draw when trying to drive it with DCV. Impedance of the coil at xx Hz is for AC, DCR is for DC coil.

[sam_sam_sam]

Re: How to modify Zodiac Caretaker infloor pool cleaning system?

" which valves order they need to be in " I try to use AC- 24v Solenoid Valve for lawn sprinklers change to DC 24v for easy MOSFET to control.

Like " budm " said you do have to use the right type coil or other wise you will burn up the coil or the mosfet there are valve that have the right type coil just look on EBay

[capwizard]

Re: How to modify Zodiac Caretaker infloor pool cleaning system?

Thanks to both of you. "you need to check the DCR of the that AC valve so you will know how much current it will draw when trying to drive it with DCV"

Operating Sprinkler Valves Under DC
From the calculations above, it's obvious that the coil inductance is important at limiting the operating current when the valve is powered under AC. What about if we power the valve under DC? Obviously we shouldn't use 24VDC, because that would draw too much current (0.75 to 1 amp). If you search online, you will find plenty of posts talking about powering sprinkler valves using 12VDC. This actually works well in general. Using 12VDC has advantages in that 12VDC power adapters are cheaper and much easier to find; the circuit design is simpler, and you can use the same circuit to interface with other DC devices like relays and motors. In contrast, 24VAC power circuits are more complex and you can't use the same circuit to directly interface with DC devices.

However, you should be aware that because the sprinkler solenoid's resistance is pretty low, the operating current under 12VDC will be relatively high, around 400 to 500 mA. This more than doubles the 200 mA operating current (rms) under 24VAC. Also, the coil will heat up more, and this potentially shortens its life. For example, under 12VDC, the Orbit valve above will dissipate 12 * 12 / 32.3 = 4.5 Watt; whereas under 24VAC, the same valve only dissipates 0.2 * 0.2 * 32.3 = 1.3 Watt (note that only the resistive portion dissipate power, inductive portion does't).

Pic1,2,3 it explain under AC 60Hz to drive a coil, mathematic is complicated.

Understanding 24VAC Sprinkler Valves
http://rayshobby.net/understanding-2...inkler-valves/


PS: Better change to DC Valves

Description: Have you ever wanted to control the flow of a liquid using your computer or microcontroller, but didn't know how? Well, here's how: The 12V solenoid controlled fluid valve. Simply connect a fluid source to the 3/4" threaded inlet and it will interrupt the flow until 12V is applied to the fast-on connectors on the solenoid.

Note: This is not a gravity-feed solenoid. This means that you will need enough water pressure to fully open the valve. Check the datasheet below for exact details. It operates at a minimum of around 3 PSI, allowing around 3 L/min of flow.Great for use with a garden hose.