Automatic Controls

Imagine coming home to a warm, clean spa with jets bubbling and lights on, ready for you to enjoy after a long day at work. Or a pool whose pumps and filtration system ran during off-peak hours, saving you added hassle as well as a bundle on your energy bill. Automatic controls manage the features for your pool and spa; including: lights, pumps, filtration systems, chemical feeders, jets, heaters, and any other electrical component you may have incorporated in your landscaping.

Today’s technology makes these controls especially helpful and accessible. Some controls interface with your cell phone or iPhone, giving you ultimate remote access, while others have LCD touch screens and control pads that mount inside your home to make managing your pool and spa even more convenient. If you have any questions about which system might be right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (800) 772-0467.

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When deciding on a control or switch, there are a variety of factors to consider. Some of the most important factors are the number of components you want to control and how attentive you are to your pool. A basic model is best for those who only need their controls to handle essential tasks, such as scheduling the filtration cycle. For those with numerous components or who love high-tech gadgets, there are controls that can test the chemical balance of your water and manage your chemical feeder, turn on your landscaping sprinklers, interface with your iPhone, and manage up to 40 features at a time.   

Manual Timers:
Manual timers generally operate like a kitchen timer: the user twists a knob to turn the feature on and indicate how long the feature will run. Usually, timers operate up to one hour. A manual timer is ideal for operations that don’t have to be performed on a regular basis, like controlling spa jets or accent lighting.

Advantages:

  • Economical
  • Simple design
  • Easy to operate

Electronic Timers:
These timers are capable of handling multiple functions. Electronic timers can be programmed to automate cleaning and filtration schedules, trigger the chemical feeder, heater, water features, and control lighting.

Advantages:

  • Manages a large number of components
  • Allows you to schedule pump and filtration systems to run in off-peak hours
  • Some models interface with your cell phone or iPhone, allowing remote control

Wireless Controls:
The most popular type of automatic control, wireless uses a radio controlled transmitter to signal various devices, each programmed on a different frequency. A wireless control uses hardly any energy and can be programmed precisely.

Advantages:

  • Lower installation costs than hard-wired systems
  • No wiring between the equipment and the control panel, meaning no trenching, conduits or indoor wiring
  • Depending on the model, wireless controls have operation ranges of 150’-500’

Helpful Hints:

  • Due to their proximity to water, switches usually do not use electrical wires. Air switches send a puff of air through a thin tube to turn components on and off
  • In the past, automatic controls would sync with pool covers to make opening and closing easier. Because of the risk of accidental entrapment and drowning, many manufacturers do not include this function anymore
  • Some systems must be installed and serviced by a professional pool/spa technician. PoolSupplyWorld has linked the appropriate installation manual to each product for your reference and convenience. The installation manual will clearly state if a professional needs to install your automatic control system