Some DIY repairs....

Leaky Jandy Valve -

After purchasing a couple o-rings for my leaking Jandy valve (@ $1 each!) I did a search on the net...I found a couple o-ring websites:

http://www.oringsusa.com
http://allorings.com/material_selection.htm

To go to their catalog (to order)
http://www.oringsusa.com/catalog/

I discovered a few things about o-rings -
- they have standard sizes and come in several different thickness's (expressed in inside diameter, outside diameter and thickness)
- They are made from many different materials. For pools (water) they recommend you use the EPDM 70 NSF.

I have not ordered anything from either site, so I can't give them any kind of recommendation. These sites just have alot of info there. For me, I picked up an o-ring assortment from Harbor Freight some time ago and discovered I had the o-rings I needed for my leaky Jandy valve (after matching up to the ones I picked up at the LPS).



Solar Sensor replacement parts -

This last week I noticed my solar valve didn't open. I discovered that one of my temperature sensors was bad. I measured the resistance with DVM - Digital Volt Meter and compared that too a table in the back of the controller's manual. It was incorrectly registering that my pool water was 130F (it was really 78F), so the controller correctly decided I didn't need additonal heat. I called around for a replacement sensor and for $65 I could "match it up" with a part from the LPS (with no guarentee that it would work).

Again I did a search on the web and found a place that had a little info and much better prices for the sensor ($20 +shipping) and less to risk in case my guess was wrong. My Solar control is a Compool (Pentair) LX-220. It uses one sensor on the roof and one in the water (installed in one of the pipes after the pump). It is called a "differential controller". These sensors are 10k sensors. They are advertised as "10k ohm thermal sensors are interchangeable, based on the specification of 10k ohms at 77°F (25°C)."

You would have to verify that your system uses the same sensor, but my limited research seems to show this is a very common technology and many use the same sensor. I have a friend with a Fafco (it probably is a re-badged Goldline, knob and leds are similer), and the problem and fix was the same for him.

King Solar seems to be a good company my order came in 4 working days, no problem.

The main site is:
http://www.kingsolar.com

We ordered the following (for my friend - this is a direct replacement):
http://www.kingsolar.com/catalog/mfg/goldline/pc.html

For me I ordered metal parts, I had to add a PVC T and 1/2 inch threaded insert (from Home Depot):
Water temp -
http://www.kingsolar.com/catalog/mfg...pool/bp50.html

After fixing both systems, I think I like the brass sensor better, while looking at my friends old water sensor, we noticed the plastic probe was full of cracks - maybe it was stressed from being in the pump flow? or could be that because his is installed after the chlorinater it may have been attacked by the high CL. I don't know, but it seems the metal one wouldn't be affected by either.

For the roof -
http://kingsolar.net/ecommerce/produ...duct%5fid=1769

When replacing, we found his roof sensor was installed using some kind of crimp on connectors which had disintgrated in the sun, so his roof sensor was really ok, we replaced it anyway (saved the old one as an extra). We soldered the new parts to the existing wires and wrapped with tape. Both systems work perfectly now.


Anyway hope this helps someone.