Pentair Ph controller

[Swimming Scorpion]

Anyone have a pentair Ph controller? Why did you get it? How do you like it? What size pool do you have?

[PoolDoc]

The current Pentair Intelliph is not a true controller, but rather a combination timer / feed pump / storage tank, that can interface with various Pentair control systems and power supplies.

The manual is here: http://www.pentairpool.com/pdfs/intellphOM.pdf

I spent some time looking at it, and it doesn't appear to be a bad system. But it's a lot of work and a lot of $$$, given that all it does is take over the responsibility of adding a little acid every week or so.

It's not that I'd recommend a true pH controller, which uses a pH electrode requiring regular re-calibration. For a number of years, I sold, installed, and serviced expensive (> $7,000 in 2014 dollars) pH / ORP controllers and feed systems. Eventually, I reached the point were I could no longer sell them in good conscience for application on outdoor pools. And, even on indoor pools, the systems require more consistent and more intelligent maintenance than most facilities can provide.

Sometime around 1999 or 2000, I switched to timers instead of controllers, probably for the same reasons that Pentair dropped its true controller line. I even used the same pumps (Blue-White) that Pentair is using.

If you have $700 to spare, AND you have a problem with your pH constantly rising in spite of weekly acid additions, AND you are willing to faithfully follow the system maintenance requirements on the IntellipH, THEN you might want to have one installed.

Otherwise, not so much.