Pool Systems Automation
As of December 2020, a project is underway to add monitoring and control automation to the pool systems.
The reasons for this are as follows:
- To monitor staff and key maintenance personal of abnormal operating conditions or situations requiring attention.
- To protect aging equipment (i.e. the boiler) from damage due to malfunction.
- To reduce staff workload by automatically filling the pool.
- To record historical data for pressure, flow, temperature and chemical levels.
Controller
A DirectLogic 06 PLC is used for as the base for monitoring and control. A PLC was selected due to its reliability and relative ease-of-maintenance by volunteer maintenance staff. Within the electrical engineering community, most individuals have had some level of experience with PLCs and/or ladder logic. It is assumed that within the membership, there will always be someone with the knowledge that can volunteer on an as-needed basis.
The controller consists of an internal CPU, 24V inputs/outputs (I/O) and multiple add-on modules for analog measurements. Serial communication carried over WiFi via a Lantronix Premierwave XN, presenting the PLC as if it were connected to a virtual communication port on the host PC.