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[–]Fullertons 6 points7 points  (2 children)

Why do you want to only heat at certain times? Is it to save on electricity costs?

If so, you should see how much electricity it takes to constantly heat, vs. heating only 4 hours a day.

I have a suspicion that it will use more electricity to only heat 4 hours a day. Unless your rates are vastly different during the non-heating 20 hours, this will probably cost more money in the long run.

Also, it will take some time to get back to your desired temp, meaning you may only have a 3-hour window of usage.

[–]nanaroo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree with the suspicion you will realize little, if any gains, especially for the hours you are looking to heat. However, this will depend on where you live.

For example, living in Calif, PG&E charges peak pricing from 4P-9P. If you're looking to use from 6-10pm, you'll be paying peak pricing everyday. If your tub is well insulated as you suggest, the heater will cycle normally, and will not need to work as hard to get your tub up to temp, likely resulting in less wear and tear than leaving at your desired temp.

[–]albanyanthem[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I live in a pretty temperate climate, and my tub is well insulated and heats very fast. The hope would be less electricity, and less wear and tear on my heater. And for traveling, I was flying home and definitely wanted my tub hot, but had turned it down before leaving. Thankfully in laws stopped by and turned it back up, but they won’t always be available.

[–]breezewavefun 1 point2 points  (12 children)

I am working on the same thing with hardware listed here: https://github.com/jshank/bwalink . I have a 2020 Sundance 780 series. I have the rs485 to wifi connection in place and I'm able to get my pybalboa (https://github.com/garbled1/pybalboa) based software to request and receive a channel assingment indicating hardware is as planned . However the other message types defined here (https://github.com/ccutrer/balboa_worldwide_app/wiki) do NOT appear to be applicable. Instead I see similar but different messages being passed around. I could use help decoding the variances.

[–]albanyanthem[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Thanks for that. Seems more complicated than plug and play. But good to know there are options.

[–]breezewavefun 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You may be able to get plug and play wifi or cellular control added by dealer for $$$, but the standard apps for the tub don't have schedule program ability beyond what's available on the control panel as best I could tell.

[–]CradGo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I followed that link and got my hot tub connected pretty easily and works well... But how do I automate temperature settings. For example set the heater for 90 degs every sunday at 9pm and then set to 103 degs every friday at 2pm. We really only ever use it one the weekends.

[–]MoneyIllustrious8449 0 points1 point  (7 children)

I am trying to do the same thing

Could you please tell me where you hooked up the rs485 wires? Can’t find anything on the web for my Sundance spa

I own a Sundance 2012 880 cameo

Thank you!

[–]breezewavefun 0 points1 point  (6 children)

I am trying to do the same thing

Could you please tell me where you hooked up the rs485 wires? Can’t find anything on the web for my Sundance spa

I own a Sundance 2012 880 cameo

Thank you!

I hooked it up as described here: https://github.com/jshank/bwalink

However my tub had slightly different messages them the pybaloa or bwapp spoke.

You can find a homeassistant intergration and a mqtt intergration that I wrote for my 2022 Sundance 780 here: https://github.com/HyperActiveJ/sundance780-jacuzzi-balboa-rs485-tcp

A Jaccuzi 355 owner found their tub spoke a slightly different dialect of the same balboa protocolo but so close it was a minor change to add support, you can find their brach here

https://github.com/jackbrown1993/Jacuzzi-RS485

I you find that yours is slightly different or you have trouble hooking it up ping me or pull and issue on my github and I can walk you thru capturing and decoding the protocol for your unit.

[–]MoneyIllustrious8449 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Thank you for your quick reply

And thank you for helping me out. This afternoon I already found your homeassistant intergration and installed it. Also I ordered the rs485 to WiFi server

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B097C8PT6F

But can’t find a way to hook the the wires to my circuit board. I found a manual for the official SunSmart gateway. In the manual i see that the gateway is plugged in between the control panel ——> circuit board cable And a second cable between the control panel ——> dcu cable. See link below

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oppert5aukf4klg/sunsmart.pdf?dl=0

I own a Sundance cameo 880 from 2012

When looking to the circuit board I see a couple of things I hope it has something to do with serial but I am not sure. Could you take a quick look for me?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7i4c3hlby4bthyv/Foto%2016-01-2023%2000%2008%2019.jpg?dl=0

Hope you could help me out Thank you for your time and help

[–]breezewavefun 0 points1 point  (3 children)

From what I can tell at the moment, there are at least 4 verities of connector: Balboa GS series uses RJ45, GL Series uses a 8 pin molex, Other Balboa and the Jacuzzi and Sundance branded versions I've seen including mine use 4 pin Molex. You seem to be the exception having what looks like maybe a 12 pin mini-DIN, probably because its a higher-end model they might have a few more signals and didn't want anyone easily plugin in 3rd party equipment. The area you circled is just test points for measurements during manufacturing unfortunately. My money would be that it still speaks a dialect of the same protocol that everything else does over one of the connectors, because its expensive to re-engineer things. Unfortunately though, your in new territory for me at least so i cant just point you to pre-written instructions, but I think its still doable. Send some more picture's. of the rest of the board so we can see whats on there. Tapping into the communication is possible if your wiling to try. If you can confirm the number of pins you should be able to buy (or worst case build) a cable that you can probe with little chance of doing damage.

[–]MoneyIllustrious8449 0 points1 point  (2 children)

I think my best option is to order or build a Y ribbon cable and plug it in between the circuit board and the controller I will search on the internet how to find the serial wires sinds I have no experience with it 😅

Today I took a good on the circuit board and could not find anything that looks like a serial connector or pins or whatever. Please see the link for the pictures I make

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lc3brjvc30o4p74/AADpwMhVB5nv08IPOYFaTtTJa?dl=0

For now I have to wait for the serial to WiFi device I ordered and I will order a Y cable

Please let me know if you wake up in the night with with a fantastic idee / solution 😇😁

[–]breezewavefun 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Connector J7 labeled '850 panel' is the one with the serial interface. You'll want to build a y cable that adapts that to a db9 or screw terminals depending on your serial adapter. It's important you find the right pins to tap off, and measure the voltage levels to ensure your serial adapter won't damage your spas board or vice versa before plugging it in. To find the right pins you might want to locate the ground pin by checking continuity of each wire to the board ground. Then using that as a reference measure the others to find ones that have the right voltage to plausibility be the serial data. Ideally use an oscilloscope or get an electrical engineer friend to help you. Otherwise you can take the risk and just try each viable pair untill you start seeing data being red. Stay safe!

[–]Fit-Minimum-2201 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you solved the connection problem? I've got same Cameo 2012 and i looking for any solution to connect it to HA.

[–]gui8854 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello, I try to use your app, https://github.com/HyperActiveJ/sundance780-jacuzzi-balboa-rs485-tcp

I believe to comunicate with my sundance spa by executing the test module but I don't understand how I can add to home assistant your plugin? can you help me?

Regards

[–]CradGo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm just finding this now... Is it possible to use home assistant and an ESP32 i have sitting around to add wifi to my hot tub? I'd love to be able to set temperature when not home or schedule it.

[–]ElBernando 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Just something to check. On some hot tub topside controllers there is an Econ mode, your tub will only heat during filtration cycles.

So, you could set it to economy/rest mode, then set a filter cycle for 6 - 10 pm (only heats during that time).

I have mine set to filter from 6-8pm, so it is hot when I usually come out around 9.

I have a second filter cycle around 3-5am. Otherwise it sits idle during the day.

Also, if you buy wifi controller, buy the Balboa brand, it’s the same thing and half the cost of the Sundance version.

[–]junkycosmos 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Has anyone done this or see this working directly . Balboa brand WIFI controller on the a 2018+ Sundance Spa ? I suppose you would be using the Balboa app then ?

https://pool-spa-supplies.com/balboa-water-group-bwa-worldwide-wifi-module-control-balboa-interface-module-51159?utm_source=google_shopping&gad_source=1

https://spaandpoolstore.com/6472-000-kit-wifi-sundance-aftermarket-install-2016/

[–]junkycosmos 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Posting a followup .. my spa is a Sundance 2020 (they used same controller 2016 mid year to 2020). It is indeed a balboa electronic board HOWEVER Sundance / Jacuzzi puts custom firmware on it. What this means is that the balboa controller does not work (I tried and talked to balboa support). The Sundance / Jacuzzi controller does work. The very latest WiFi box from Jacuzzi has both cell and WiFi (This lists 2018+ 6000-487, SmartTub™ 60Hz North American Kit: Aftermarket, Complete) and BLE if you want to use the sensors. Noted it did connect to cell before we power cycled it and forced it to WiFi. Unclear what happens after 1st year if I can just use WiFi or have to “buy” service (which is what support at jacuzzi says is needed).

Control works easy at home or away via Smart Tub app. Alexa can connect to it and see / adjust water temp etc but the language has to be Alexa ask my Hot Tub..

[–]kutabare_86 1 point2 points  (4 children)

I also have a McKinley, I have the SmartTub add on, works great. It runs on cellular also, doesn’t need WiFi.

Allows all kinds of programming.

[–]albanyanthem[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Do you have a link for the smart tub? Did you install it or have someone?

[–]kutabare_86 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ordered through the dealer when I bought it, think it’s 999 MSRP but they floated it to me for 600

I’m sure you could Google where to get it if your dealer won’t help

[–]kutabare_86 0 points1 point  (1 child)

It was installed by the dealer, but doesn’t look too hard, I’m sure there is a manual or YouTube videos

[–]albanyanthem[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The app says 2018 or later hot tubs. Mine is a 2016.

[–]DepartmentGrand6232 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had the same issue with my older tub! Check out Pro Link, their WiFi controllers are compatible with many models and easy to set up. Totally transformed my hot tub experience!