Balboa EL Series

[timmytutone8]

What a great project. I am working at bringing my Strong Spa (which runs a Balboa EL series controller) into home assistant and thought I read that the EL series will work with this setup. I have followed the guide with the following hardware:

• ESP32
• Voltage Regulator
• Max 485

Pin Outs:

SPA Molex from J71:

• Pin1 - RS485 - B
• Pin3 - RS485 - A
• Pin5 - 5v digital pin - Pin 18 of ESP32
• Pin6 - 9v connect to PSU + on Transformer
• Pin8 - PSU GND on Transformer

Max485 to ESP32

• 5V to 5V on ESP
• TXD to Pin 19 on ESP32
• RXD to Pin 23 on ESP32
• GND to GND on ESP32

I was getting the Pin5 error until I looked in VS code and saw the diagram is wrong and its actually to Pin 18 and not Pin 22 on ESP32.

Web Interface is showing this:
Mode: -1
State: unknown
Temp: -1.0C
Heating: false
Last Update: [updating regularly]

My questing is does the EL series work with this, and if so, any suspected wiring issues? Thoughts on next steps?

[netmindz]

Hi @timmytutone8

Which exact model do you have from the EL series? Do you know the model number of your topside panel?
How many pumps do you have? Are they single or dual speed?

As the mode unknown, that looks like we haven't yet seen any valid FA messages

Can you share the serial console log output please?

Have you tried swapping the A and B connection?

As you are using the max485 you should also have a pin connected to handle enable, you don't list that in your details above.

If you are using a different rs485 adapters with automatic Rx/tx then that's ok to miss out, but essential for max485

[netmindz]

RTS_PIN_DEF

[netmindz]

It's actually a MAX13487 you are using, so that looks like it does automatically Rx/tx so you should be ok. What do those status LEDs show?

[timmytutone8]

Hey - thanks for connecting!

Model is STREL15B
Top Panel is an ML661

LEDs on MAX13487:
PWR lit and bright
TX appears to be blinking, but dim

Tried swapping A and B - no diff.

2 Pumps are both dual speed.

Console doesn't appear to be showing anything:

Reconnecting to /dev/cu.usbserial-110 ...
Please build project in debug configuration to get more details about an exception.
See https://docs.platformio.org/page/projectconf/build_configurations.html


         Connected!
.
Connected to 'iot 2.4'

IP address   : 10.254.50.154
MAC address  : 88:57:21:6D:A8:B4 
mDNS started : hottub-sensor.local
WebOTA url   : http://hottub-sensor.local:8080/update

Configuring WDT...
End of setup
[  2309][E][WiFiClient.cpp:422] write(): fail on fd 52, errno: 104, "Connection reset by peer"
[0] Connected from 10.254.0.99 url: /
{"type": "status", "data" : { "temp": "-1.0", "heater": false, "light": false, "mode": "-1", "uptime": 465, "state": "unknown" } }
[0] Disconnected!

Am I missing something with the console?

[netmindz]

Maybe try removing the commenting out of the debug at the start of handleMesage to see if you are getting any data, possibly add an extra serial print to readSerial to confirm you are seeing pin5 going high and low properly when your panel select is active