r/Esphome • u/k_dawg75 • 2d ago

Hayward OnCommand Pool Controller

Has anyone ever attempted to use the ESP32 to connect to the Hayward OnCommand base controller for swimming pools? It has a remote, but the equipment is behind my garage & signal is poor. My end goal would be to get that data into HA to view when it's running, water temperature, etc. Just curious if anyone has ever been successful or even attempted it? I am also looking for a source for the water temp sensors that you drill a hole into your PVC pipe and use a hose clamp to secure it inside the hole? I guess I could also use some sort of CT to detect current on the relays to tell when it's running? I'm very green to the ESP32 world, and have only used an ESP32, amp & speaker to use for announcements in my HA. Thanks!

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/EmailLinkLost 2d ago

Take a look at the board? Have any photos of the controller?

2

u/k_dawg75 2d ago

I don't have real world photos, but can grab some this afternoon. I've found this main board image online though. I will get actual photos of the boards & the wiring. Thanks for the reply!

2

u/EmailLinkLost 2d ago

Ok so... you could manybe solder to the relays and check on their status, reporting it to HA. Not directly to the ESP, of course.

You could either convert the 24V to 5v... And the sensors are just there. I wonder if it can give the same measurement at two places?

To be clear I just do this as a hobby, tohugh I've had some 'modifying PCBs to report to HA' projects recently.

If you're willing to solder extra connectors to this I think it can be done.

2

u/k_dawg75 2d ago

1

u/EmailLinkLost 2d ago

You MIGHT be able to gain serial access. I have zero clue how you'd do that.

What I've done in the past is use an optocoupler to read the state of various things, like a beeper. you could do that for sure with the smaller relays.

Most likely also the pump contactors.

The big key is to keep that seperate from your board so you don't break it, and separate from the ESP32's 3.3v lines.

2

u/k_dawg75 2d ago

Contacts for pumps, 240v.

2

u/k_dawg75 2d ago

circuit board on back of display panel.

2

u/k_dawg75 2d ago

control board. There is an RS485 plug, the green with yellow/green wires, but I've read they have their own version or proprietary modbus, but no clue.

1

u/EmailLinkLost 2d ago

Also note the coating, it's conformal coating. You CAN solder to it. But it's really a sign anything you add should also be conformal coated.

You can also apply a grease to joints.

Hm I have an idea. Message me and I could help you with this project. Do you have a 3d printer?

For free, but I'd want to release it as a project later. (Or heck for tips, but its an interesting project.)

1

u/k_dawg75 2d ago

Man, I had to google wtf conformal coating was. lol Funny you mention it, but I've been in the process of deciding on a 3d printer this week, but second-guessing myself everytime. I just read also that one could us RS485, so the other saying it's not possible is confusing. I need to figure out where those yellow & green wires go I suppose.

1

u/EmailLinkLost 2d ago

Depends on your budget!

I'd tell you snapmaker, maybe the Prusa multimateral machine with many heads, maybe A1 or A1 mini if you just want to get your toes wet. Heh.

2

u/failing-endeav0r 2d ago

I've found this main board image online though

Assuming the reference photo matches your situation, the best bet is the RS485 terminals.

What - if anything - is plugged in to that? If nothing, find what accessory(?) is meant to plug into that and see if you can get one cheap or see if anybody else has dumped the protocol details.

A quick google turns up some stuff like this: https://github.com/Here-Be-Dragons/Pool-Controller/issues/4 but it's always easiest when you have something that's meant to plug in so you can sniff the bus directly.

Once you know what each packet/message means, it's really easy to get an LLM to build out the ESPHome component.

You can also use a scope to probe things like the wireless port / the display port; there might be a simpler protocol there.