Pumping System with two way communication

Abstract

An auxiliary device control system for a pool or spa. The auxiliary device control system includes a control system with a user interface, a pump coupled to a swimming pool and a motor coupled to the pump, a filter arrangement, a heater, a water dispersion device, a chlorinator having a chlorinator communication panel, and a lighting device. The pump has an onboard pump controller. The heater has a heater communication panel. The control system is configured to be communicatively coupled to the onboard pump controller, the heater communication panel, the water dispersion device, the chlorinator communication panel, and the lighting device. The user interface includes an LCD display configured to receive input parameters associated with the pump, the heater, the water dispersion device, the chlorinator, the lighting device, and a vacuum.

1 . An auxiliary device control system for a pool or spa comprising:
 a control system with a user interface;   a pump coupled to a swimming pool and a motor coupled to the pump, the pump having an onboard pump controller with a pivotable protective cover and a data port, the pump controller including a keypad with an up-arrow button, a down-arrow button, a left-arrow button, and a right-arrow button;   a filter arrangement in fluid communication with the pump;   a heater in fluid communication with the pump, the heater having a heater communication panel;   a water dispersion device in fluid communication with the pump;   a chlorinator having a chlorinator communication panel; and   a lighting device,   wherein the control system is configured to be communicatively coupled, via data cables, to the data port of the onboard pump controller, the heater communication panel, the water dispersion device, the chlorinator communication panel, and the lighting device, the user interface comprising an LCD display configured to receive input parameters associated with the pump, the heater, the water dispersion device, the chlorinator, the lighting device, and a vacuum, and the input parameters include one or more of motor speed, chemical levels, and water temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 1 , wherein the water dispersion device is one of a water jet, waterfall, or fountain. 
     
     
         3 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 1 , further including a sensor to sense a parameter of operation performed on water in the swimming pool. 
     
     
         4 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 3 , wherein the parameter is one of water flow rate, water pressure, motor speed, power consumption, filter loading, chemical levels, water temperature, alarms, or operational states. 
     
     
         5 . An auxiliary device control system for a pool or spa comprising:
 a control system with a user interface, the control system being communicatively coupled to a plurality of auxiliary devices via data cables, the plurality of auxiliary devices including a pump, a chlorinator, a heater, a lighting device, a vacuum, and a water dispersion device, the pump being coupled to a swimming pool and a motor being coupled to the pump;   an onboard pump controller coupled to the pump, the pump controller including a keypad with an up-arrow button, a down-arrow button, a left-arrow button, and a right-arrow button;   a filter arrangement in fluid communication with the pump;   and   the user interface comprising an LCD display having a plurality of buttons to receive input parameters, at least one of the plurality of buttons being associated with each of:
 the pump, 
 the chlorinator, 
 the heater, 
 the lighting device, 
 the vacuum, and 
 the water dispersion device, 
   wherein the input parameters include one or more of motor speed, chemical levels, and water temperature.   
     
     
         6 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 5 , wherein the user interface includes a visual display, the visual display displaying an operational status of the pump, the chlorinator, the heater, the lighting device, the vacuum and the water dispersion device. 
     
     
         7 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 6 , wherein the visual display displays an acknowledgement of commands send to the plurality of auxiliary devices. 
     
     
         8 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 5 , wherein the control system receives an operational status of the pump via a pump controller coupled to the pump. 
     
     
         9 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 5 , wherein the pump includes a pump controller capable of operating the motor without receipt of information from the control system. 
     
     
         10 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 5 , wherein the pump includes a pump controller that selectively alters operation of the motor based on information received from the control system. 
     
     
         11 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 5 , wherein the data cables are one of insulated, shielded, or water tight, and include two wires. 
     
     
         12 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 5 , wherein the control system is configured to exchange data wirelessly with a remote personal computer. 
     
     
         13 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 12 , wherein the remote personal computer includes a second user interface to reprogram the input parameters. 
     
     
         14 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 5 , wherein the control system is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of a local area network, a wide area network, and the Internet. 
     
     
         15 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 5 , wherein the control system transmits data to the plurality of auxiliary devices based on a serial communication specification, the serial communication specification including at least one of RS-232 and RS-485. 
     
     
         16 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 5 , wherein the data cables provide at least one of half-duplex or full-duplex communication. 
     
     
         17 . An auxiliary device control system comprising:
 a pump having a pump controller and a motor coupled to the pump;   a control system with a user interface, the control system configured to be communicatively coupled to a plurality of auxiliary devices via data cables, the plurality of auxiliary devices including the pump controller, a chemical dispersion device, and a heater, the user interface configured to receive input associated with the pump, the chemical dispersion device, and the heater; and   one or more sensors in communication with the control system, the one or more sensors configured to sense at least one parameter of an operation performed on swimming pool water,   the control system configured to delay operations of the chemical dispersion device based on the at least one parameter.   
     
     
         18 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 17 , wherein the chemical dispersion device is a chlorinator. 
     
     
         19 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one parameter is one of water flow rate, water pressure, motor speed, power consumption, filter loading, chemical levels, water temperature, or alarms. 
     
     
         20 . The auxiliary device control system of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface is further configured to receive additional input associated with one or more of a lighting device, a vacuum, and a valve.