Polaris Watermatic C316 Owner's Manual

C316 ORP Controller
with pH Display, 24 Volt

O WNER’S MANUAL

Table of Contents

I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

II. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

III. Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

IV. Pre-installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

A. Timed Feeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

B. Switch Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

V. Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

A. Feeding Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

B. Controller Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

C. Flow Cell Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

D. Sensor Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

E. Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

F. Start-up Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

G. Sanitizer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

H. pH Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

VI. Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

VII. Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

A. Setting Feed and Delay Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

B. Feed Light Activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

C. Out-of-range Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

D. Manual Feed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

E. Winterizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

VIII. Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

A. Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

B. Cleaning the Sensor Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

C. Checking the ORP Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

D. Checking the pH Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

IX. Erosion Feeder Operating Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

X. Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

XI. Guidelines for Using ORP for Water Maintenance . . .22

XII. Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

POWER

ON

OFF

MAINTAIN
PROPER pH

FEED

MANUAL

pH

ADJ.

FEED

C-316 ORP Controller w/pH Display, 24 V

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2

I. Introduction

For your protection, read all instructions carefully before
installing or operating this automatic controller.

The Polaris Watermatic®C316 24-Volt Controller is designed to
automatically monitor and maintain the sanitizer level and pH
balance in swimming pools, spas and any circulating water sys­tem that requires water chemistry management.This controller
is designed for easy installation and simple operation, and is
used with tablet erosion feeders.

During the filtration cycle of the pool or spa, the sanitizer level
and pH balance are maintained by a constant measurement of
the ORP (Oxidation-Reduction-Potential) and pH balance of
the water. Levels are displayed on the controller’s ORP and pH
light bar arrays (see Figure 1).If the sanitizer level (ORP) falls
below a predetermined set point, the controller activates the
chemical feeder until the preset level is reached.The pH is
maintained in a similar manner.

Figure 1

3

II. Specifications

pH Range: 7.0 - 8.2
ORP Range: 100 mV to 1000 mV
Input Power: 24 VAC 50/60 Hz, 40 Volt Amp

(transformer included)

Controller Power: Less than .5 Amp internally fused
Output Power: 24 VAC 50/60 Hz, 5 Amp fuse
Display: Light Bar Array — Yellow for ORP,

Green for pH

Operating
Temperature: 40°-120° F

Sensors: ORP: platinum combination with 10'

cable; pH: glass combination
with 10' cable

Selectable Features:

• Desired ORP settings

• pH calibration

• Safety lockouts for low or high (out of range) ORP levels

• Visual alert and optional audible aler t for self-correcting and

non-correcting conditions

III. Components

The C316 Controller box contains:

• C316 Controller

• ORP Sensor (part #3-270)

• pH Sensor (part #3-260)

•110 V to 24V Plug-in Transformer (part #9-620)

• 1/2" Jaco Compression Fittings (part #2-260)
Recommended (optional) components include:

• Flow Cell Assembly (part #9-700)

4

IV. Pre-installation

Before installing the controller, it is impor tant to do a site
assessment and consider where and how you will mount the
unit.The controller should be mounted on a wall or other sur­face at least ten feet away from the edge of the water and less
than six feet from the GFCI power source.

Once the best site is selected, obtain all necessary mounting
screws or anchors (no mounting screws are provided with
controller). Seal-tight or strain relief connectors for the electrical
access holes in the control box and electrical wire will also
be needed.

A. Timed Feeds

The controller was designed with the flexibility to be adjusted
to meet individual user applications. Feed times and aler ts can
be adjusted through optional dip switch settings.To access and
adjust the dip switches, located on the back of the board (see
Figure 2), disconnect the controller from the power source and
remove the three mounting screws.

The timed feed and delay option allows the use of erosion feed­ers on spas and small bodies of water without spiking. An auto­matic shut down feature that can be adjusted for small pool/spa
applications. Additionally, the timed feed allows the injection of
sanitizer before the ORP/pH sensors.

Pool Spa

For Remote
Monitoring

Flow Jumper

Transformer

OFF ON

1
2
3
4
5
6

Dip Switches

Figure 2

5

B. Switch Settings

1. Dip switches #1 and #2 control the feed times. Feed times

vary depending on whether the controller is in the pool or
spa mode.

Note: Once the settings have been modified, move the
Pool/Spa Switch on the front of the controller to the appro­priate mode to activate the changes. Refer to Figure 4.

2. Dip switch #3 controls the delay time between feeds.

OFF 30 sec.

ON 7 min.

3. Dip switch #4 must be in the OFF position.

4. Dip switch #5 controls the low ORP shutoff.

The controller is set to shut down when the ORP level drops
below 100 mV.This prevents overfeeding if there is an ORP
sensor failure.

Moving switch #5 to the OFF position will override this
function.This override might be required in extremely small
bodies of water where sudden organic loads dissipate the
sanitizer in a very short time.

5. Dip switch #6 has no assigned function.

Pool Position

Dip Switch Feed

12 Time

OFF ON 1 min.

ON ON 5 min.

OFF OFF 10 min.

Spa Position

Dip Switch Feed

12 Time

OFF OFF 1 sec.

ON OFF 5 sec.

OFF ON 10 sec.

6

V. Installation

The feeder should be installed before the controller.

A. Feeding System

Install the feeding system as shown in Figure 3 or in accor­dance with the installation instructions that were provided with
the feeder.

B. Controller Installation

The voltage on the feeder solenoid valve must match the output
voltage of the controller. The C316 Controller must be matched
with a 24V solenoid valve.

1. Turn off the power to the filter pump at the breaker box.

2. Remove the Caution Plate at the bottom of the controller by

removing the two screws.

3. To avoid damage, remove the controller module from the

controller box by removing the BNC connector(s) and the
faceplate screws.

4. Drill or cut out the electrical access holes that are best

suited for your installation (using a hammer can damage the
controller). Install seal-tight or strain relief connectors in the
access holes and replace the module.

5. Mount the controller on a wall or surface within eight feet of

the feeder.

316
Controller

110V to 24V Plug-in
Transformer

To Pool

Heater

pH Sensor

Filter

Pump

From Pool

Flow

Flow

Switch

Flow Cell

Check
Valve

24V Solenoid
Valve

Figure 3

7

6. A plug-in 110v to 24v transformer (part #22-3190) is

provided with the controller. Locate the nearest 110V
standard outlet. Using a minimum of 20 to 22 gauge PVC
jacketed wire, connect the controller to the transformer that
will plug into the 110V outlet.Thread the wire through the
controller seal-tight or strain relief connecter and hook it to
the line side of the terminal strip and transformer.

6. Connect the controller output using a minimum of 20 to 22

gauge wire through the compression fitting to the solenoid.

7. Replace the Caution Plate at the bottom of the controller.

8. We recommend that the sensor be installed in the Flow Cell

Assembly (part #9-700), available from Polaris.
If you do not use the flow cell assembly, you can install the

sensor using the compression fitting that comes with the
controller.The fitting should be installed in a vertical position
on the pressure side of the pool circulation system. It should
be located after the filter and before the heater, and it can
be installed using a tee, saddle tee or a 1/2” NPT tap.

C. Flow Cell Assembly Installation (Optional)

If using the flow cell assembly, locate the assembly within eight
feet of the controller and mount it using the brackets provided.
The flow cell must be plumbed so the pressure difference
between the inlet and outlet is sufficient to ensure flow through
the flow cell. It is also desirable to have filtered water pass over
the sensors to minimize cleaning.

Flow Switch/
Flow Indicator

Sample
Port

Inlet

Ball
Valve

Outlet

Compression Fittings
with Sensors

Flow Cell
Assembly

8

There are three suggested methods to install the flow cell.

1. Plumb the inlet to the flow cell after the filter and plumb the

outlet of the flow cell after the heater using the saddle
clamps provided. See the Pressure Differential Installation
diagram. Fittings for 1/4" NPT taps are included.

2. Plumb from after the filter to before the pump. This ensures

excellent flow but the flow will need to be adjusted so the
sensors are not subjected to a suction environment. See the
Pressure Suction Installation diagram. Open the sample
port (see Flow Cell Assembly drawing) to verify that the
water is flowing freely.

To Pool

From Pool
Flow

Flow
Cell

pH Sensor

ORP Sensor

Filter

Heater

Pump

Controller

Flow Switch

pH

Controller

To Pool

Flow

Flow
Switch

ORP

Flow Cell

From Pool
Flow

Filter

Pump

Pressure Differential
Installation

Pressure Suction
Method