No Flow light on your Aqua Rite: flow sensor or board?
When the No Flow light stays on, the system stops making chlorine to protect itself. Most of the time it’s the flow sensor or the installation, not the board. Here is how to check it in a few minutes.
Applies to: Aqua Rite / AquaRite, Swim Pure and Aqua Nature on an in-ground pool with a flow sensor. For an Aqua Trol (above-ground pool), see below.
The fastest way: the troubleshooting guide goes through these checks with you, one step at a time.
What is normal
The No Flow light flashes for about a minute when the pump starts or when the sensor is plugged in. If it stays on, the system doesn’t detect any water flow.
1. Check the basics
- The pump is running.
- The flow sensor cable is plugged in (a plug like a phone cable, under the display).
- If the light is flashing, wait one minute.
2. Did you replace the sensor recently?
A flow sensor works in one direction only. Check that it isn’t installed backwards.
3. Test the sensor out of the pipe
- Turn the pump off.
- Remove the sensor from the pipe, leaving it plugged in.
- Hold its two tabs together.
- The No Flow light starts flashing: the sensor and the board work. The problem is the installation (flow, plumbing).
- Nothing changes: the sensor is probably faulty.
4. Try a new sensor
A new flow sensor is inexpensive. Test it out of the pipe before installing it. If the board doesn’t react to the new sensor either, the board needs a repair. We don’t install sensors.
Danger: in-ground pool set to AL-7
On an Aqua Rite, the AL- value in the Diagnostic list tells the pool type. AL-0 to AL-6: pool with a flow sensor. AL-7: above-ground pool without a sensor. An in-ground pool set to AL-7 ignores the flow sensor, even when it’s plugged in.
To check, with the pump running and the switch on AUTO, unplug the sensor and watch the No Flow light:
- It stays off: disconnect the system right away (plug or breaker). It won’t stop if the pump has a problem: hydrogen and oxygen build up in the pipes and can cause an explosion. Then have the board repaired.
- It turns on: the system is not on AL-7. Plug the sensor back in and check the AL- value again.
Above-ground pool (Aqua Trol or AL-7)
An above-ground pool set to AL-7 has no flow sensor: the No Flow light should never stay on. If it does, it isn’t normal: contact us, the board needs a repair.
To remove the board before you send it: watch the video.
Does your board need a repair?
We repair original Hayward boards within 1 to 2 business days after we receive them, with a 1-year warranty. By mail (Canada, USA and other countries) or by appointment in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec.
Questions? Call us at 438 448-0782.