How do I upgrade my software?
As of May 2011, an upgrade is available for Model 4817/4819 (Version 2) only. Please refer to the ePool® Version 2 Upgrade Instructions for a step by step guide to downloading and installing the ePool® Version 2 Upgrade File. Please note there is no upgrade on Version 3 available at this time. Please check back periodically for upgrades and we will also notify you using email you provided in product registration.
What does ePool® test for?
ePool® tests for pH, temperature and ORP levels (Oxygen Reduction Potential – which is an indicator of the level and quality of your sanitizer).
How do I know that my receiver is not reading my neighbor's monitor?
Each monitor and receiver have a unique code that will only sync with each other.
How long should my batteries last?
Your batteries should last up to a year.
How do I replace my batteries?
For ePool® Model 4816 (Version 1), you cannot replace your batteries without replacing the battery pack. Please contact GAME Customer Service at products@game-group.com or call 1.888.339.2546 x 135 to order a replacement battery pack. For ePool® Model 4817/4819 (Version 2), please refer to Page 15 of the ePool® Product Instructions for step-by-step directions. Replace with four (4) fresh, high quality alkaline AA batteries.
How long is the warranty?
ePool® carries a 90 day limited warranty. Please view the Warranty document for details.
How do I store my ePool® after the season?
Please view the Maintenance, Care & Storage document for storage solutions.
My screen is black. It was reading just fine yesterday but now it's not. What do I do?
You should unplug and replug in your receiver. If that does not work, contact Customer Service at products@game-group.com or call 1-888-382-5988 for assistance.
Where should I place the receiver?
You should place the receiver within 150 feet of the floating sensor in your pool.
Will it interfere with cordless phones, cellular phones, WiFi or Bluetooth?
No, ePool® transmits on a different frequency than any of these items.
ePool® Smart System™ (16)
How does the ePool® Smart System™ work?
The ePool® Smart System™ uses the same sensors used by commercial pool systems, water treatment plants and laboratories to measure water chemistry. The readings taken by the Floating Sensor are wirelessly transmitted in “packets” every five minutes. If the Receiver is plugged into your computer system, the data in the packets are analyzed according to your initial setup configuration (pool type, chemicals used, pool volume, etc.). The System performs calculations to determine whether the sanitizer or pH need adjustment and displays the results on the Software screen. Alerts are also sent to your email or cell phone as text messages through Twitter, if it has been configured to do so.
For additional details about each component, go online and search for the following: ‘pH Electrode,’ ‘pH Meter,’ ‘ORP Electrode’ and ‘ORP Meter.’
What does the ePool® Smart System™ measure? What doesn't it measure?
The ePool® Smart System™ is able to measure three important levels in water: pH, which is a measurement of the acidity of the water; ORP, which is a measure of the effectiveness of the sanitizer; and temperature of the water.
The ePool® Smart System™ does not measure all important variables in water chemistry, however most of these change slowly over longer periods of time and do not require the constant observation that ePool® provides. ePool® does prompt you to have these readings tested regularly at your local pool supply retailer. When the results are input to the software, it will let you know if the readings are outside the ASPC/NSPI recommended range.
Chemical levels not monitored:
- Total Alkalinity (TA): Very important, as it affects the way pH adjustments happen in the pool water.
- Calcium Hardness: Proper range ensures reduced scale formation or “chalking” of pool walls.
- Cyanuric Acid/Conditioner (CYA): Proper range ensures that sanitizer effectiveness (ORP) will remain high enough to protect swimmers during sunlight hours. If the Cyanuric Acid levels are too high (over 50ppm), it will “bind” the sanitizer, rendering it ineffective. In addition, ORP sensors, such as the one in ePool®, do not function properly with Cyanuric Acid levels over 50ppm. NOTE: Indoor pools or spas do NOT need CYA or stabilizer.
- Phosphates: Think of phosphates as “algae food.” The higher the phosphate levels, the higher your chances of having an algae problem. Low is good – zero is better.
- Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): This is a measure of ALL solids dissolved in your pool water. This includes Calcium and anything else. Pools equipped with a salt chlorine generator will have a higher Total Dissolved Solids number. Too high, and the addition of other chemicals can be negatively affected.
Total Alkalinity and Phosphates may be adjusted by adding chemicals per your local pool supply store’s recommendations. Calcium Hardness, Cyanuric Acid and Total Dissolved Solids can only be lowered by draining water from the pool and adding fresh water. It is important to note that evaporation does NOT count as “removing water” and is, in fact, the reason these readings creep up over time.
Your pool or spa is a delicate balancing act – ePool® makes maintaining safe, comfortable, attractive and enjoyable water easier and more accurate.
What is ORP? Why not just give PPM?
ORP stands for Oxygen Reduction Potential, also known as “Redox.” Most sanitizers, including chlorine (“salt water” pools are actually chlorine pools), bromine and ozone, use oxidation to kill bacteria and break down organic compounds which your filter can then remove. PPM, Parts Per Million, is a measure of the number of Parts of chemical sanitizer there are per One Million Parts of water.
However, the effectiveness of those Parts Per Million is not given by a simple PPM reading. It is very possible to have an “acceptable” PPM level, say 2.5ppm, but have the sanitizer be dangerously ineffective. If the pH is too high, or the CYA levels are too high, your pool may have acceptable PPM levels, but in fact be dangerously low in its ability to kill harmful bacteria.
ORP cannot, in fact, “measure PPM.” However, we can estimate “effective” PPM, which is given as a number on the EPOS main screen. This number is based on a calculation of the pool’s ORP level, the pH number and the water temperature. Based on these three numbers, the “effective” PPM can be estimated.
For example, if your “actual” PPM of free chlorine is 3.0PPM but your pH is at 7.8, your “effective” PPM may be closer to 1.0PPM. Higher pH causes ORP to drop so your sanitizer is less effective at higher pH numbers and more effective at lower numbers. At a pH of 8.0, your oxidization-based sanitizer is 10x less effective than it is at a pH of 7.0. Why not just keep the pH at 7.0? Because of swimmer comfort and other factors such as preservation of pool equipment. pH that is too low can result in destruction of plaster, stainless steel and seals.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a minimum ORP reading of 650mV (ePool’s “Red Line”) as a standard for sanitized water. ORP readings below this minimum indicate dangerously low sanitizer effectiveness and could result in the harmful growth of microorganisms in your pool.
Think of it like this: Your pool or spa is a battlefield. Bacteria, virus, organic matter, etc. are the enemy. PPM is the number of soldiers you have on the battlefield. ORP is an accurate measurement of the morale of your soldiers – how willing they are to kill.
How tight should I make the battery cover on the Floating Sensor?
As tight as possible, within reason. If you’ve installed fresh alkaline batteries into the Floating Sensor, the batteries should last for over a year and a half. The radio protocol used in ePool® is very energy efficient. Water tends to get everywhere we don’t want it to and anything with a seal is a potential leak. So be sure the gasket and surface of the top of the battery compartment are clean and clear and tighten away. We’ve taken care to design ePool® so that the seals are both redundant and naturally float above the water line to help avoid any leaks.
I registered my ePool® Smart System™ but didn't receive an email with the link to download software. What do I do?
Please check your Spam and Junk Mail filters in your email. Often, this is where the message was delivered. Also, please add “epool@game-group.com” to your address book to ensure you receive all notices regarding any Critical Software Updates.
I'm having trouble pairing during initial setup. What do I do?
Check the freshness, size (AA) and orientation of the batteries in the Floating Sensor’s battery cage. If everything is OK, there may be a problem with the battery cage wire which is a known manufacturing issue in early production units. Email GAME Customer Service, products@game-group.com, for a free replacement.
I want ePool® to send my pool information to multiple email addresses. Is that possible?
Yes. Simply separate each email address with a semicolon, including no spaces. For example: my.email@gmail.com;poolguy@yahoo.com;poolstore@email.com
Alternately, you can set up a Twitter account for your pool. In addition to having Twitter send messages to your phone via text message, other Twitter users can “follow” your pool and see the same information.
I really don't want to leave my computer on all the time - will ePool still work if I turn my computer off?
Yes, the ePool® Smart System’s Floating Sensor continues to send data even if your computer is turned off. Data will not be received by your software but once you turn your computer back on and plug in the ePool Receiver to the USB port, it should receive a packet within 15 minutes and generate updated readings. You will see a flat line in the graph for the time the computer was off but the Floating Sensor was still working; there is no need to re-stabilize the system.
The ePool® software says I stopped receiving readings hours ago. It was fine before that. What do I do?
In some Windows systems, there is an issue with the way Windows transfers data from the USB port to the system, causing intermittent “hangs.” We are working on finding a way to resolve this Operating System issue. The immediate fix is to simply unplug the Receiver from your USB port, wait 10 seconds, then plug it back in. Your readings should resume within 5 minutes. If you are still experiencing issues, please contact GAME Customer Service, products@game-group.com.
The ORP goes way up at night and drops during the day. Why?
Sunlight – specifically UV – beaks down your sanitizer, causing the ORP to drop. This is normal and a real physical effect. A healthy pool’s ORP levels resemble a “heartbeat” over time – up at night, down during the day. ePool® will help you see when your sanitizer is wearing out or becoming dangerously low too often during the day.
After a few people swim in my pool for a while, the ORP reading drops. Why?
This shows that your sanitizer is working. The people in your pool carried in oils, skin cells, sweat…and maybe a few other things. There simply isn’t as much oxidizer available because it did its job. The ORP should recover within a few hours. If not, this is an indication that it may be time to shock your pool.
Why does the pH on my salt water pool appear to jump?
This is usually caused by the electrolysis cell forming “hydroxide” as a by-product during the process of forming chlorine (sanitizer) from the salt in your water. This is a normal part of the electrolysis process and the pH in a salt water pool must be more closely monitored. To help lower the amount raised, try reducing the power to the salt generator cell and set it to run for a longer duration.
I want to change computers. How can I preserve my history and setup?
In the top menu bar of the Software, go to File > Save Diagnostic File. After that file is saved, transfer it to the new computer. Load the Software on the new computer and go through the setup process. When setup is complete on the new computer, again go to the top menu bar, select File > Load Diag File and navigate to the folder with the file saved from the old computer. Select the file and click Open. This will transfer your history to the new system.
I want to use two computers. Is it possible to have the software loaded onto two computers?
Yes, but they can’t be used at the same time. The Floating Sensor pairs with one receiver during setup. You can plug the Receiver into either computer but the data gathered while plugged into the other will simply be “missing,” as if the computer were turned off.
I would like access to the ``raw`` data. Where can I get that?
In the Software, go to File > Export CSV file. This will export a CSV file (Comma Separated Value) which most spreadsheet applications, such as Excel, can open.
I would like to integrate the ePool® Smart System™ into my custom Home Automation System and I want to write my own software to interpret the data. How can I do this?
The raw data packets are transmitted via USB to Serial converter. You can check the Device Manager to see which COM port the Windows COM Port Enumerator has assigned to the Receiver. The packets are not encrypted, and in fact monitoring tools are available free from Atmel (WSNMonitor) to allow you to see this data.
General Questions (7)
How do I become a dealer of GAME products?
Please contact the Sales Department at 602.957.3825 x132.
Can I buy replacement parts for your products?
At this time, we do not sell replacement parts. Please contact Customer Service at products@game-group.com or call 1-888-382-5988 for more information.
Where can I purchase your products and/or find a price list?
Our products are sold at various retailers and online locations. Please visit our Where to Buy page to find a retailer near you.
Where can I find product instructions for your products?
Please visit our Product Instructions page where you can download the instructions to most of our products. If you need additional information or find that the instructions you need are not listed, please contact Customer Service at products@game-group.com or 1-888-382-5988 for assistance.
Is the paint on your painted products lead-based?
GAME has been very careful to provide only the safest, best quality products possible. That is why the items in production today follow the guidelines put forth by the EU directive 76/769/EEC and the US Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act HR4040. Our products are also compliant with the European Non-phthalates Directive 2005/84/EC.
Is there mercury in your thermometers?
No, the liquid inside our thermometers is not mercury. We have chosen to use an alternative that is less toxic. However, should you, your child or pet come in contact with this material, please seek medical attention as soon as possible to ensure no injury or allergic reaction has occurred.
What do I do if my product is defective?
For ePOOL®, Universal Pool Filter Systems and Universal Solar Heaters please contact Customer Service at products@game-group.com or call 1-888-382-5988 for assistance. For all other GAME products, please take it back to your retailer for an exchange or contact GAME Customer Service to find out if your product is under warranty.
Maintenance & Utility (18)
How do I open my chlorinator?
We have two (2) versions of this product – lock tab and notched rim.
1) The lock tab should be pushed in while turning the capsule counter clockwise.
2) The notched rim, about half way down the capsule, should be turned counter clockwise to remove the lower part of the dispenser.
How long does the water take to heat in the Outdoor Solar Shower and how hot will it get?
This will vary on location, shower placement and how much time in direct sunlight. Please use the warm setting to test water before showering.
How big of a pool will these filters handle?
We recommend the ½ HP (#4510) for pools up to 5500-gallons and the ¾ HP (#4511) for pools up to 15,000-gallons.
Where can I buy the #20 silica filter sand?
This sand is commonly available at pool specialty stores and often found in larger grocery store chains.
What tools do I need to install my new filter system?
Installation is very simple and requires only basic tools; i.e.: a Phillips Head screwdriver and a rubber mallet. All other connections are made by hand.
How much sand do the filter tanks hold?
The ½ HP System (#4510) holds 38 lbs. The ¾ HP System (#4511) holds 75 lbs. The Energy Saver Filter System (#4515) holds 26 lbs.
Can I attach these sand systems to other kinds of pools besides Intex® and those with similar designs?
Yes, these filter systems are designed, and include the necessary plumbing fittings, to fit most styles of above-ground swimming pools. These systems are not designed for in-ground swimming pools; using them in this way is at the sole discretion and responsibility of the pool owner.
How does the Solar Heater work?
The unit is connected between your filter tank and the return fitting on your pool wall. As the water circulates out of the filter through the Solar Heater it is heated by the sun and returned to your pool. Continued daily operation will generate an increase in pool water temperature.
How large is the Solar Heater unit?
23″ x 23″x 8″
What size pool will the Solar Heater work with?
The unit will work on any size pool. The amount of temperature increase will vary by pool volume.
Where should I place my Solar Heater unit?
It should have direct sun exposure for most of the daylight hours.
Can I mount the Solar Heater on my roof like some of the other units out there?
This product is designed for use on the ground level. Installation above ground level or on any structure would be at the sole discretion and responsibility of the pool owner.
Can I use your Solar Heater product in conjunction with other solar heating units?
Yes, it is recommended that you use a solar blanket or cover to maximize heating and minimize night heat loss.
How can I maximize the sun’s solar power and keep my pool warm?
If you use this in conjunction with a solar blanket or cover it will help keep the heat in and keep your pool water warmer.
By how many degrees will the Solar Heater heat up my pool?
This will vary depending on pool volume, ambient temperature, wind and weather conditions, sun exposure, location and whether you are using any other type of solar or thermal products, i.e.: blankets, covers, etc.
Can I use the Solar Heater on an in-ground pool?
This product is designed for use on above-ground pools. Any use with an in-ground pool would be at the sole discretion and responsibility of the pool owner.
What do I do if my Solar Heater is not working properly?
Do not take it back to your store. Please contact Customer Service at products@game-group.com or call 1-888-382-5988 for assistance.
What is the warranty on the Solar Heater?
This product has a 1 year limited warranty. For more details, contact GAME Customer Service at products@game-group.com or 1-888-382-5988.
Pool & Accent Lighting (9)
Can I leave my lighting products in the pool overnight?
For better performance, we recommend removing lighted products from the water after using.
How much area does an Underwater Light show, Underwater Kool-Light-O-Scope, or Underwater Light Show & Fountain cover?
10 – 12 feet diameter; however, the diameter and brightness will vary depending on the depth of your pool as well as its coating and color (i.e.: white plaster vs. pebble tec).
Would one Underwater Light Show be enough to cover the length of my pool?
You may want to put several in your pool depending on its size and your personal lighting preference.
How high does the water shoot up from the fountain on the Underwater Light Show & Fountain?
It has 3 settings: low, medium and high. The highest level will shoot up to 35 inches.
How long do the batteries last in the Flowers, Stars, Hearts, Glitter Globes and Light Up Characters and are they replaceable?
Fresh, high quality batteries last about 36 hrs. They are 1.5 V batteries (exact type varies by product – replace with same type) which you can find at most local battery stores or convenience/pharmacy stores (i.e. Walgreens, CVS, etc.). You can access the batteries from the bottom of the product using a small Phillips head screwdriver.
Can I use rechargeable batteries with your products?
Yes, feel free to use rechargeable batteries with any of our lighted items.
Can the setting on the lighted items be changed to stay on continuously without automatically shutting off?
The programming is set and cannot be changed on any of these types of products, with the exception of the Dancing Fountain, which will continue to run in Music Response Mode as long as music is being played through an active (powered “On” and using fresh batteries) Dancing Fountain transmitter.
What is causing the noise coming from my Rainbow Fountain?
The noise coming out of your fountain is normal and is caused by the water powered generator inside.
How do I connect my Rainbow Fountain to my pool return line?
Please view the Rainbow Fountain Product Instructions in order to hook up your Fountain.
