RPM for Water Feature vs Pool

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S

smcilw1

Member
Jan 16, 2024
9
Waxhaw, NC
Pool Size
10500
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
My pool builder set me up with a Pentair IntelliFlo Pool VSP. I have 3 options in Screen Logic: Pool, Waterfall, High Speed.

Originally they set it up as follows:
Pool - 2,600
Waterfall - 2,400
High Speed - 3,200

There is only one pump - so if I lower the Pool to say 2,000 RPM but the Waterfall is still at 2,400 RPM in the Screen Logic app, does the higher speed prevail when the waterfall is running?

Should I lower the waterfall RPM to the lowest I can while still getting good flow out of the sheer?

I finally mastered my water chemistry, so I'm hoping to most efficiently set up my pumps now!

Thanks :)
 
s,

Since it appears that you do not have a heater, then you are running way too fast most of the time.

The speed for your Pool Circuit should be whatever RPM it takes to close the SWCG's flow switch plus 100 or so RPM.

Your SWCG will only work if you are in the Pool mode or Spa mode.. This means you should have the Pool circuit on for the entire time you want to run your pump that day..

Then, as you turn on 'additional' circuits, the pump speed will change.

If the pump sees two or more speeds at the same time, it will always run the fastest one.

In your current set up...
If you run Pool and high speed, the pump will run at 3,200 .. (Way too fast..)
If you run Pool and waterfall, the pump will run at 2,600...
etc..

I have no heater and run most of the time at 1200 RPM.. This turns on my SWCG and skims just fine. I run my pump 24/7 as I like to make a little chlorine all the time and I like to skim all the time. I also like the look of my pool when there is a little motion to the water. The cost to do this is less than $20 bucks a month.. And, I have an old pump.. the newer pumps are much more energy efficient.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Jimrahbe said:
s,

Since it appears that you do not have a heater, then you are running way too fast most of the time.

The speed for your Pool Circuit should be whatever RPM it takes to close the SWCG's flow switch plus 100 or so RPM.

Your SWCG will only work if you are in the Pool mode or Spa mode.. This means you should have the Pool circuit on for the entire time you want to run your pump that day..

Then, as you turn on 'additional' circuits, the pump speed will change.

If the pump sees two or more speeds at the same time, it will always run the fastest one.

In your current set up...
If you run Pool and high speed, the pump will run at 3,200 .. (Way too fast..)
If you run Pool and waterfall, the pump will run at 2,600...
etc..

I have no heater and run most of the time at 1200 RPM.. This turns on my SWCG and skims just fine. I run my pump 24/7 as I like to make a little chlorine all the time and I like to skim all the time. I also like the look of my pool when there is a little motion to the water. The cost to do this is less than $20 bucks a month.. And, I have an old pump.. the newer pumps are much more energy efficient.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much, Jim! I actually do have a heater that we are planning to turn on for the first time this weekend. The pool builder said to turn on the "High Speed" whenever I run the heater.

Does it matter what the waterfall setting is compared to the "pool" or does it just have to be enough to get a good flow out of the waterfall?
 
smcilw1 said:
Thanks so much, Jim! I actually do have a heater that we are planning to turn on for the first time this weekend. The pool builder said to turn on the "High Speed" whenever I run the heater.

Does it matter what the waterfall setting is compared to the "pool" or does it just have to be enough to get a good flow out of the waterfall?
Click to expand...
Adjust the flow for the waterfall to an amount you find pleasant. That's one of the benefits of having a VSP.
 
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With automation you can set it so the pump rpm increases when the heater is called on. Doubt you need that high of rpm.

Your pool builder could care less about your electric bill.
 
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s,

We believe that you should run your pump for a reason.. When you run the waterfall, you want a speed that makes the waterfall look the way you want.

You want your pool speed to be fast enough to turn on the SWCG. When you turn on the heater, you want a speed that allows the heater to work.

Pools are all built a little differently.. So a speed that works for me, might not work for you, and your pool.. There is no magic here, you just need to experiment and adjust the various speeds and circuits so that everything works for you and your pool.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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