Looking for ways to reduce energy consumption, booster pump efficiency

[Bill in Bay Area]

My ~20 year old booster pump plus the 2-3 hours of running our Intelliflow on high accounts for a huge portion or my total daily electrical usage. I'm looking for tips on how I can do better, while still filtering adequately and having enough flow for the SWG. The pump was programmed by the installer in 2016 and I've never changed it. I do wonder why he set the pump to high the same hours the booster pump runs. (Once again, feeling like an ignorant DIYer because I haven't learned how to program the VSP.)

The booster pump surely needs replacing anyway. It leaks and the bearings are screaming. It's a PB4-60, part number 7-173840-23, 3/4 HP RPM 3450. I'm hoping there are more efficient models suitable for my pool.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Bill,

You have an EasyTouch and don't need to program the pump at all.

Do you have ScreenLogic?

What speed is the pump set up to run now.

I run my IntelliFlo 24/7, most of the time at 1200 RPM, for less than $20 bucks a month. With a Sand Filter, you might have to run at 1500 or so.

If you have ScreenLogic, show me this page...


View media item 1962

Have you thought about a Robot cleaner like this one...

dolphin s200 video - Bing video

www.bing.com

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[1poolman1]

My ~20 year old booster pump plus the 2-3 hours of running our Intelliflow on high accounts for a huge portion or my total daily electrical usage. I'm looking for tips on how I can do better, while still filtering adequately and having enough flow for the SWG. The pump was programmed by the installer in 2016 and I've never changed it. I do wonder why he set the pump to high the same hours the booster pump runs. (Once again, feeling like an ignorant DIYer because I haven't learned how to program the VSP.)

The booster pump surely needs replacing anyway. It leaks and the bearings are screaming. It's a PB4-60, part number 7-173840-23, 3/4 HP RPM 3450. I'm hoping there are more efficient models suitable for my pool.

View attachment 454773

Polaris PB4SQ and Pentair Boost Rite both use about 45% less energy than a standard booster. Tested with a true watt meter on several occassions to show customers.

 

[Bill in Bay Area]

I have ScreenLogic Connect on my phone. Screenlogic on my Mac stopped working years ago. This is the closest screen I could find to the one you asked for. I notice you talked about minimum pressure for the sand filter. What about your IC40? Mine stops producing chlorine when the flow light comes on, which appears to be most of the day.

I have not considered the Dolphin. Generally been happy with my Polaris 280. I'll take a look though.

 

[Bill in Bay Area]

Polaris PB4SQ and Pentair Boost Rite both use about 45% less energy than a standard booster. Tested with a true watt meter on several occassions to show customers.

That sounds great. Will both models support my Polaris 280?

 

[Jimrahbe]

Bill,

Which speed do you run most of the day?

For the cell to make chlorine, you need to be in the Pool mode or Spa mode. I "assume" pool low is your pool mode, but do not know for sure.

If it is, and your cell has a red no flow light, either your filter is dirty, or you need to run the pump faster. Just push the green triangles up or down to change the pump speed.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Bill in Bay Area]

Jim, the pump runs most of the day at 1800. After a fresh backwash I was able to lower to 1400 before the flow light on the SWG turned red.

My long term plan is to run the pump longer at lower speeds. I can also save some, it seems, by replacing the PB-60 with a PB-SQ or Pentair Boostrite (thanks Poolman). I am installing a flow meter and will keep tinkering with the pump and timing to find a good balance between power and cleaning/filtering/SWG.

Thanks for the support and good advice!

Bill

 

[Jimrahbe]

I am installing a flow meter

Bill,

If you want a flow meter, get one.

That said, almost no one needs a flow meter. They are of little value to the operation of your system.

Jim R.

 

[Bill in Bay Area]

Big thanks for pointing me to the robotic pool cleaners. Just looking at energy usage of pressure cleaners vs. robots, that's the big power reduction I was looking for. This thread was very interesting:

Robot Cleaners power usage Vs Pressure side cleaner

After looking at adding a Polaris 280 or a Pentair Legend for some time now I decided to investigate the use of a robot pool cleaner for auxiliary cleaning. I would have to add the 3/4 hp booster pump (I already have the plumbing for pressure side cleaner) to use the Polaris 280 or Pentair...

www.troublefreepool.com

As for the flow meter, I just think it will be interesting to see what the analog meter says in order to correlate it with the SWG flow lite, and to help me as I modify run times and pressures on the VSP. I was reading about them here: Swimming Pool Flow Meters.

Bill

 

[Pprior]

Bill,

You have an EasyTouch and don't need to program the pump at all.

Do you have ScreenLogic?

What speed is the pump set up to run now.

I run my IntelliFlo 24/7, most of the time at 1200 RPM, for less than $20 bucks a month. With a Sand Filter, you might have to run at 1500 or so.

I've tried to get mine lower and I get low flow reading on my SWG. Is there a trick? Is it the way my pool is plumbed? Ours is running at 1750rpm and there is marked decrease in energy if you slow the pump down

 

[1poolman1]

That sounds great. Will both models support my Polaris 280?

Sorry for the very late response, but yes they work well with a 280.