Need new pump but am unsure about VS pump

Jump to latest Follow Reply
B

Braydon

0
Jul 28, 2015
22
Grand Rapids/MI
I need to swap out my old 3/4hp Hayward single speed pump and I was looking at getting a VS speed pump. I am currently wired for 120v so I would need to run new wiring/breakers to accommodate 240v as it looks like VS pumps are all 240v(not the end of the world). I also am not sure how I would shut off power to my saltwater chlorinator with a VS pump. currently I just have a mechanical timer with the dial that starts and stops power to both my pump and salt cell. I hear VS needs constant power and have their own timer on the pump itself so I'm not sure how to make that work with my salt system timer. I do have the flow sensor that should turn off the salt chlorinator with no flow but I have heard not to rely on those. lastly, I have a waterfall that runs of the same pump, so the jets, return and waterfall are all on same pump. I am concerned that when I want to turn down the RPMs on a VS pump for energy efficiency it would also make the waterfall have less desirable flow rates. and if so maybe I should just stick with a single speed pump.

Just looking for thoughts on if I should stick with single speed pump in my situation or if anyone still feels like a VS might be worth it

I have about a 22k inground pool with waterfall at the deep end. Thanks everyone
 
Braydon said:
I need to swap out my old 3/4hp Hayward single speed pump and I was looking at getting a VS speed pump. I am currently wired for 120v so I would need to run new wiring/breakers to accommodate 240v as it looks like VS pumps are all 240v(not the end of the world). I also am not sure how I would shut off power to my saltwater chlorinator with a VS pump. currently I just have a mechanical timer with the dial that starts and stops power to both my pump and salt cell. I hear VS needs constant power and have their own timer on the pump itself so I'm not sure how to make that work with my salt system timer. I do have the flow sensor that should turn off the salt chlorinator with no flow but I have heard not to rely on those. lastly, I have a waterfall that runs of the same pump, so the jets, return and waterfall are all on same pump. I am concerned that when I want to turn down the RPMs on a VS pump for energy efficiency it would also make the waterfall have less desirable flow rates. and if so maybe I should just stick with a single speed pump.

Just looking for thoughts on if I should stick with single speed pump in my situation or if anyone still feels like a VS might be worth it

I have about a 22k inground pool with waterfall at the deep end. Thanks everyone
Click to expand...
You can power the new pump on its own and let your mechanical timer control the SWCG. That’ll let you shut it off to help you fine tune how much chlorine is made.

Regarding the waterfalls…your sig doesn’t say anything about automation, do you have any? Generally we’d recommend only running the waterfall when you are actually wanting them to work. Turn them on temporarily when you are out there swimming or turn them on 30min per day to circulate chlorinated water through them.

One advantage of the VS pump is that it can run slow 24x7 for much cheaper than the single speed running just part of the day. Consider letting the pump run 24x7 and then turn it up only when you want to. Not having the waterfall running constantly will also help slow your pH rise.
 
Braydon,

I doubt that you will save a ton of money going with a VS pump, since your current pump is only a 3/4 HP..

How long do you run your pump each day?

That said, if you do decide to move up to a VS pump, you could go with the 1.5 HP IntelliFlo3, which can run off of 120 volts.. It can also include a relay card that can turn your SWCG on and off..


I do not normally recommend 1.5 HP VS pumps, but in your case of using 120 volts, it makes sense.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mdragger88
My pump gets full power from the timer just has to hook on the correct terminals and my swg goes onto the load terminals but I don't have trippers it all runs 24/7. If no power then nothing has power 😂😂
 
Jimrahbe said:
Braydon,

I doubt that you will save a ton of money going with a VS pump, since your current pump is only a 3/4 HP..

How long do you run your pump each day?

That said, if you do decide to move up to a VS pump, you could go with the 1.5 HP IntelliFlo3, which can run off of 120 volts.. It can also include a relay card that can turn your SWCG on and off..


I do not normally recommend 1.5 HP VS pumps, but in your case of using 120 volts, it makes sense.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Braydon, you can also use Hayward pumps on 230/115v if you want to stay with Hayward: Hayward Tristar VS 950 Family
 
  • Like
Reactions: BMerrill
Braydon said:
I am concerned that when I want to turn down the RPMs on a VS pump for energy efficiency it would also make the waterfall have less desirable flow rates. and if so maybe I should just stick with a single speed pump.
Click to expand...
Because of new DOE regulations, your choices are:

New VS Pump

New single/dual speed pump with <0.711 HHP

Repair old pump depending on what went wrong
- If the motor is not starting or bearings are gone, that can be easily replaced or even fixed if it is a start capacitor
- If the pump is leaking, you can replace the seal
- If the housing is cracked, then it would be best to replace
- Replace impeller if shaft is broken

Pump DOE Regulations - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
Last edited:
I did hear about the new regulations but it did look like I could find a Hayward super pump 1hp all over the internet just fine. so my thought was to just buy one of those if I stayed with single speed.

I dont mind rewiring for VS pump but im just imagining that my waterfall will not flow correctly whenever the VS pump is set to a lower RPM. and didn't know if that made switching to a VS pump a moot point.
 
Braydon said:
I dont mind rewiring for VS pump but im just imagining that my waterfall will not flow correctly whenever the VS pump is set to a lower RPM. and didn't know if that made switching to a VS pump a moot point.
Click to expand...
FWIW, we have a Tristar XE pump dedicated to our waterfall. It’s not a true VS but approximates one by having three programmable speeds. We run the waterfall at low and medium speeds just fine, as we found that high was too much.
 
Jimrahbe said:
Braydon,

I doubt that you will save a ton of money going with a VS pump, since your current pump is only a 3/4 HP..

How long do you run your pump each day?

That said, if you do decide to move up to a VS pump, you could go with the 1.5 HP IntelliFlo3, which can run off of 120 volts.. It can also include a relay card that can turn your SWCG on and off..


I do not normally recommend 1.5 HP VS pumps, but in your case of using 120 volts, it makes sense.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...

Waterway Power Defender 165 Variable Speed Dual Voltage. This one is on that site you posted. Good be good for them.​

 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply