Pentair drive interchangeability?

[WillAP1]

Hello,

My pool has a Pentair IntelliFloXF VSF (Part # 022056) and I'm having issues with the drive. Looks like the power delivery circuit overheated and melted the board. Thus it needs to be replaced. Per Pentair's documentation I need the drive with Part # 357521Z, however I have been unable to find it in stock anywhere due to... well, you know... everything going on in the world. I've been told it will be at least a month and potentially several before there will be any available.

Anyways, my question is, could I instead replace it with a different drive, such as Part # 356879Z or 356922Z possibly? I am able to find those available. I understand these drives are not exactly the same and may not have some of the same functionality as my original one... but they look similar are for similar model pumps... would they at least work well enough to run the pump and without damaging anything?

If you have any other suggestions I am open to that too. Just would prefer not to be without a pump for however many months until Part # 357521Z becomes available...

Thanks,
Will

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

The 2021 Pentair Pump Parts Catalog shows the parts commonality across the product line.

 

[WillAP1]

Welcome to TFP.

The 2021 Pentair Pump Parts Catalog shows the parts commonality across the product line.

Thanks.

Yes I've seen that, but isn't that only the "official" direct replacement list? As I said, I understand what I'm looking to do might not be ideal or officially supported, but just trying to determine if it will work and at least provide basic functionality without damaging anything?

 

[ajw22]

The only IntelliFlo drive replacement I have seen discussed here is someone who had a VS+SVRS pump and wanted to get rid of the SVRS feature and replaced the drive with a VS only drive.

Typically when the drive fails folks replace the entire pump. The drive is half the cost of a new pump and they would rather start with a new pump with all new components.

 

[WillAP1]

The only IntelliFlo drive replacement I have seen discussed here is someone who had a VS+SVRS pump and wanted to get rid of the SVRS feature and replaced the drive with a VS only drive.

Typically when the drive fails folks replace the entire pump. The drive is half the cost of a new pump and they would rather start with a new pump with all new components.

Ah ok. Was hoping someone here would have tried it already... From a high level it seems like it could/should work... but not sure it's worth the risk...

Yes I considered replacing the entire pump, but it is supposedly relatively new (2020... per the previous owners; just purchased a new home) so I thought that seemed unnecessary but maybe I should reconsider that option.

 

[ajw22]

There should be a label with the manufacturing date of the pump in the front.

Have you checked with Pentair to see if the pump is under warranty?

 

[WillAP1]

There should be a label with the manufacturing date of the pump in the front.

Have you checked with Pentair to see if the pump is under warranty?

Thanks. I'll check that.

I thought about that but I read their warranty info and there are several disqualifiers for me in there such as not being the original owner, not registering the product and not knowing who installed it or having any of the associated documentation, etc. So I didn't bother trying after reading all that.

 

[WillAP1]

For anyone wondering who finds this in the future, I decided to risk it and try the Pentair 356879Z. Came today. Popped it on my IntelliFloXF VSF and rewired it up and it seems to be working fine so far. Will put out another update in a week or two if I have no issues as well as update again in the future if/when this drive dies. I'm assuming the variable flow feature isn't available/won't work but I never used that in the past anyways.

Ended up spending $575 on the 356879Z drive vs $1200 for the "correct" drive from the only place I could find that could even give me an estimated available date.