can anyone recommend a specific type or brand of pump/motor, 1 HP max, for in-ground swimming pool?
my current understanding is that there are two speed motors that run at low speed (half power) enough to circulate water and can be switched to the full speed to run automatic pool sweepers (like creepy crawly, pool vac)
One of the pumps on my hot tub is two speed so they do exist. I would expect this is accomplished with multiple windings on the motor so you would need a more sophisticated switch as well. The hot tub pumps seem to be a lot like pool pumps, composite pump bolted on to the end of an electric motor. I don't have a clue about brands but the electric motor half seems to be regular electric motors like ge and dayton.
No particular recommendation, but I have one of these (gifted, taken for project value of the motor (it had been "rebuilt" - impeller glued back together, and had already fallen apart again) half speed (which is what it runs) is more like 1/8-1/4 power. Should be common as dirt at pool suppliers. I don't recall the brand and it's not anywhere near the computer to go check it. None of them are made all that well from what I have seen.
terri wrote the following:
of pump/motor, 1 HP max,
I've got a Pentair 1hp that is 5 years old, no problems. It's a single speed, but they have others that are two speed. My understanding is that two speed is more efficient, even considering that it has to run longer at the low speed to move the same amount of water. One obvious issue in going to a two speed would be whether the current controller you have can support two speeds. If not, I guess you'd be restricted to running only at the lower speed, which may not be enough for all situations.
A good place to find answers to these questions is the pool and spa forum which you can google.
The ones I've seen are pulse-modulated so the slower it runs without stalliing the less current it pulls. I've never come across one for an in ground pool though. I imagine since it has to be continuous duty it's too hard to dissipate the heat properly unless it's pulse-modulated, something that's not good to use outdoors under varying loads (filter fresh/needs bumping/cleaning, etc.). They run awfully hot by design when they operate continuously in the hot sun. Won't burn skin instantly but keep your hand there too long and under your hand, insulated will make you pull your hand away n a hurry!
I've always found Hayward to have good product that outlasts most others, around here anyway where they only get used 4 to 6 months per year.
YOu may want to use an inverter to power the motor if you already have a motor. You can set the speed for about anything you want to from a very low speed to the maximum of the motor. The inverter may be less expensive than a new motor or a special two speed motor and speed switch.
After doing some high electric bill complaints for a local electric utility, many polished pool owners told me they just put cycle timers on their pumps. A few hours twice or once per day was enough.
Apparently the "chemicals are cheaper" and the low speed may not have enoug velocity to reach the far corners of the pool anyway.
I was told the savings were significant.
my current understanding is that there are two speed motors that run at low speed (half power) enough to circulate water and can be switched to the full speed to run automatic pool sweepers (like creepy crawly, pool vac)
Every inground pool I've ever seen has a timer. Conventional wisdom is that you're supposed to run it long enough to circulate water equal to the pool volume each day. However, I think a lot depends on climate, usage, etc. I've run one less than that each day with no problems.
If by chemicals, you mean putting in algaecide or other chemicals to make up for less circulation and filtering, I doubt it's worth it. A
1hp pool pump only draws about 7 amps. If you run it 8 hours a day, that's about $75 a month. If you cut it in half, you'd save ~$37 a month, which doesn't seem like a lot in the pool world. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather have less chemicals in mine than more.I do not and will not own a pool so I do not know the chemicals used or needed.
I am only telling you what pool owners have told me.
Pretty hard to run a 2HP pool motor with 7 amps. I doubt inflatables pools don't count on any of thes items. .
1hp pool pump only draws about 7 amps. If you run it 8 hours a day, that's about $75 a month. If you cut it in half, you'd save ~$37 a month, which doesn't seem like a lot in the pool world. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather have less chemicals in mine than more.
Per another post, I too have had good (but limited) experience with Hayward pumps.
Unless you need at new pump/motor right now, I would not recommend replacing a perfectly good one just to get the reducing energy usage. But the decison really depends on "the numbers".
The whole idea of using a two speed or variable speed is to reduce the flow rate through the system (gpm) ...... The power needed to do the job of circulating the water is represented by the product of flow rate (gpm) & system pressure loss (psi) through the system.
Reducing the flow rate (say from 80 gpm to 40 gpm), the pressure loss through will only be 25% of the original since pressure loss though is piping system goes roughly by gpm squared. and since the flow is down by 50%....... 50% of 25% is 12.5%, so the pump will only be required to supply 1/8 the original power.
But since you;re only moving 40gpm, you'll have to run the pump twice as long to filter the same amount of water per day and get comparable cleaning performance. This will still result in reducing your daily power consumption by
75% (if the pump is only run on low speed).Your actual savings will depend on how you operate the new system, the of low speed & high speed operation.
If you currently run your one speed pump 6 hours per day ....that's about 75c to $1 per day. If you save 75% to 50% of that (depending on speed mix) that would be about 60c or 70c per day..... $250 per year, not bad.
How much does a new pump / motor, new controller & installation cost? This sounds like a very good ROI and a payback in a few years.
Of course the best way to save money on keeping the pool clean, is to reduce running time until the pool is no longer as clean as you'd like and then add some running time.
This game can also be played with you new system.
When I had a pool, I used cut back running time based on season, pool usage, dirt loading. Winter in SoCal, don't use much chemicals, pool usage (not heated) was way down so I ran only a few hours perd day. Summer usage required much more run time. Giant party (parents away) required extra chlorine & increased run time.
And keep your eye on your Pool Man...... I would reduce the run time, he would increase it. He preferred to spend my electricity to help him look good. :)
cheers Bob
Get used to multispeed pumps. Many states are either requiring them now or will be soon. I am still not sure how much money is saved vs a timer.
From my utility company web site: (offers $200.00 rebate)*
"While Two-Speed Pumps are adequate for older pools, Variable-Speed Pumps presently provide the greatest potential for energy savings. Variable speed pumps allow greater flexibility and can be programmed for multiple speeds at the desired flow rate for each application."
Here are several good reasons to replace your single-speed pool pump today:
- Save up to 80% on energy costs associated with pool operation
- Variable speed pumps run cooler and quieter, which helps the pump last longer
- Filter works more efficiently to keep the pool water more clean, clear and healthy "
The poster asked specifically about a 1HP motor, which is enough for filtering even a 50,000 gallon pool, hardly an inflatable pool. You may go back to sleep now. Perhaps if you don't own or know anything about a pool other than what you've heard, you shouldn't be giving advice.
I found it hard to seperate information when I was a newbie also.
Do you consider yourself a pool, energy, or Usenet expert?
I do know one thing...it is proably cheaper, at the advice of experienced people, and simple math, to use chemicals in a pool a than to run a 1 HP pump motor 24/7 with PG&E TOU rates during the day. Even the eight hour peak usage rate of 58.2 cents /kWh (200% of base consumption) (you understand energy units and rates, right?) x 8 x 1HP / 80% efficiency
= $134.60 per month. (peak TOU consumption only not including any taxes or delivery charges)
How does a few extra chemicals needed fare to shutting the pump down during peak hours. Time for **YOU** to wake up now and give advice on some energy stats vs pool chemical stats. Some will be waiting for you expert advice comparing the two.
I don't, but the OP asked about pool pumps and nothing about chemicals. How did you get to chemicals in a simple thread?
How did you nymshift without being able to read such a simple thread?
On Sun, 31 Oct 2010 16:27:32 -0400, "Josepi" wrote: Do you consider yourself a pool, energy, or Usenet expert?
can anyone recommend a specific type or brand of pump/motor, 1 HP max, for in-ground swimming pool?
my current understanding is that there are two speed motors that run at low speed (half power) enough to circulate water and can be switched to the full speed to run automatic pool sweepers (like creepy crawly, pool vac)
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I use a Hayward for an inground 16 x 32 x 9.5 ft pool. It's 230 v x 7.5 amps. Most people in my town use Hayward motors and all three swimming pool sales and service shops sell them and recommend them.
It's easy to prime, and easy to clean the strainer. My pump runs 24 hours a day.
J Unit,
Nymshift? You cannot be that dense. I have four brothers named Oren (one deceased).
Then why use so many different names on Usenet?
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