How much flow needed

[Lykly]

I have a Pentair intelliflo Variable speed pump. Does anybody know how slow you can run this and still have enough flow for my Hayward AQR15 SWG? Would like to run it around 1200 - 1500 RPM if possible.


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[pooldv]

I don't know about the hayward, but here is what i did with my Pentair SWG. It would run OK at 900 rpm with an occasional low flow error. So, I moved it to 1000 rpm and it worked great for a while but when my filter started clogging up and I got some low flow errors again. So, I moved it to 1100 rpm and it has worked great with no low flow errors in years.

 

[Lykly]

I don't know about the hayward, but here is what i did with my Pentair SWG. It would run OK at 900 rpm with an occasional low flow error. So, I moved it to 1000 rpm and it worked great for a while but when my filter started clogging up and I got some low flow errors again. So, I moved it to 1100 rpm and it has worked great with no low flow errors in years.

Perfect, thanks pooldv... I will set it at 1200 and see how it goes.!


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[eostrike]

I have to have mine above 1610 RPM's otherwise I get flow errors. This is in a 3 month old pool with a recently cleaned filter. Before cleaning I had to run at 2100 RPM to not get flow errors. It's strange that everyone's differs a bit.


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[ping]

The minimum flow rate requirement is around 15 GPM for the Hayward SWG's.

Each pool's plumbing has its own characteristics and with VS pumps you need to experiment with different speeds like the others have said to dial in your pool's requirements.

 

[Chris_in_FL]

Related question: Is there a flow sensor in the Hayward T-15 cell (or perhaps a sensor that's typically in-line, outside of the cell), that only allows the cell to be powered when there's sufficient water flow?

Reason for asking is I was a bonehead and left my multiport valve at 'waste'. So my system went on at night, pumped out ~500 gal of water until the skimmer went dry. Then was running for ~5 hours without water flow. (Yeah, I know.... a dumb move that I won't ever do again...duh.) Fortunately, my pump appears to be working fine for the past couple of days. The T-15 looks to be producing Cl just like before (ie: Cl bubbles from the returns). I'm wondering if there's a sensor that cuts power to the T-15 if flow is too low. Also wondering if there's an issue powering the cell without water flow...? I'm guessing that it might not be a problem, if the cell's plates are dry... but perhaps a problem if there's water just sitting in the cell while it's powered. Any insight? Thanks!

 

[jblizzle]

Hayward SWG has a flow sensor that is separate from the cell.

 

[Chris_in_FL]

Thanks! Curious about a few details:
So the system only applies power to the salt cell when there's adequate flow, correct? (Anything else that that sensor controls?)
Is that 'required', and installed in essentially all Hayward SWG systems? Or is it up to the discretion of the builder whether to include or not?
Is it visible in the pic below? (The only 2 sensors that are obvious are 1 just behind the T15 cell, and another clamped to the pipe to the right of the waste hose.)
Tnx again!!!

 

[jblizzle]

Picture is too small and blurry to be sure, but I think it is right next to the cell. It is just a PVC tee with the sensor screwed in. It generally only senses flow for the SWG and is required.

I think in their automation systems it can also be used to shut off the pump if no flow is sensed, as a safety if prime is lost ... But I am not 100% sure on that.

 

[mguzzy]

you should be able to chase the cable from your SWG controller to the flow switch, yes? if it was installed per instructions it should be on the return line and preferably downstream of the salt cell.

 

[mas985]

I think in their automation systems it can also be used to shut off the pump if no flow is sensed, as a safety if prime is lost ... But I am not 100% sure on that.

I can confirm that the more recent controllers can shut off the pump using the SWG flow sensor.

 

[rmturner54]

I don't think that there is a set it and forget rpm for variable speed pumps and swg. You just have to experiment with what works best. I run 1200 rpm. Mine will still work at 900. But 1200 is a good safe value and doesn't cost that much more to operate

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[QingGuy]

I run mine at 1150 and I have a pretty long run, seems to work fine.

 

[Chris_in_FL]

Thanks folks! There is indeed a T in the PVC w/ a sensor screwed in, just upstream from the salt cell. I had assumed it was a pressure or temp sensor for the gas heater, but could well be a flow sensor. Time to do some googling.... Tnx again!