So...What's The Difference?

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M

Michael Silvester

0
In The Industry
Jul 2, 2007
68
Australia
Hi Everyone,

*Standing Sheepishly in front of a crowd*

My name is Michael Silvester and I’m a Poolaholic :wink:

I’m a pool shop owner from a little place on the other side of the
world called Australia…You may of heard of the place.

This is one of my first posts to the forum and I thought I would
provide some great information to the forum to help out the community.

Have you ever visited a pool cleaner website and wondered why
they make above ground and in ground pool models? Let me use
barracuda as an example. Please keep in mind that this info will
apply to most other vacuum sided cleaners too.

Ok…go over to the zodiac website and check out the cleaners.
http://www.baracuda.com/

Would you be able to pick what is an above ground pool cleaner and
what’s in ground if the site didn’t tell you what pool it suited? My bet is NO!
But I’m about to fix that :-D

Let me tell you the difference…

I’m only going to use the vacuum side cleaners to make this
example a little simpler.

So…I’ve grouped the cleaners together…

Above ground pool cleaners
http://www.baracuda.com/zoom.htm
http://www.baracuda.com/ranger.htm

In ground pool Cleaners
http://www.baracuda.com/g4.htm
http://www.baracuda.com/baracuda.htm
http://www.baracuda.com/pacer.htm

Can you see the difference yet?

Take a look at the skirt (this disc at the bottom)…the above ground
pool cleaners have a disk at the bottom that is completely flat. You know why?
It’s because above ground pool cleaners don’t have to deal with main drains
and other extrusions normally found in an in ground pools. Above ground
pools have flat floors with nothing to get caught on.

The In ground pool cleaners have a disc that has fins…this is to allow the
cleaner to get up and over main drains etc. Now are you starting to see
a difference? Good!

Now is there anything else that makes the cleaners different from each
other? No..Not really! Do you really think that a pool cleaner can really
tell that it’s in an above ground pool or an in ground pool? Absolutely Not!
The only difference between all the barracuda models is the skirt
(the disk on the bottom) and the body.

The body makes absolutely no difference to the performance to the
cleaner...it’s just there for looks and a bigger price tag. The internal
diaphragm and parts are all exactly the same.

So…to wrap this up.

Can you use an above ground pool cleaner in an in ground pool?
Not really they are not designed to go over main drains and other objects.

Can you use an in ground pool cleaner in your above ground pool?
Absolutely! If anything your barracuda will have an easier life in an
above ground pool.

I hope you enjoyed this quick little lesson I prepared for you and I
hope to spend a lot more time in this forum helping out.

Take Care,

Michael Silvester
 
Thanks Michael, I myself was wondering the difference, mainly in terms of cost...you set me straight.

Can you post your web site so we can all visit it.

Just curious, being a Down Under, what are you opinions on SWG's, seeing as how your country is the main one to start using them?

Rik
 
I'm an AG pool owner, so I get the benefit of the cheaper model, however, it's the IG pool owners that have to pay through the nose for everything, unfortunately, they are on the other side of the fence, my question here is this: (and I could probably do a price search and compare myself but I figured I'd throw it out there...)

If an IG pool owner were to buy and AG barracuda and then a replacement skirt for the IG model, would they benefit from a price standpoint?

I know that in the solar panel world, there is a real scam going on, my friend purchased both an IG and AG solar panel from the same manufacturer, at a difference of about 150 dollars between the sets, the only difference in the kits were that the IG unit came with about 50 dollars (pool store price) of adapters and valves, home depot price was 20 for the same parts. So essentially, IG pool owners are getting soaked 130 dollars for having a pricier pool

The manifold on the AG solar panel model just needed the knockout removed to be identical
 
I've often wondered about this. Thanks for sharing.

You know what burns me? Why the mark up just for the different skirt? There's often a big price difference between AG and IG cleaners. I can't imagine the IG skirt costs that much more.

Why? Because the can :mad: insert bad word here...

I wonder, can one purchase the AG cleaner, then add the IG skirt and come out ahead on pricing, beating them at their own game? Also, what about those main drain covers that are made for pool cleaners, that are wider and sloped? Would they alllow an AG to be used in an IG?
 
matt4x4 said:
If an IG pool owner were to buy and AG barracuda and then a replacement skirt for the IG model, would they benefit from a price standpoint?
Click to expand...

Hi Guys,

I cant speak for other brands...but

You will save a packet if you buy the AG cleaner and put
an IG skirt on it. I advise you not to buy the "ZOOM" because
you'll walk out to your pool one day and find it in 3 pieces on
the bottom of the pool. I have to replace zoom bodies nearly
everyday under warranty.

Let me show you another secret your pool shop and barracuda
dont want you to know about.

Buy the Ranger http://www.baracuda.com/ranger.htm
and put an IG skirt on it. They market the ranger here in
Australia as the "Genie Series II" Le me show you a pic of
it.

http://cache.webfirst.us/images/975-309 ... siione.gif

It's the exact same cleaner, just a different color and it has
the IG skirt.

Hope this helps?

Take Care,

Michael Silvester
 
Do I need an IG Type Then?

I have a 27' AG pool, but I also have two main drains in the bottom. I figured that I could get the cheaper AG cleaners, but after reading this post, I might also want to buy the IG disc to go along with it?

I'm a new pool owner, going on my 7th week of pool use. So far so good, and we are looking at automatic cleaners, although we may hold off on that until next season.
 

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Re: Do I need an IG Type Then?

ssabin said:
I have a 27' AG pool, but I also have two main drains in the bottom. I figured that I could get the cheaper AG cleaners, but after reading this post, I might also want to buy the IG disc to go along with it?

I'm a new pool owner, going on my 7th week of pool use. So far so good, and we are looking at automatic cleaners, although we may hold off on that until next season.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Yes...You'll need a cleaner with fins
on the disc so that It can get over
your 2 main drains. Or it could
get stuck.

Lucky you found this post :wink:

Take Care,

Michael Silvester
 
I found the AG ranger for $125. The replacement G3 (I think that's the right model?) finned disc (for IG) is $44.

So, $169 total.

Much cheaper than the IG models I've seen...

If I ever go with a suction cleaner, this is the route I'm likely to take.

Thanks for the heads up :)
 
Rangeball said:
I found the AG ranger for $125. The replacement G3 (I think that's the right model?) finned disc (for IG) is $44.

So, $169 total.

Much cheaper than the IG models I've seen...

If I ever go with a suction cleaner, this is the route I'm likely to take.

Thanks for the heads up :)
Click to expand...


Nice Work Rangeball...Well Done!
 
Michael,
You are cutting into my G3 and G4 sales! ;)

I agree with you about the Zoom, NOT a good unit at all! Best cleaner Zodiac makes under their brand name is the pressure side Mars HP, IMHO. MUCH simpler than the Polaris units that Zodiac also makes!
 
Nice Post, Thanks Michael! I need a pool cleaner bad but funds are tight going to school and being laid off sooo I started to question what is the diff between inground and aboveground cleaners. Now I know. I think I''ll try building a "G3 Ranger" (thanks rangeball for the idea) Being as this thread was from 2007 a few links are dead. So here is an update.
Baracuda Ranger at the manufactures website>>> http://www.baracuda.com/poolcleaners/ranger.aspx
Baracuda G3 for inground pools at the same site>>>> http://www.baracuda.com/poolcleaners/g3.aspx
A quick fleeBay search for the G3 replacment disc>>>> http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=baracu ... m270.l1313

Looks like the Ranger will be 139.99 shipped free and the disc is another 60 shipped. So for 200 a guy can have a "G3 Ranger"
I have a hookup at a local Leslie's. I'll ask about the best price I can get for a G3 disc.
 
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