20,000 gal pool. Pentair 3hp VS pump. Main drain and skimmer have 2.5" lines back to pump. Suction cleaner line is standard 1.5". Currently have a Zodiac Elite MX8 suction cleaner.
To get the right flow/speed for the cleaner, I have to funnel 90% of water thru the suction line at 2500 rpm's. I have the main drain closed, so the additional 10% flows thru the skimmer. I could close the skimmer completely, and then lower the RPM's a bit, but I want the skimmer doing some of the work cleaning floating stuff.
Here's my concern:
1. The benefit of a VS pump is to run at low RPM's for longer time period, however, suction cleaners need higher flows to work
2. Having flow thru the larger lines (drain/skimmer) let's in more volume and makes pump work less hard. With the suction cleaner, we're pulling flow thru the 1.5" line, making the pump work that much harder. I'm starting to think that a VS pump, with a suction cleaner is not the right combination to maximize the benefits of the VS pump.
The cleaner is always connected and the values are set for the cleaner so I can't run the pump in a different set up unless I go out there each time to change settings, and I don't have time for that
Question:
Is there anyone out there currently using a VS pump with suction cleaner? If so, what's your experience. I've called both the pump and cleaner manufactures and they were not much help.
To get the right flow/speed for the cleaner, I have to funnel 90% of water thru the suction line at 2500 rpm's. I have the main drain closed, so the additional 10% flows thru the skimmer. I could close the skimmer completely, and then lower the RPM's a bit, but I want the skimmer doing some of the work cleaning floating stuff.
Here's my concern:
1. The benefit of a VS pump is to run at low RPM's for longer time period, however, suction cleaners need higher flows to work
2. Having flow thru the larger lines (drain/skimmer) let's in more volume and makes pump work less hard. With the suction cleaner, we're pulling flow thru the 1.5" line, making the pump work that much harder. I'm starting to think that a VS pump, with a suction cleaner is not the right combination to maximize the benefits of the VS pump.
The cleaner is always connected and the values are set for the cleaner so I can't run the pump in a different set up unless I go out there each time to change settings, and I don't have time for that
Question:
Is there anyone out there currently using a VS pump with suction cleaner? If so, what's your experience. I've called both the pump and cleaner manufactures and they were not much help.