Variable speed pump with SWG Run Times

[inhelder2]

I'm a new pool owner and have a variable speed pump and SWG. It looks like the SWG will only turn on when RPM is around 2800.

I understand that it won't generate chlorine unless I'm above this RPM but do I need to stay above this ROM at all times? I'd like to have my pump run for a majority of the day at lower ~1800rpm then bump up to 3000 rpm at night for 6hrs to generate chlorine. As long as my levels are good is this ok? Or will this damage the SWG or something like that?

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
Something is not right if you need that RPM level to satisfy the flow switch.
Give us a rundown of what equipment you have and a couple pictures of your equipment pad.
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[Jimrahbe]

2,

I agree with Marty... 2800 sounds awful high to me also..

I run at 1200, but have no heater. With a heater I'd expect to run at about 1500 or so.

Show us pics of your equipment pad.

I would suspect that 6 hours would not be near long enough unless you have a very big SWCG and a very small pool.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[wireform]

+2 something not right. Signature isn't filled in. Can we get pictures of the equipment pad along with some pool description.

 

[inhelder2]

Oops! Didn't know about the signature. I've added my pool details now and attached some photos of my set up. We just opened the pool for the season, heater is not currently on.

Did some messing around, at 3450 rpm, the pressure on my sand filter guage is 27 PSI, at 2000 rpm, the pressure is 9psi.

SWG turns mostly green on the flow at 2800rpm.

Pump, heater, and SWG are new, filter is pretty old (I don't know the age)

Thank you for the help!!!

 

[inhelder2]

Update I backwashed and now the SWG will turn on at 2050 rpms. Is that still high?

 

[Jimrahbe]

2,

You have a smaller VS pump, so you will have to run it faster to get the flow you need..

2050 still seems a little high, but I have no experience with 1.5 HP pumps..

Could be your filter needs to be deep cleaned. How old is it??

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[inhelder2]

2,

You have a smaller VS pump, so you will have to run it faster to get the flow you need..

2050 still seems a little high, but I have no experience with 1.5 HP pumps..

Could be your filter needs to be deep cleaned. How old is it??

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks Jim! Not sure on the filter age, it was here when I bought the house and I'm guessing it's over 7-10 years old. I didn't think the people before me took great care of things either which doesn't help.

By deep clean do you mean change out the sand and clean everything out inside?

 

[Jimrahbe]

By deep clean do you mean change out the sand and clean everything out inside?

2,

Just to be clear, I have no real experience with sand filter, so while the filter may need a deep cleaning, it may not..

As a test, turn the multi-port valve on the top of the filter to "recirculate" and see what happens. This basically takes the filter out of the water's path. If this drastically changes the flow, then I would recommend a deep cleaning. If it just makes a slight difference, then I would leave it as is.

Here is an article on deep cleaning..

Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter

This post will walk you through the anatomy of a sand filter, and then provide a video at the end for how to deep clean your sand filter. The filter used in the photos and videos is a Hayward S180T top mount sand filter. The images are of a similar filter. Obviously not all filters are...

www.troublefreepool.com

We don't really recommend replacing the sand in most cases..

Thanks,

Jim R.