All sounds good. Not sure you need the boost pump after seeing Costas video. That’s very nice jet action.
Just checked the quote and they said:
40mm Return Pipework
50mm Suction Pipework
Should I request the return pipework to be 50mm as well?
Just checked the quote and they said:We want two lights in the pool and it includes "Astral Connect Lite Multi Colour LED Including RF Remote & Bluetooth.", which I assume is Connect Lite + | AstralPool
Can you also easily turn the jets off when it is driven by one pump without actually turning valves manually? Or is that done by the controller? I don't really understand how this could work, unless the pump itself has valves that are mechincally opened/closed just for the jets/blower?
What is the LED driver?
In our current pool the pool light broke and they quote between $500 and $1000 (AUD) to have it fixed. Mind you it was an old one and the bracket was c**p. But because it was below water level it was a hassle. Hassle = high costs.
Awesome Riley, thanks again for your indepth reply.
Did some research on the robots, it's likely going to be a Zodiac TX35. Again increased the price by 220, but many good reviews and brushes the side as well. We don't have a pebble interior, just a "clean" fibreglass pool with blue sparkly paint.
Hi Rick,
It would be nice to have them specify all 50mm pipework. It is not as big a deal to have 40mm returns as the pool will probably have 2 returns. I would prefer 50mm throughout and it shouldn't be much more expensive.
Ideally I would opt for Class 12 pipework as well (same as schedule 40 for our US counterparts). This pipe is thicker walled and generally 'tougher' so in theory it should be more robust in the ground - See if the PB will install with 50mm Class 12 pipes throughout the build, as once its in...it's basically in...!
I had my pool done this way and the extra cost was only a few hundred to upgrade to Class 12 throughout.
The only 40mm run is for my solar run which is a separate independent circuit which runs off its own pump - also specified Class 12 for that run.
Just had a quick look at the Astralpool's unit - Looks expensive - Get a price on the controller and lights. To give you an idea, the PAL LED lights I use cost just a tad over $1,100 for 2 lights and the WiFi controller/Driver unit.
At the end of the day it will depend on how much automation you want Vs overall cost to buy the devices.
Hi mate,
I'm in Sydney and in the market for a robot. Only just starting looking though. I have seen the dolphin x30 on display in a pool shop, but the dude was talking north of 2k, I bailed from the shop. He also was talking 4k + for a astral heatpump. Your quotes sound a little better.
I'll be interested to hear what you go for. I think most of the shops will demo the robot for you in your pool - if I am dropping >1k on something I want a test-drive.
Cheers
Astral heatpump with the poolbuilder, just under $2.2k (Astral HP88 9kW Heat Pump). With our existing pool we bought a heater independent of building the pool and we had the Evoheat Fusion 9 for $3300 installed.
The Zodiac TX35 is around $990 delivered.
I think and additional $1600 to build the pool by best practice and how you want it is very minimal in the scheme of things. In a perfect world it would be nice to come in at or below budget, but in reality the build changes as you learn and progress through the process. We estimated a 20% contingency, which was fairly accurate although when all was said and done we probably went over that if you include all the little pool build related things.
Thanks Rick. Man, this is an expensive hobby. Reckon I could get helicopter trips to the beach for the cash I'm going to have to chuck around. I need a heat-pump, new robot, maybe a SWG or Chlorine doser (though I am OK with doing it manually for now).
Half my tiles are falling off - either an old job, or a bad job, + bad chemistry for years and years. This will end up costing thousands of bucks per swim if I am not careful!
Good luck with your budgeting and bargaining!