Need Some Guidance/Opinions on VSP Schedules

[wildbill3081]

Hi all - I just had an Intelliflo VSP installed, and I'm curious of the community's opinions/recommendations on how they'd schedule it. I'm planning on setting the schedule using gpm as my guide. When my pool was built (30 yrs ago), they used 1.5pipes, so I'm maxed out at 45gpm based on what I've read. Because of the size of my pool, I believe that's quite okay. I'd like to shoot for two full turnovers in 24 hours. Any recommendations? The installer had 3 presets based on RPM, and one of them was putting out 68gpm, which is higher then my pipes and filter are rated for. So I just changed that one setting for the time being. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mknauss]

You do understand that pool 'turnovers' are meaningless, right? You can do it, it just does not address specifically why a pump is run.

First reason to run the pump is to distribute the chemicals needed each day to keep the pool sanitary. It appears you use liquid chlorine, so that will take 30 minutes to an hour of pump run time.
Second reason is to skim the surface. You need to decide based on your environmental conditions how long a run time is needed for that.

Flow rate (either RPM or GPM) is based on what is needed to skim the pool surface efficiently.

 

[wildbill3081]

You do understand that pool 'turnovers' are meaningless, right? You can do it, it just does not address specifically why a pump is run.

First reason to run the pump is to distribute the chemicals needed each day to keep the pool sanitary. It appears you use liquid chlorine, so that will take 30 minutes to an hour of pump run time.
Second reason is to skim the surface. You need to decide based on your environmental conditions how long a run time is needed for that.

Flow rate (either RPM or GPM) is based on what is needed to skim the pool surface efficiently.

Makes sense. I guess I fell into the turnover myth based on my perusing. I definitely need to keep it skimming quite a bit. My pool is a magnet for leaves and bugs (crickets and spiders must have a disco party in my pool every night...lol). Based what you're saying, I'll first try by running it at the 45gpm mark in the morning when I add the chlorine, and then just run it low during day and night to help with the skimming - and adjust from there. Does that sound like a good start?

 

[mknauss]

Sure. The higher rate is not really needed but that is up to you.

I run my VS pump at 1500 rpm. That is what I need to activate the flow switch on my SWCG.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Bill,

We have opposite views on running a VS pump.. Not saying I'm right and you are wrong, but we just view things differently..

In my mind almost no one needs to use the GPM side of the pump.. And the slower you can run and make the pool work for you, the better.

I run my VS pump at 1200 RPM most of the time. At that speed my SWCG works and my skimmers work just fine. If you don't have a heater, something around that speed should also work for you...

You don't need a vortex in your skimmers for them to work.. You just need a little patience.

In my, mostly empty, mind it seems the goal of having a VS pump is to save on the electrical bill, and the slower you can run the more you can save.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[wildbill3081]

Sure. The higher rate is not really needed but that is up to you.

I run my VS pump at 1500 rpm. That is what I need to activate the flow switch on my SWCG.

Is there some way I can calculate how low I can go and still have proper flow to mix the chemicals? The skimming will be obvious, but now I'm wondering how low I can go and still get good flow.

 

[mknauss]

If the skimming works, the chemicals will be distributed.

 

[wildbill3081]

Bill,

We have opposite views on running a VS pump.. Not saying I'm right and you are wrong, but we just view things differently..

In my mind almost no one needs to use the GPM side of the pump.. And the slower you can run and make the pool work for you, the better.

I run my VS pump at 1200 RPM most of the time. At that speed my SWCG works and my skimmers work just fine. If you don't have a heater, something around that speed should also work for you...

You don't need a vortex in your skimmers for them to work.. You just need a little patience.

In my, mostly empty, mind it seems the goal of having a VS pump is to save on the electrical bill, and the slower you can run the more you can save.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks. I'm totally open to opinions. My old pump was ridiculously loud, rattled like a can of marbles, and moved water so fast I could get a deep tissue massage out of the jets. lol. I was also concerned about the amount of energy I was using keeping that thing going 24/7 - hence the decision to get the VSP. Based on my googling I seemed to have fallen into the gpm camp. But I'm totally open to try other philosophies, and I definitely like the idea of running it as low and slow as possible. Heck, I was even going to drop it down to 750 during the night time hours - just enough to move the water and see if I could skim the crickets and spiders.

 

[wildbill3081]

So, do you guys keep that low rpm 24/7, or just run it a couple of times each day/night?

 

[Jimrahbe]

Bill,

I personally run 24/7 because I have a SWCG and like generating a little chlorine all the time. I also like to constantly skim. A side benefit for me, is that I have useless SVRS safety system on my IntelliFlo pump and if my neighbor just passes a little gas, my pump will shut off.. OK, that might not happen, but almost never having to prime is one of my tricks to keep the pump for going into a false entrapment mode.

The point is.. run your pump the way you want.. There is no absolute right or wrong answer.. You should run your pump to meet your goals.

There is nothing wrong with GPM use.. The problem I see is the owners, not the pump.. Everyone is off with calculators and math, trying to figure out how to run the pump. When it is a pretty simple concept to just slowly increase the RPM/GPM until the flow does want you want.. Turn on the SWCG, or make the skimmers works, etc...

Not picking on you, but your case is a perfect example..

I like simple, because I am simple..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[trophft]

Thanks. I'm totally open to opinions. My old pump was ridiculously loud, rattled like a can of marbles, and moved water so fast I could get a deep tissue massage out of the jets. lol. I was also concerned about the amount of energy I was using keeping that thing going 24/7 - hence the decision to get the VSP. Based on my googling I seemed to have fallen into the gpm camp. But I'm totally open to try other philosophies, and I definitely like the idea of running it as low and slow as possible. Heck, I was even going to drop it down to 750 during the night time hours - just enough to move the water and see if I could skim the crickets and spiders.

I'm 17 days in since we filled our new pool and after a quick search on "VS runtime schedules" I came across this thread...exactly the discussion I was looking for!