Their literature says that the Power Defender 3.0 has both speed and flow. I've never used one, just the 2.7 and 1.65.
HELP!!! ME select a pump for my pad renovation / addition of 2 story solar (pump and automation challenge)
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I think that it uses a V-Green motor.
I'm pretty sure that it does not have the ability to set the actual flow in gpm despite using the word flow in the manual.
It's not what I do but it is hard for me to imagine that a software algorithm to estimate flow and TDH is patentable. you cannot patent math. Seems crazy to me. Im sure the lawyers will sort it out.
Has anyone had personal success with a variable flow pump and a rapidly changing TDH such as the solar I describe? I have seen multiple posts on other sites stating pentair swapped the VSF out for a VS.
JamesW
Re: Using a VS would be tricky. You could try finding a speed that would prime the panels and provide at least 5 gpm before the siphon effect kicked in and then the flow would increase to the required flow as the panels reached prime and the siphon kicked in.
I appreciate what you are saying. This is what I have done in the past with a single speed. My old house was one story and this worked great.
The problem is that I have moved and my new house has a high roof. priming requires so much more speed than maintaining flow that I would be at or near full speed. If I have to do that I will suck it up and do that but I run my solar a lot and want to save some electricity.
Re: Using a VS would be tricky. You could try finding a speed that would prime the panels and provide at least 5 gpm before the siphon effect kicked in and then the flow would increase to the required flow as the panels reached prime and the siphon kicked in.
I appreciate what you are saying. This is what I have done in the past with a single speed. My old house was one story and this worked great.
The problem is that I have moved and my new house has a high roof. priming requires so much more speed than maintaining flow that I would be at or near full speed. If I have to do that I will suck it up and do that but I run my solar a lot and want to save some electricity.
I think that the problems are with the SVRS models, not the non-SVRS models.
The SVRS is designed to detect potential suction blockage or entrapment and shut down. The software interprets any sudden change in power usage as a potential blockage or suction entrapment. I don't think that the regular non-SVRS (Safety Vacuum Release System) pumps have the problem you describe. If you investigate the claims of problems, I suspect that the problem pumps were SVRS models.
The egg timer method might work if the flow program does not work for you.. Check with Pentair to be sure.
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Thanks everyone. JamesW - YOU WERE SPOT ON! Pentair says they are aware of issues with the SVRS and do not recommend using it with solar. They are not aware of issues with the non SVRS.