Hayward ecostar on generator
- Thread starter orangepower10
- Start date
Your dad used a 120 volt plug for 240 volts.
It will work but it is not correct.
The pump is getting 240 volts through the plug even though it is the wrong plug.
In any case, the pump only accepts 230 volts and the generator looks like it has a 230 volt outlet.
Yep, the reason you're having trouble is your dad performed a handyman's special and jury rigged things inappropriately. He should have used an L6-20 for a 240v 20 amp outlet. The L5-15 is for a 120v 15 amp outlet. He kind of screwed you over there, there was no reason not to use the proper outlets and plugs when it's being wired up from scratch.
Any adapter for the L14-30 to L5-15 that you find will output 120v instead of 240v. Of course it'd be easy to jury rig an adapter for it, but that's just layering on the bad ideas. Better to switch the outlet and plug to L6-20 and then get an L14-30 to L6-20 adapter to use the generator.
Any adapter for the L14-30 to L5-15 that you find will output 120v instead of 240v. Of course it'd be easy to jury rig an adapter for it, but that's just layering on the bad ideas. Better to switch the outlet and plug to L6-20 and then get an L14-30 to L6-20 adapter to use the generator.
You can do it right and rip out that outlet and install a L6 and also change the plug on the pump but that still won't allow you to plug into the generator as you'll need a 4 prong twist lock. Then jerry rig a small extention with the l6 female and a 4 prong NEMA #L14-30 twist lock male on on the other end.
AC WORKS Locking Adapter NEMA L14-30P 30Amp 125/250Volt 4Prong Locking Plug to L6-20R 3Prong 20Amp 250Volt Locking Female-ADL1430L620 - The Home Depot
AC WORKS Locking Adapter NEMA L14-30P 30Amp 125/250Volt 4Prong Locking Plug to L6-20R 3Prong 20Amp 250Volt Locking Female-ADL1430L620 - The Home Depot
To work with what you have, you will need two plugs and a length of cable.
You have to get the wiring correct.
The below plugs will make your setup work without replacing what you already have.
At some point, you should get everything back to NEC code.
30 Amp 125-Volt/250-Volt NEMA L14-30P Locking Plug, Industrial Grade Grounding Heavy Duty, Black/White
NEMA L5-20R 20 Amp 125-Volt 3-Prong Assembly Locking Female Connector
You have to get the wiring correct.
The below plugs will make your setup work without replacing what you already have.
At some point, you should get everything back to NEC code.
30 Amp 125-Volt/250-Volt NEMA L14-30P Locking Plug, Industrial Grade Grounding Heavy Duty, Black/White
NEMA L5-20R 20 Amp 125-Volt 3-Prong Assembly Locking Female Connector
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Note that variable speed drives are susceptible to voltage irregularities.
So, there is some risk of damaging the drive if the voltage spikes, surges or is otherwise out of range.
Using a surge protector can help avoid damage to the drive.
So, there is some risk of damaging the drive if the voltage spikes, surges or is otherwise out of range.
Using a surge protector can help avoid damage to the drive.
- Nov 7, 2018
- 1,049
- Pool Size
- 14000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
This x1000. There has been a lot of gnashing of teeth about what voltage, but the fact is that most generators produce "dirty power" and can destroy sensitive components.
I would also add that we are also in Oklahoma and were VERY lucky in regards to that freeze. Our neighbors weren't so lucky...despite the power never going out and their pump never stopping, they still had equipment damaged by ice formation. So, it might be more prudent coming up with an "emergency drain" plan and practicing that NOW before winter sets in instead of trying to finagle an emergency generator set up.
You could also buy a Generator cord, cut off the female end & wire it up to the female end that James posted above.
Let us know what you want to do.
Let us know what you want to do.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,391
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Hardwired back to original for now. I’m going to buy the 240 outlet, plug and adapter and go that route.
Wolfepack88
Gold Supporter
- Jun 21, 2020
- 758
- Pool Size
- 17690
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
Not using an inverter type generator is asking for problems as an inverter delivers clean consistent power. Dang I wouldn't risk damaging a pool pump (I know mine was pretty Dang expensive) using a portable generator that isn't an inverter type. My two cents and I know its worth two cents.
I would tend to disagree with this statement.
Better non-inverter generators work just fine while at the same time lower end inverter generators are terrible. It's actually fairly easy to get decent power out of a standard non-inverter generator.
I actually have what's considered the worst type, a capacitor excited brushless alternator and it produces clean enough power to run everything digital I own including my ECM blower motor, but it's a 12KW alternator powered by a natural gas v-twin so it's not a typical cheap portable generator.
For what it's worth I've always heard the small Hondas were very very good. I have no idea how good or bad the Predator ones are.
By all means, be cautious but do not assume just because a generator is an inverter type that it's good.
Look at Harbor Freight as they compare their predator model to the equal Honda, there's a massive difference in $$$ but that's if you can afford to get away with it. There's clean sine wave and then there's very clean sine wave. Even a lesser generator can be had with a relatively decent sine wave but that depends on where and when.
I have a Generac GP7500E that was given to me. I was leery about running some of the stuff in my house off of it but it was pretty clean and stable when I measure it. Granted I only measured one leg at a time under load, not across the whole 240 I use to run my house if I have to, but it was still surprising how stable it was.
Wolfepack88
Gold Supporter
- Jun 21, 2020
- 758
- Pool Size
- 17690
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
Fair point, hence my two cents caveat, my point of reference was a honda 6500IS that I used during Superstorm Sandy. If I had to run sensitive electronics I'm going Honda all the way but they are very expensive. Many a repairman have told me if you have to run a generator get a good quality inverter because so many appliances and virtually everything else these days have circuit boards that are sensitive to power fluctuations.
I have a Honda 7000is and it sends out cleaner power than the power company. I installed a transfer switch to my house. Best way to run the pool pump would be to have that circuit on the transfer switch so you can run the pump as well as other circuits at the same time. I run my whole house (minus electric oven and range) off my Honda.
Also after much debate I installed a plug for my VSP - it’s not exclusive to above ground pools. It is common here as most people bring in their pump in the winter.
Also after much debate I installed a plug for my VSP - it’s not exclusive to above ground pools. It is common here as most people bring in their pump in the winter.
It sends out cleaner power than the power company?
Cleaner in what way and how do you know?
I have put a meter on both my generator and home power and watched voltage fluctuation and power factors. My generator is not better then the power company (most of the time) but it is quite acceptable.
There is a factory around here that when a shift starts up new machinery will imbalance the phases on the commercial power in this area for 10-15 minutes or so. Try convincing the electric company to rebalance their loads or installing a static VAR compensator - they don't want to hear you. I can totally see the OP's generator providing better power. During those times when that factory has a large motor load, I'm sure my generator is better as well.
Yeah,
You'd need an oscilloscope not just a DMM.
Small voltage changes also aren't usually an issue to my knowledge and most things don't mind the frequency shifting either. I set my generator to do 62Hz at no load and I think it drops to 58Hz or 59Hz at full load. Really, 99% of things in my house wouldn't care if it's 40Hz or 80Hz, but some things apparently are picky.
I personally feel anything between 110 and 128 volts is fine, 130 is pushing it but I'd let it slide if it was unloaded. I think my older Coleman 4KW generator runs around 130 unloaded.
Allegedly the problems some digital circuits have are if the sinewave isn't a sinewave and how badly deformed it is, and you'll never see that with a DMM.
As far as THD and how good the sinewave is I'd truly be impressed if any portable generator, or even standby whole house generator could beat any power company. But who knows, highly inductive loads do weird things.
You'd need an oscilloscope not just a DMM.
Small voltage changes also aren't usually an issue to my knowledge and most things don't mind the frequency shifting either. I set my generator to do 62Hz at no load and I think it drops to 58Hz or 59Hz at full load. Really, 99% of things in my house wouldn't care if it's 40Hz or 80Hz, but some things apparently are picky.
I personally feel anything between 110 and 128 volts is fine, 130 is pushing it but I'd let it slide if it was unloaded. I think my older Coleman 4KW generator runs around 130 unloaded.
Allegedly the problems some digital circuits have are if the sinewave isn't a sinewave and how badly deformed it is, and you'll never see that with a DMM.
As far as THD and how good the sinewave is I'd truly be impressed if any portable generator, or even standby whole house generator could beat any power company. But who knows, highly inductive loads do weird things.