Yes, but he may have been confused as to what I wanted. I probably overcomplicated things. He was under the impression I was going to run a single pump for everything.
Pump recommendations for Grotto water feature
- Thread starter laszlof
- Start date
I am not sure what you mean by automation board. The automation system comes with a main PCB that controls all the relays. However, please clarify if you have RS-4, RS-6 or RS-8. This indicates how many HP relays are built into the system.
There is a separate board for the Jandy SWCG.
6,000 GPH is 100 GPM.
A Skimmer should not exceed 60 gpm and it is a bad choice for the water source.
Dual main drains are the way to go or a single unblockable drain.
The suction line should not exceed a water velocity of 6 feet per second and the return should not exceed 8 feet per second.
If the water feature is a sheer descent, it should have a filter in the return line to filter any debris.
Pipe Size and Flow Rates.
You want to keep the water velocity below 6 ft/sec on the suction and below 8 ft/sec on the pressure side of the pump.| Pipe Size | 6 ft/sec | 8 ft/sec |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5" | 38 GPM | 51 GPM |
| 2" | 63 GPM | 84 GPM |
| 2.5 | 90 GPM | 119 GPM |
| 3.0" | 138 GPM | 184 GPM |
| 4.0" | 235 GPM | 312 GPM |
Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
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Theres an automation-capable board for the Calmar pump, thats what I'm referring to. But I believe its just for allowing speed control from various automation systems.
Pipe Size and Flow Rates[edit]
You want to keep the water velocity below 6 ft/sec on the suction and below 8 ft/sec on the pressure side of the pump.[7]
Pipe Size 6 ft/sec 8 ft/sec 1.5" 38 GPM 51 GPM 2" 63 GPM 84 GPM 2.5 90 GPM 119 GPM 3.0" 138 GPM 184 GPM 4.0" 235 GPM 312 GPM
Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading
Good to know. The water feature has a 2" inlet on it. Should I then run 3" on the suction end, and 2.5" to the water feature, then reduce down to 2" to connect to the water feature?
If you plan just to turn the pump on and off, the automation board (called a Calimar Pump Interface Board) is probably not needed. It allows you to change the speeds remotely. Since you have to install this board on the pump face (to replace the existing manual interface), I would set up your system without it. Ensure it is all running and determine if you are changing the speeds manually over the course of several days. If not, then no need to install the Interface Board, however, you can always add it later.
Please note, that it offers 2 options to set up the Interface Board. One option requires use of multiple HP Relays which you may or may not have available depending on what other equipment you have installed such as blower, lights, and of course the 2 pumps.
Show a picture of your HP relays in your automation box, when you want to tackle that issue after everything is up and running.
Based on the Pump Performance curve, the pump should be able to do about 100 GPM at speeds between about 2,500 RPM and 3,450 RPM depending on the total head loss.
Assuming a 3" suction and a 2.5" return and a height of 6 feet, the total head loss should be less than about 20 feet, which should put the required speed at about 2,750 rpm.
Assuming a 3" suction and a 2.5" return and a height of 6 feet, the total head loss should be less than about 20 feet, which should put the required speed at about 2,750 rpm.
Yeah, will be limited on relays. (Aqualink RS4). As long as I can just turn it on and off at a fixed speed that should be fine. (Can use one of the relays for that).
Your main pump on the Filter/Pump Relay. The water feature pump on another relay. Any lights on a 3rd relay. If you have 2 lights (spa and pool) then they each require a separate relay.
Not sure if you have a Spa, but if you have a blower for the spa then that connects to a relay.
Yup, I have a spare relay for the 2nd pump.
- Main Pump
- Secondary Pump
- Pool Lights
- (Probably landscape lighting)
Well, they pulled the ole bait and switch on that Calmar pump, delivery time is now 5-6 weeks, which is entirely too long.
Looking at Waterways Power Defender 270 instead. quite a bit more expensive, but seems like it would do the trick. Will push far more water than I need so I could run at a lower RPM. Don't see much information on here about this pump, any thoughts?
Looking at Waterways Power Defender 270 instead. quite a bit more expensive, but seems like it would do the trick. Will push far more water than I need so I could run at a lower RPM. Don't see much information on here about this pump, any thoughts?
You can use an AFP-150 or an IntellifloXF.
The AFP-150 runs at 1,725 RPM and this should be pretty quiet.
Some sites say that the AFP-150 is obsolete, but the Pentair site does not say obsolete.
The IntelliFloXF should be able to do 100 GPM at about 2,000 RPM, which is pretty quiet.
If noise is a concern, I would try to keep the speed below 2,400 RPM.
www.pentair.com
www.pentair.com
The AFP-150 runs at 1,725 RPM and this should be pretty quiet.
Some sites say that the AFP-150 is obsolete, but the Pentair site does not say obsolete.
The IntelliFloXF should be able to do 100 GPM at about 2,000 RPM, which is pretty quiet.
If noise is a concern, I would try to keep the speed below 2,400 RPM.
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Assuming about 20 feet of head loss, the speed would be about 2,700 RPM to get about 100 GPM.
How much concern is the noise?
2,700 RPM is not horrible, but 2,400 RPM or below is better.
How much concern is the noise?
2,700 RPM is not horrible, but 2,400 RPM or below is better.