Help evaluate a quote for new pump, SWCG, and electrical

[RickRude]

Can I please get this community's advice on the proposal I have received for a new VS pump, SWG, and bringing my electrical situation up to code. See attached pic of my eqpt pad so you can see how ancient and deficient my electrical scene is.

The quote I received is as follows. This includes install labor.

Jandy "plush" 2.7 HP variable speed pump	$2600
Jandy AquaLink RS P6 Pool Only Kit with PureLink Sub-Panel, PLC1400 and iAquaLink Includes 40K gallon AquaPure SWCG	$5000
Work from "licensed electrician"	$2400

+ $600 sales tax

Questions

1. Any comments on the quality of equipment? I did some TFP stalking and most of the big dawgs around here have Pentair equipment.
2. The vendor says I must buy a "new control system", hence the Aqualink.
   1. Is it true I have to get this?
   2. Is there a simpler control system I can get? Bear in mind I still have my polaris pump to run.
3. I wanted a 60K gallon SWCG but 40K appears to be the biggest with this system.
4. $2400 for electrical work I conservatively estimate equates to 5 hrs of labor (assuming $240/hr x2 so the pool company gets its cut). Is that reasonable?

Many thanks to you all!

 

[ajw22]

I ripped out a perfectly good but old Aqualink panel and replaced it with a Pentair IntelliCenter. I had been moving my equipment over to Pentair for a number of years. That tells you what I think of Jandy equipment.

I would get a Pentair Intelliflo3 pump with the optional display, and the Pentair IntelliCenter and IntelliChlor SWG IC60. You should be able to get it for around the same price.

Does the electrician cost include all new GFCI circuit breakers? Wiring up the IntelliCenter is about a days worth of work.

Who will do all the low voltage installation? Wifi connectivity? Temperature sensors? Pump and Intellichor comm connection?

Substitute your Jandy equipment for the Pentair stuff written above. The install is all the same.

 

[RickRude]

That’s good feedback, thank you. The builder who provided the quote says they only use Jandy (something about being a Fluidra company or something). I’ll have to contact another company. Pumps been down a month now and I’m slowly losing the battle keeping my pool algae-free. Better to take my time though and get the right eqpt.

 

[1poolman1]

Can I please get this community's advice on the proposal I have received for a new VS pump, SWG, and bringing my electrical situation up to code. See attached pic of my eqpt pad so you can see how ancient and deficient my electrical scene is.

The quote I received is as follows. This includes install labor.

Jandy "plush" 2.7 HP variable speed pump	$2600
Jandy AquaLink RS P6 Pool Only Kit with PureLink Sub-Panel, PLC1400 and iAquaLink Includes 40K gallon AquaPure SWCG	$5000
Work from "licensed electrician"	$2400

+ $600 sales tax

Questions

1. Any comments on the quality of equipment? I did some TFP stalking and most of the big dawgs around here have Pentair equipment.
2. The vendor says I must buy a "new control system", hence the Aqualink.
   1. Is it true I have to get this?
   2. Is there a simpler control system I can get? Bear in mind I still have my polaris pump to run.
3. I wanted a 60K gallon SWCG but 40K appears to be the biggest with this system.
4. $2400 for electrical work I conservatively estimate equates to 5 hrs of labor (assuming $240/hr x2 so the pool company gets its cut). Is that reasonable?

Many thanks to you all!

You have a simple pool, why would you possibly need an Aqualink? Will you play with it when new, yes. Then the novelty will wear off.
New pump, yes. New time clock, yes (maybe). For some reason you see to have 3 clocks. SWG, definitely. New breaker for the pump, yes (GFCB).
If you want that kind of control, and are willing to spend $10,000+ for it, I'll do it for $9500.00.

 

[RickRude]

You have a simple pool, why would you possibly need an Aqualink? Will you play with it when new, yes. Then the novelty will wear off.
New pump, yes. New time clock, yes (maybe). For some reason you see to have 3 clocks. SWG, definitely. New breaker for the pump, yes (GFCB).
If you want that kind of control, and are willing to spend $10,000+ for it, I'll do it for $9500.00.

Thats kinda my biggest question. Jandy or Pentair, can I just run the pump and SWCG separately without a "master control panel"? I do not need or even want wifi or Bluetooth connectivity.

What you call three timers are: a master timer for the pump, a downstream timer for the Polaris pump, and an analog freeze protection device that is wired into the master timer.

 

[1poolman1]

Thats kinda my biggest question. Jandy or Pentair, can I just run the pump and SWCG separately without a "master control panel"? I do not need or even want wifi or Bluetooth connectivity.

What you call three timers are: a master timer for the pump, a downstream timer for the Polaris pump, and an analog freeze protection device that is wired into the master timer.

As was mentioned, you have a simple pool and that is a good thing. Between Jandy and Pentair I would go with the Pentair if we are speaking about pumps.
A VSP will have its own timer and clock built in, except for some Jandy pumps that need a control purchased separately (some variable-speed motors as replacements don't either).
They also, for the most part, all have freeze protection. Once they start moving water it will go through the booster and protect it as well. Run your pool very early in the morning, around 2:00AM to start and you usually won't need to worry about freezing anyway. Run it 24/7 and there shouldn't be much to worry about, though I know that you get lower temps than I do here.
You will need a time clock for the booster pump, or use the relay board that is available on some Pentair Intelliflow pumps. The "fun" of wifi control and all the "bells and whistles," for most people I have dealt with, seems to go away within a year, then they wonder why they spent the money. I prefer separate equipment, like a separate time clock for the booster, as it is usually less expensive to repair when something goes wrong, and there is always something that is going to go wrong on a pool. That's why I have had a business for 30+ years.

 

[RickRude]

As was mentioned, you have a simple pool and that is a good thing. Between Jandy and Pentair I would go with the Pentair if we are speaking about pumps.
A VSP will have its own timer and clock built in, except for some Jandy pumps that need a control purchased separately (some variable-speed motors as replacements don't either).
They also, for the most part, all have freeze protection. Once they start moving water it will go through the booster and protect it as well. Run your pool very early in the morning, around 2:00AM to start and you usually won't need to worry about freezing anyway. Run it 24/7 and there shouldn't be much to worry about, though I know that you get lower temps than I do here.
You will need a time clock for the booster pump, or use the relay board that is available on some Pentair Intelliflow pumps. The "fun" of wifi control and all the "bells and whistles," for most people I have dealt with, seems to go away within a year, then they wonder why they spent the money. I prefer separate equipment, like a separate time clock for the booster, as it is usually less expensive to repair when something goes wrong, and there is always something that is going to go wrong on a pool. That's why I have had a business for 30+ years.

But then how do I control the SWCG? Does it also come with its own timer? The Pentair Intellichlor seems to come with a simple control panel but it's only On/Off and output power. In other words, suppose I want to run my pump at low 24/7 but only want chlorine output part of the time. How would I control that?

I am trying to understand what exactly I need to tell a company I want. Otherwise they will push this unnecessary and expensive automation on me .

 

[sande005]

Download the manual for the SWCG of interest for info on hooking it up. Most have a way to only get power when the pump is getting power. Or just have them both wired to the same timer. The "output power" you noted then can be adjusted up or down, to give you the Cl level you want, based on the total time everything is running. So if the pump runs 24/7, you may only need to set the SWCG at 25% power. If the pump was only running 12/7, you might need the SWCG at 50% power. Etc.

 

[proavia]

With a single speed pump, you can wire the SWG to the same timer the pump uses.

With a VS pump the pump needs continuous power, so the pump is wired to the LINE side of the time and the SWG is wired to the LOAD side of the timer.
The timer is then set to turn on the SWG 30 minutes after the pump starts and off 30 minutes before the pump starts.
The SWG needs to run long enough to generate the chlorine the pool needs.

 

[1poolman1]

But then how do I control the SWCG? Does it also come with its own timer? The Pentair Intellichlor seems to come with a simple control panel but it's only On/Off and output power. In other words, suppose I want to run my pump at low 24/7 but only want chlorine output part of the time. How would I control that?

I am trying to understand what exactly I need to tell a company I want. Otherwise they will push this unnecessary and expensive automation on me .

You have at least one existing timer that won't be used (unless it is not working), the one for the filter pump you have now. Timers don't "care" what they turn on and off (within their amp rating). An Intermatic like you have can handle 40 amps. You won't have anything like that load on it. Get new mechanisms for those boxes, get new T104R complete. Get a PE1353 electronic mechanism for one of those boxes, or a P153 the electronic timeclock in a new raintight box. The electronic mechanism can handle up to 3 different pieces of equipment. Your new VSP will have constant power to it, it won't be powered through a timer.
Get the boxes mounted properly and you're good. The SWG, along with the booster pump, can be powered on and off with either of the clocks mentioned above.
My booster and SWG are on a P1353, my VSP is constantly powered.

 

[RickRude]

Thank you all for the replies. I am getting an Intelliflo3 with an I/O board (model 011078) that has two relays, one for my new SWCG IC-60 and one for the Polaris. So, I will not need any analog timers. Bottom line is: you all have saved me ~$3K, and I'm getting Pentair equipment. THANK YOU.