Proposed Equipment for new pool advice

[Vardster]

Hi All,

We are getting closer and the pool company have propsoed these items as equipment for our new salt water pool.

I'm not sure if I have an option to change/choose our own equipment so can you let me know if these items are reccomended here or if there are changes/upgrades we should be making?

We have a 14ftx28ft vinyl pool with auto cover.

- Pentair sta rite 300 series Max e therm heater

- Pentair sta rite Intellipro3 VSF pool pump

- Pentair sta rite Tagelus TA 60D top mount sand filter

- Pentair ic40 salt chlorine generator


Thanks very much in advace!

 

[ajw22]

It is better then most we see.

Are you getting automation?

How will you control pump speed and SWG % output when the pool cover is open versus closed?

 

[Vardster]

It is better then most we see.

Are you getting automation?

How will you control pump speed and SWG % output when the pool cover is open versus closed?

Im not sure as this is our first pool. We are not getting automation but have been told we can set a schedule for the pump speed.

plesae can you explain how the auto cover affects this and what we need to do?

thanks

 

[ajw22]

You will have a variable speed pump that can run at different speeds depending on what devices are running. You SWG can generate chlorine with a low flow over many hours. Your heater will need greater flow when it is running.

Your pool needs about 10% of the chlorine when the cover is clos3ed compared to when the cover is opened. You adjust that with the SWG % output which can be 5% when the cover is closed and 50% when the cover is opened.

So heater on or off needs pump speed change unless you always run the pump at the higher speed and waste electricity.

Cover open or closed requires SWG % adjustment.

You can be making all these adjustments manually and it will keep you busy.

Automation like a Pentair IntelliCenter can do it for you. Change the pump speed when the heater turns on and off. Change the SWG % when the pool cover opens or closes.

Pentair Automation Systems - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Vardster]

You will have a variable speed pump that can run at different speeds depending on what devices are running. You SWG can generate chlorine with a low flow over many hours. Your heater will need greater flow when it is running.

Your pool needs about 10% of the chlorine when the cover is clos3ed compared to when the cover is opened. You adjust that with the SWG % output which can be 5% when the cover is closed and 50% when the cover is opened.

So heater on or off needs pump speed change unless you always run the pump at the higher speed and waste electricity.

Cover open or closed requires SWG % adjustment.

You can be making all these adjustments manually and it will keep you busy.

Automation like a Pentair IntelliCenter can do it for you. Change the pump speed when the heater turns on and off. Change the SWG % when the pool cover opens or closes.

Pentair Automation Systems - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

So it sounds like this is something i really need? I thought going for SWG would make maintance easier but I didnt relise the cover would make a difference.

Would this be the best option?

Pentair IntelliConnect® Pool Control System - 523317

The IntelliConnect Control and Monitoring system allows you to monitor and control your pool equipment from the user-friendly Pentair Home app. Pentair Item Code: 523317 - Controls up to five pool products like pool pumps, filtration, lights sanitization via WiFi connection...

poolproductscanada.ca

Reading that link you sent makes me feel very out of my depth. I dont beleive we have a low voltage wire installed and the electricity and gas has already been done so would this system still work without it with the cover?

 

[ajw22]

Only the IntelliCenter has the Cover Card.

 

[Vardster]

Only the IntelliCenter has the Cover Card.

I would advised on here not to get an automati chlorinator. Would this still be the case?

 

[ajw22]

I would advised on here not to get an automati chlorinator. Would this still be the case?

Yes.

 

[Vardster]

Yes.

So if i had a schedule that ran the pump at the same speed when we used the pool and had the cover of I can just manually adjust the SWG then when i close the cover I manually adjust the SWG?

Is this what everyone does who has a salt water pool with a cover?!

 

[ajw22]

So if i had a schedule that ran the pump at the same speed when we used the pool and had the cover of I can just manually adjust the SWG then when i close the cover I manually adjust the SWG?

Yes.

Is this what everyone does who has a salt water pool with a cover?!

Yes, those that don't have automation with a cover card.

 

[Vardster]

Yes.



Yes, those that don't have automation with a cover card.

Would this be the same if it was a chlorine pool?

 

[ajw22]

Would this be the same if it was a chlorine pool?

A "salt pool" is a chlorine pool.

Chlorine can come from various sources. With a SWG you create the chlorine on site.

Somehow the chlorine needs to be metered for the dosage the pool needs depending if the cover is closed or open and the suns UV consumes the chlorine.

 

[alvindo]

I have a pool with a vsp, with a swcg, and an auto cover. We do not have automation. I run my pump at a higher speed when expect to be in it and run at a lower speed before and after. I let it turn off in 100 am and 7 am. When running slower speeds which for me is about 1300 rpm’s my swcg and heater seem to run fine.

My biggest issue is try and get enough pump and swag for twice the size of your pool. I attempted this and got it done for the filter and swig, I wish I had gone to 3hp on the pump. My electric bill doesn’t seem to be too bad though.

 

[Vol Family]

I have a pool with a vsp, with a swcg, and an auto cover. We do not have automation. I run my pump at a higher speed when expect to be in it and run at a lower speed before and after. I let it turn off in 100 am and 7 am. When running slower speeds which for me is about 1300 rpm’s my swcg and heater seem to run fine.

My biggest issue is try and get enough pump and swag for twice the size of your pool. I attempted this and got it done for the filter and swig, I wish I had gone to 3hp on the pump. My electric bill doesn’t seem to be too bad though.

Going thru the permit process now to install a 14×32 saltwater pool with an autocover. Piggybackimg off this thread, do you keep your cover closed when not in use?

 

[Vardster]

I have a pool with a vsp, with a swcg, and an auto cover. We do not have automation. I run my pump at a higher speed when expect to be in it and run at a lower speed before and after. I let it turn off in 100 am and 7 am. When running slower speeds which for me is about 1300 rpm’s my swcg and heater seem to run fine.

My biggest issue is try and get enough pump and swag for twice the size of your pool. I attempted this and got it done for the filter and swig, I wish I had gone to 3hp on the pump. My electric bill doesn’t seem to be too bad though.

Thanks and good to know. You turn off the pump at 1am till 7am?

Would you recceomend a larger pump or do you think the one I have will be enough?

How often do you have to chech the pool chemistry to know what to do?

Sorry for all the questions, i've never owned a pool before.

 

[alvindo]

I think most would reccomend a 3 hp pump. My pool is 16*42 but a no of that is tanning ledge. My 1.65 does a good job but a 3 hp pump would be more efficient. My pool builder originally recommended a 1 hp single speed. On everything he did I made him increase the capacity of equipment. So I switched to a 1.65 vsp. I wish I had known to ask about what the cost increase would be to go to 3 hp. Mine works great though and our electric bill increased maybe 20 bucks a month and that’s with running the heater/chiller occasionally. My plumbing is very efficient though. My father in law is a plumber and I had him go over all of our plumbing. When my pump runs it barely registers any pressure.

I do have it scheduled to turn off in the middle of the night. At first just to see what the electric bill would be. But now I just keep it there because it runs fine.

Get a good test kit. That is huge. I test chlorine and ph every day. I do total alkalinity, cya, and calcium weekly. At first I was testing cya every day, that test drove me bonkers. The rest are very easy. Salt once a month. I use the Pool math app to log my results and if it tells me to add something, I do it. I was worried about getting my second pool. I had one 20 years ago and it was a pain. A good testing kit and the pool math app will make it pretty painless. You’ll find the people here very helpful.

 

[TinFoilHat]

I'm surprised how no one ever seems to mention that they run their pools based on their time-of-use electric plan. That's what I do. On at 9pm and off at 9am - the off peak hours. The VSP saved us $30 per month right off the bat.

 

[Vardster]

I think most would reccomend a 3 hp pump. My pool is 16*42 but a no of that is tanning ledge. My 1.65 does a good job but a 3 hp pump would be more efficient. My pool builder originally recommended a 1 hp single speed. On everything he did I made him increase the capacity of equipment. So I switched to a 1.65 vsp. I wish I had known to ask about what the cost increase would be to go to 3 hp. Mine works great though and our electric bill increased maybe 20 bucks a month and that’s with running the heater/chiller occasionally. My plumbing is very efficient though. My father in law is a plumber and I had him go over all of our plumbing. When my pump runs it barely registers any pressure.

I do have it scheduled to turn off in the middle of the night. At first just to see what the electric bill would be. But now I just keep it there because it runs fine.

Get a good test kit. That is huge. I test chlorine and ph every day. I do total alkalinity, cya, and calcium weekly. At first I was testing cya every day, that test drove me bonkers. The rest are very easy. Salt once a month. I use the Pool math app to log my results and if it tells me to add something, I do it. I was worried about getting my second pool. I had one 20 years ago and it was a pain. A good testing kit and the pool math app will make it pretty painless. You’ll find the people here very helpful.

What test kits do you uese? I think the ones here are a little harder to find in Canada?

The pump they have propsoed for me I beleive is 3HP. Based on the other equipment mentioned above would you reccomend upgrading anythign else?

 

[TinFoilHat]

TF Pro 100 but I understand you can't get the TF kits in Canada so a Taylor 2006C would suit you fine.

 

[Homebrewale]

I'm surprised how no one ever seems to mention that they run their pools based on their time-of-use electric plan. That's what I do. On at 9pm and off at 9am - the off peak hours. The VSP saved us $30 per month right off the bat.

I don't have a time of use plan. My pump runs 24/7.