Seeking ideal schedule to run pump

[rphillips]

17,000 gallons, live in North Texas, Pentair VSF pump with Polaris pool cleaner w/ booster pump.

I no longer have my pool guy, so now doing DIY. I looked at schedule he had set, and it seems very odd - makes no sense to me, but I'm new to figuring this out on my own, so maybe there was logic to it that I don't understand.
2000 RPM from 12:20a-12:25a
2845 RPM 12:40-12:45am
3250 RPM from 8am-6pm

I'd like to conserve energy, but keep a clean pool. And I assume I need the pump at 2845 (or higher) during a 2-hour window that the pool cleaner is running.

Is there a guideline for an ideal schedule?

 

[Jimrahbe]

R,

I run my pump 24/7, mostly at 1200 rpm, this costs me less than $20 bucks a month. But, I have a saltwater pool..

I like making a little chlorine all the time and skimming all the time. I also like the look of my pool when there is a little motion to the water.

There is just zero reason to run your 3 HP IntelliFlo at almost full speed.

Do you constantly run your waterfall, or is it controlled by an automated valve??

I'd run as slow as you can, for as long as you can, with a 2 hour increase in speed to run your cleaner.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[rphillips]

R,

I run my pump 24/7, mostly at 1200 rpm, this costs me less than $20 bucks a month. But, I have a saltwater pool..

I like making a little chlorine all the time and skimming all the time. I also like the look of my pool when there is a little motion to the water.

The is just zero reason to run your 3 HP IntelliFlo at almost full speed.

Do you constantly run your waterfall, or is it controlled by an automated valve??

I'd run as slow as you can, for as long as you can, with a 2 hour increase in speed to run your cleaner.

Thanks,

Jim R.

I only run the waterfall 3-5 hours / day.

 

[PoolStored]

Do you have an SWG?

If so, then clean your filter, reduce the RPMs until your SWG flow switch turns off the cell. Then add 200 RPM and run there. That will allow some dirt in the filter and the SWG will still work.

If you don't have SWG, then you run your pump for a reason. Filter, heat, distribute chemicals, skim etc. You can run as low as you want if it satisfies your requirements. If you don't get good enough skimming, turn it up for an hour or two (adjust your RPM until you get the skimming you like). If you have a heater, it will have a flow requirement in the manual. Run your pump when you add chemicals.

You can likely save a lot.

 

[Jimrahbe]

I only run the waterfall 3-5 hours / day.

R,

I asked as to run a waterfall, it usually takes a higher pump speed.

Do you have an automation system? Does it control the waterfall?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[rphillips]

Automation is only an analog timer.