Tuning IC60 Flow rate... input min to make it happy?

tomas21 · Jun 25, 2022

First season for new pool and learning & tuning as we move along....

I am noticing our IC60 occasionally isn't happy with flow and puts the infamous red light....

I'm trying to determine what the optimal flow range is to not cut it too close but not have to run VSF full bore all day.... also have a heater in the mix with a bypass and trying to figure out tuning the intellivalve to close more of the heater flow off so most water is going through circ but giving some flow through heater plumbing while off....

VSF is running at 2500 rpm and flow meter after ic60 is stating around 25 GPM.... Pentair Quad DE 100 is reporting pressure around 20 psi.

1. Keep reducing flow to heater while it is off via intellivalve to see if I can increase GPM going through IC60
2. Consider doing first filter clean to see if the filter needs cleaning to improve GPM
3. Just run VSF over 2500 rpm to make the IC60 happy from 6a-4p daily

other ideas thoughts?

mknauss · Jun 25, 2022

Yikes. There is no way you should have to run the pump that high of rpm for the SWCG.

Post some pictures of your equipment pad.

Are you sure the filter is not dirty?

ajw22 · Jun 25, 2022

I have a similar setup to yours with a VSF pump, FNS DE filter, MasterTemp 400 heater, and IC60.

With no bypass on the heater my SWG and heater is very happy running with the pump at 1700 rpm.

My filter pressure at 1700 rpm is about 7 psi.

Your filter is different then mine and I would look at your filter carefully as to why it is restricting your flow.

You have an MPV?

Put the MPV in RECIRCULATE to bypass the filter and see how your flowmeter changes.

Jimrahbe · Jun 25, 2022

Tomas,

Wow.. 2500 RPM and your filter pressure is 20 lbs??? That sounds awful high.

Show me a pic of your multiport valve, so that I can see the Part Number???

Thanks,

Jim R.

tomas21 · Jun 25, 2022

tomas21 · Jun 25, 2022

tomas21 · Jun 25, 2022

markayash · Jun 25, 2022

I would bet your filter is dirty, my filter pressure is at 3 to 4 psi and goes through heater and then SWG it neither show low flow unless my filter is dirty

tomas21 · Jun 25, 2022

Issue solved.... Filter was filthy...
now... running pump at 1750 getting almost 30gpm... filter pressure 10 psi
running pump 2500 getting 45gpm filter pressure 15 psi

markayash · Jun 25, 2022

tomas21 said:
Issue solved.... Filter was filthy...
now... running pump at 1750 getting almost 30gpm... filter pressure 10 psi
running pump 2500 getting 45gpm filter pressure 15 psi

You can probably turn your pump down more if you want

Glad you fixed it!

tomas21 · Jun 25, 2022

What is the min gpm that the ic60 requires to remain happy?

Jimrahbe · Jun 25, 2022

Tomas,

There is no magic number as every plumbing set up is different,

Just reduce the speed until the Red flow light comes on. Then slowly in steps increase the RPM until the flow light just comes on. Add 100 or 200 RPM just to make sure and you are done.

Thanks,

Jim R.

markayash · Jun 25, 2022

Jimrahbe said:
Tomas,

There is no magic number as every plumbing set up is different,

Just reduce the speed until the Red flow light comes on. Then slowly in steps increase the RPM until the flow light just comes on. Add 100 or 200 RPM just to make sure and you are done.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Like I joked with my kids when teaching them how to drive. “ pull up until you hit the wall then back up a little

”

proavia · Jun 26, 2022

Filter should be cleaned at about 25% above clean pressure.
Run pump at max speed and note the clean pressure.
If something doesn't seem quite right, run pump at max spped to chedk pressure.
If clean pressure is 10, clean at 12.5-ish.

What is that device just before the SWG with the vertical tube?

That's a lot of equipment and plumbing crammed in a small space.

tomas21 · Jun 26, 2022

proavia said:
Filter should be cleaned at about 25% above clean pressure.
Run pump at max speed and note the clean pressure.
If something doesn't seem quite right, run pump at max spped to chedk pressure.
If clean pressure is 10, clean at 12.5-ish.

What is that device just before the SWG with the vertical tube?

That's a lot of equipment and plumbing crammed in a small space.

Thanks.. ya we had limited space given our design and backyard.... the Vertical tube is a viking helmet @Dirk and I came up with to protect the intelliph feeder from rogue pool toys landing in the equipment pad area..

tomas21 · Jun 26, 2022

Well after cleaning the filter... i did some baseline tests now that it has been cleaned for the first time since the pool was finished late last year..

Questions for a ~29K pool that gets use often now and optimzing : )
- What is the safe GPM to always make the SWG IC60 happy?
- What is the preferred normal circulation speed when pool is on throughout the day? Pool runs 6a - 4p same as IC60
- What is the preferred high flow speed to turn things up during the day: ~3 hours or so ? Pool runs at high speed from 8a-11a
- What is the preferred Spillway runtime to circ / refresh spa ~900gal: 2x a day 15min in the am and 30min in the pm

Jimrahbe · Jun 26, 2022

Tomas,

You are just making this so much harder than it needs to be. It is your pool, and you need to set the speeds that work for you.

Slower is almost always better, but each pool is different, so only you can know what works at your pool. My speeds are not really important as they are for my pool.

Thanks,

Jim R.

tomas21 · Jun 26, 2022

Jimrahbe said:
Tomas,

You are just making this so much harder than it needs to be. It is your pool, and you need to set the speeds that work for you.

Slower is almost always better, but each pool is different, so only you can know what works at your pool. My speeds are not really important as they are for my pool.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks.. was just curious if there was general guidance based on size, usage, etc that I should be considering..

I want enough flow to circ pool at lower speed that obviously makes the SWG happy all the time
I want to bump up speeds during lower energy cost to just stir things up and take to filter
Replenish spa to keep it happy and sanitized when not in use during the day

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Tuning IC60 Flow rate... input min to make it happy?

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