Optimal Pump Settings?

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jfdudek1

jfdudek1

Member
Aug 10, 2022
15
DFW Area
Hey folks, new pool owner and have a question regarding how to set up my VSF Pump. 15K Gal, Saltwater, initial thought is to turn the pool over after midnight when energy rates should be lower. Thinking running 40 GMP for 6 hrs, and run the Polaris for 3hrs during this time as well, then reduce to 30 GPM to circulate during the day. Or, should I run higher GPM for shorter time period?
Thanks in advance!
 
Welcome to TFP! :wave: Instead of worrying about GPM or anything related to water turnover, focus on a low rpm for a duration you feel is adequate enough to skim the water's surface, generate chlorine with the SWG, mix chemicals, and perhaps run the cleaner. A higher rpm might be required for the cleaner but that's about it. More in the links below.

Pool Care Basics

www.troublefreepool.com

Determine Pump Run Time

To figure out how many hours you need to run your pump, you need to know how fast your pump works. You can find this here.
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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jf,

The idea that you have to "Turnover" x gallons of water per day is a myth and just not true.

Especially if you have a saltwater pool. Once you run the pump long enough to make the chlorine your pool needs, you have run it long enough.

That does not mean you can't run it longer if you want, it just means that you don't have to run it to meet some myth about turnovers.

I run my IntelliFlo pump 24/7, mostly at 1200 RPM, for less than $20 bucks a month. I did not realize that anyone in the DFW area had time of use power rates.. Odd.. :scratch:

I would not run your pump any faster than what it takes to close the SWCG's flow switch plus 100 RPM. Anything faster is just a waste of money.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jimrahbe said:
jf,

The idea that you have to "Turnover" x gallons of water per day is a myth and just not true.

Especially if you have a saltwater pool. Once you run the pump long enough to make the chlorine your pool needs, you have run it long enough.

That does not mean you can't run it longer if you want, it just means that you don't have to run it to meet some myth about turnovers.

I run my IntelliFlo pump 24/7, mostly at 1200 RPM, for less than $20 bucks a month. I did not realize that anyone in the DFW area had time of use power rates.. Odd.. :scratch:

I would not run your pump any faster than what it takes to close the SWCG's flow switch plus 100 RPM. Anything faster is just a waste of money.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Thx Jim
 
I live on a breezy high plateau and have a 1 acre open back yard. Lots of organic debris gets blown into the pool, including birds that "like to bathe".

Here is my schedule -

I run @ 1950 rpms (240 watts) for about 10 hours a day. An additional hour in the morning is dedicated to skimming @ 2500 rpm (450 watts) and there are two 15 minute bumps in the middle of the day that I had programmed to remove the variable speed "air bubble" that would previously form in the basket. Since I've switched to the Waterway 425sqft cartridge filter I don't get much of a bubble anymore so I could probably eliminate those bumps. However, it is nice to have the mid day skims (we need them). Estimated electric cost is less than 50 cents a day. The SWCG (Core T-55) runs at 25% and maintains 2ppm (sometimes higher) with this schedule; I keep my CYA low at about 20.

I could probably run at 1200 without a problem.
 
jfdudek1 said:
I just tried setting it to run 24hrs at 1200RPMs, but my filter is hardly registering any pressure at all, maybe 2lbs...
Click to expand...


jf,

Filter pressure is not what most people thing it is.. It is a measure of how much effort it takes to force water through the filter and back to the pool.

In most cases, lower is better. My filter pressure at 1200 RPM is about 1 lb.

The key is just to feel the water flow coming back to the pool. If you can feel a good flow of water and your SWCG's flow switch is closed, then you should be good to go.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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