Creatively use new IntelliFlo3 pump for multiple purposes?

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Desmond.TFP

Active member
Nov 26, 2012
44
Austin, TX
Pool Size
26000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
I am replacing my 2HP single speed Jandy filter pump with a 3HP Intelliflo3 VSF variable speed/flow. Quite a bit of re-plumbing involved, rebuilding main suction manifold while at at.

At the same time, I have a small aux Polaris pump and small aux Waterfall pump, both dead and unused since the big Texas freeze. The Waterfall pump is on its own little circuit, 2 small in-wall suction intakes and 2 in-wall slots for the falls return. The Polaris is currently plumbed so it sucks from the main return line and pushes into a small dedicated Polaris return line (pic below, sorry about large size).

Question: is there any creative way to plumb / motorized diverters / program and automation of speeds & valves / ... so the new VSF does double or triple duty, and I can get rid of 1 or even both of the aux pumps?


Polaris pump plumbing.jpg
 
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Des.TFP said:
I am replacing my 2HP single speed Jandy filter pump with a 3HP Intelliflo3 VSF variable speed/flow. Quite a bit of re-plumbing involved, rebuilding main suction manifold while at at.

At the same time, I have a small aux Polaris pump and small aux Waterfall pump, both dead and unused since the big Texas freeze. The Waterfall pump is on its own little circuit, 2 small in-wall returns and 2 in-wall slots for the falls. The Polaris is currently plumbed so it sucks from the main return line and pushes into a small dedicated Polaris return line (pic below, sorry about large size).

Question: is there any creative way to plumb / program and automation of speeds & valves / ... so the new VSF does double or triple duty, and I can get rid of 1 or even both of the aux pumps?


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You can't run the booster-pump cleaner on anything other than a booster pump. To do so would damage the hoses and the internals of the cleaner. Seen it a few times. People would buy a 3/4hp pool pump, because they were less expensive than a booster, which is always 3/4hp, put it on a Polaris and destroy it, including the back-up valve as the pump would move too much water.
 
The Polaris pump is called a Booster Pump, because it needs the extra pressure (in addition to the output flow of VSF Pump) to operate the Polaris pressure side cleaner. Polaris makes a cleaner that does not require the booster pump if that is your desire. It would still connect to the wall outlet where your current cleaner connects.

To run a water feature with your new VS pump is feasible depending on how your plumbing is set up or how you wish to modify it. Also some water features require certain flow rates so you may not get the desired effect. You would need to provide specific information on your water feature and also show several photos as to how it is all plumbed at this point.
 
HermanTX said:
The Polaris pump is called a Booster Pump, because it needs the extra pressure (in addition to the output flow of VSF Pump) to operate the Polaris pressure side cleaner. Polaris makes a cleaner that does not require the booster pump if that is your desire. It would still connect to the wall outlet where your current cleaner connects.
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Thanks, @HermanTX , clearer now about the Polaris. I believe I have the old Polaris 180 or 280 which needs the booster. Is swapping it out for a booster-less cleaner (not necessarily Polaris) painless? The Polaris 360 sounds like it would just plug in, as you said.
 
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HermanTX said:
To run a water feature with your new VS pump is feasible depending on how your plumbing is set up or how you wish to modify it. Also some water features require certain flow rates so you may not get the desired effect. You would need to provide specific information on your water feature and also show several photos as to how it is all plumbed at this point.
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Below is a picture. I've taken a stab at 2 ways I imagine re-plumbing to drive the water features from the same VSF pump, and eliminate the dead) waterfall pump. I may be hopelessly wrong.

The existing waterfall pump pulls from 2 in-wall ports in the pool (below a skimmer). There is actually an underground leak where those 2 ports join together to run to my equipment pad, so I'd be glad to seal those up permanently if I could. The waterfall pump pushes water out to 2 slots in the pool wall about 2' above the water line.

Top View - All except Polaris.jpg
 
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I see you have a spa so the downside of a single pump is that in Spa Mode you will not be able to use the water feature. The pump will only draw from the spa and return to the spa. If you return to the waterfall you would drain the spa.

You would also want a 3 way valve in place of the Tee so you can control flow (on or off) to the water feature. Also, where you want to put the tee is before the split of the return to either pool or spa (assumption as not shown in picture). Currently you are using liquid chlorine so no issue but if you install a SWCG in future, you would want the split to the water feature after the SWCG because you want full flow to the SWCG to ensure you activate the flow switch. So just some things to think about.
 
HermanTX said:
I see you have a spa so the downside of a single pump is that in Spa Mode you will not be able to use the water feature. The pump will only draw from the spa and return to the spa. If you return to the waterfall you would drain the spa.

You would also want a 3 way valve in place of the Tee so you can control flow (on or off) to the water feature. Also, where you want to put the tee is before the split of the return to either pool or spa (assumption as not shown in picture). Currently you are using liquid chlorine so no issue but if you install a SWCG in future, you would want the split to the water feature after the SWCG because you want full flow to the SWCG to ensure you activate the flow switch. So just some things to think about.
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Thanks so much @HermanTX . Good point about the spa, I'd be fine with spa & waterfall not available at same time. I hope I could program things so when spa is on the falls are shut off, but not sure.

Re: split to pool or spa: thanks, yes, everything in this picture is before that split. I'm using chlorine tabs (on the far side of the filter) + some liquid, no chance of me going back to SWCG.

Not sure if you saw the blue-line options as I had edited my post. Would a 2-way (motorized) valve on the blue line (or the red line) suffice, all it would do it either enable flow to the falls or block it off, while flow to the pool returns would always be on? I'm hoping my Jandy + iAqualink2 panel can be configured to automatically block off the flow to the falls when in spa mode.

[EDIT:] Duh. Just realized 3-way is exactly what I need there. Thanks, Herman.
 
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Des.TFP said:
Not sure if you saw the blue-line options as I had edited my post. Would a 2-way (motorized) valve on the blue line (or the red line) suffice, all it would do it either enable flow to the falls or block it off, while flow to the pool returns would always be on? I'm hoping my Jandy + iAqualink2 panel can be configured to automatically block off the flow to the falls when in spa mode.
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Actually the blue line is a good idea because your existing water feature plumbing does not go through a filter.

Having a 2 way valve after the Tee would make things simpler. The valve then would either be full open to flow simultaneously to pool return and water feature or when closed just to pool return.

On the iAquaLink, there are 2 other sockets named Solar and Cleaner in the JVA setup. You could plug the JVA into Cleaner. Please read the Section on Automating a Water Feature.

Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

You would need to remove the booster pump from the relay electrical connection, assuming that is still your plan. If you are going with the Polaris 360 (no booster pump).
 
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