Riptide XP Pool Vacuum: !!WOW!!
- Thread starter PGQ24
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,396
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Sure they do...
Saline C 6.0 Commercial Salt Chlorine Generator
Bring the luxury of salt-chlorinated water to any commercial pool.
hayward.com
Saline C 11.0 Commercial Salt Chlorine Generator
Bring the luxury of salt-chlorinated water to any commercial pool.
hayward.com
SWG Multiple Cells - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
I'm not sure what you mean by a huge difference unless you mean seawater. My SWG pool salt level is typically between 3000-3300 ppm, and yes, that is only a tenth of seawater.
My equipment is away from the pool water, but the equipment will leak from the lid (o-ring leaks at pump stops) or a Jandy valve over a pump will drip leak, and before you know it, the pump casing is corroded to a significant degree compared to the other pump which is 7 years older. If I work on the equipment and don't wash down my metal tools, I will see the rust/corrosion, too. It sucks. I'm sure chlorine takes some responsibility, too . . . but to a lesser degree.
The big windows are far from the pool splashes, but the kids have these huge water canons that can shoot 30 feet away. They should ban those toys.
Did I mention salt water is bad for flagstones and joints, too? After every pool party and splashes, I have to wash down all the stones around the pool and windows with a garden hose.In summary, my experience with the SWG is lower pool maintenance (and perhaps lower cost except that these SWG cost nearly double of what they were years ago), but the drawbacks are higher corrosion to natural stones and equipment longevity.
Many 'chlorine pools' break 2000 ppm and may even surpass the 'salt pool'.
Nobody ever tests the salt level of the chlorine pool, ever, when every gallon of sodium hypochlorite adds salt.
Sabot
LifeTime Supporter
I finally purchased a Riptide XP for my small pool last week. Two full-grown pecan trees hang over the pool. I have been putting this purchase off for a long time. It always seems that something comes up that is a little more fun or needy.
I would like to try to go without a battery. Riptide stated the motor pulls about 20 amps in the water. 8-gauge wire is used to connect to the battery. For the first season of use, I am going to try: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NVX48NT?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 instead of a battery. Also, installing a simple panel mount power https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B73DM84Y?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title I will secure the battery box where it is far from the pool and is in an elevated position. If this little project fails, then I will go with a battery. Next season, I may move the converter to my shed and wall mount it. Installing a 25-foot, 8-gauge, 3-conductor Extension Power Cable. It should fit inside the battery box. I will install a water-resistant 12V fan on the box to aid air circulation.
I would like to try to go without a battery. Riptide stated the motor pulls about 20 amps in the water. 8-gauge wire is used to connect to the battery. For the first season of use, I am going to try: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NVX48NT?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 instead of a battery. Also, installing a simple panel mount power https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B73DM84Y?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title I will secure the battery box where it is far from the pool and is in an elevated position. If this little project fails, then I will go with a battery. Next season, I may move the converter to my shed and wall mount it. Installing a 25-foot, 8-gauge, 3-conductor Extension Power Cable. It should fit inside the battery box. I will install a water-resistant 12V fan on the box to aid air circulation.
Last edited:
IndiGirl
Bronze Supporter
Which manual vac do you have?You guys are comparing it to robots or automatic cleaners and thats not fair.
How does it compare to my manual vac that I can make suck so hard it sticks to the floor? My manual vac whoops all the cleaners too. Give me a compelling reason to spend $1000 versus the $65 traingle vacuum head.
The Old school vac head and hose.
The riptide has more power but I don't see the average owner spending $1000 to shave a little time off a weekly chore while still having to do the chore. For the pros, time is money and those minutes add up quickly job after job.
For that money, the inferior robots still win IMO because it takes 2 min to go press the button to turn them on and you can run 20 cycles in the time it took to manually vacuum once. Lol.
Katodude
Silver Supporter
- Aug 22, 2017
- 3,004
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Hush your mouth calling my robots inferior!!! 
I will put my navy up against any manual vacuum.
I will put my navy up against any manual vacuum.
Sabot
LifeTime Supporter
I am using a 12 gauge 25 ft extension cable with a GFCI on both ends. I had the exhaust port left over from a pool pi experiment, which a 12v fan can be mounted to. I need to add one more port and test a fan. Here are a few pictures:
My redneck solution for the time being to keep the box elevated and attached to a table and a table anchor.
$57.00
$10.00
The most challenging part so far with the Riptide is installing and removing the bags.
Sobot, that's an interesting project. As for me, I bought the 35ah LifePo4 battery, and it is quite light. Also, I don't have an outlet near the pool, and I already have an ugly caddy with a cover for the Dolphin s400 (which I'm not a big fan off but spent too much money to just storing it away). Hence, I prefer no cables unless I'm cleaning. On a 68K gallon pool, I can do at least 3 to 4 vacuum before the battery goes down to about 40% per my charger. Each run time is about 30 minutes. During the spring and fall, I'll use the 100 micron bag, but for summer, I use the 60 microns and 25 microns before a swim party.
As for robots, they are like mini coopers compared to Range Rovers (the Riptide/Hammerhead). A potential true robot that I will try when it comes out is the Wybot. It is cordless, auto docks, and self empty. All these current pool robots are about 15 years behind the land vacuum bots. You still have to empty them every day or other day, you still have to pull them from the pool, and it can be a real mess when you take them out of the water. Years from now, we will ask ourselves how we were able to tolerate the inefficients of the current robots for years.
Nothing beats the good old elbow grease and great tool for the job. If the current robot works for your pool, that's great. For my pool, there is no robot on the market for any price that beats the old elbow grease. It's similar to trying to replace my lawn service with a Manmotion Luba 2 for 2.5 acre. The tech is not there. It just won't work.
As for robots, they are like mini coopers compared to Range Rovers (the Riptide/Hammerhead). A potential true robot that I will try when it comes out is the Wybot. It is cordless, auto docks, and self empty. All these current pool robots are about 15 years behind the land vacuum bots. You still have to empty them every day or other day, you still have to pull them from the pool, and it can be a real mess when you take them out of the water. Years from now, we will ask ourselves how we were able to tolerate the inefficients of the current robots for years.
Nothing beats the good old elbow grease and great tool for the job. If the current robot works for your pool, that's great. For my pool, there is no robot on the market for any price that beats the old elbow grease. It's similar to trying to replace my lawn service with a Manmotion Luba 2 for 2.5 acre. The tech is not there. It just won't work.
Yes, those bags are a battle. I find that it helps to get the neck wet, but it is always a battleThe most challenging part so far with the Riptide is installing and removing the bags.
A member told me to get the cold weather tool instead of a blunt screwdriver. I got it, and he is right. A 9 year old can remove any bag with the tool, and you'll love it even more in cold weather. For installation, I match the groove lip first on one side of the riptide (lateral either right or left wheels), then I slowly work around to bring the bag down to the other end. It creates less of a wobble, or having to "pin the riptide on the ground" to put the bag on.
Sabot
LifeTime Supporter
A few more follow-up pictures.
Below are two 60mm 12v fans that I had sitting around. I have since installed a 60mm single server fan.
AVC 60mm PWM Double Ball High Speed Fan 2B06038B12G - 12V 60X38mm Computer Server Power ($14 on Amazon)
My Robo Cleaner is happy to have the Riptide taking up the heavy cleaning.
Below are two 60mm 12v fans that I had sitting around. I have since installed a 60mm single server fan.
AVC 60mm PWM Double Ball High Speed Fan 2B06038B12G - 12V 60X38mm Computer Server Power ($14 on Amazon)
My Robo Cleaner is happy to have the Riptide taking up the heavy cleaning.
Sabot
LifeTime Supporter
Here are my two archenemies - Pecan trees and their seed pods...
I have come to terms with these guys, for they do provide solid shade during the Texas summers!
I have come to terms with these guys, for they do provide solid shade during the Texas summers!
jark87
Silver Supporter
- Jun 5, 2011
- 1,312
- Pool Size
- 25500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
I’m in a similar situation in regards to trees. 2 large red oaks and several large cedar elms, all of which churn out all kinds of debris, especially in the spring and fall. Summer is not too bad. The red oaks produce seed pods similar to your pecan trees. The cedar elms are worse because they produce a sand-like seed - by the millions. I have a mesh cover that remains on until the last of red oaks “worms” have fallen, but the seeds still fall through the mesh. I tend to open up to a mess every spring, but it only takes a few days to get it resolved.Here are my two archenemies - Pecan trees and their seed pods...
View attachment 643572
View attachment 643573
I have come to terms with these guys, for they do provide solid shade during the Texas summers!
I don’t have a vacuum to waste option and I hate clogging my filter with my old school vacuum, so this thread caught my interest. I tried a $200 vacuum from Leslie’s that had good reviews, but took it back. The store manager told me he’d let me try it, but he also told me I’d probably be returning it.
At $1100, I’d expect more of a turnkey solution, including a plugin option. But you have to buy a battery separately and seems that if you want to run from an outlet, you have to rig it yourself. I only have the need for a heavy lift vacuuming job once a year, so I’ll probably pass on this, but I’ll do some more research. I did finally buy a skimmer basket cover that allows me to leave the basket in while I vacuum, so at least I don’t clog the filter as badly as I used to.