Hi all, I've been agonizing for a couple months and figured I should finally stop lurking and start asking questions.
I have a couple things going on at once:
1. My 1.5 HP Pump just died and I need to replace it.
2. I'd like to a solar heater
3. We just a hot tub from a friend and would like to hook it up. It's near the pool, but the current electrical setup I have is old and decrepit. My electrician friend tells me there's "no way" I'd be able to have both my pool pump and hot tub running at the same time with my current setup.
So first things first, the new pump. I've been looking at the intelliflow line. I'm having a hard time deciding between the different models:
Pentair 011013 IntelliFlo VS 3050
Pentair 011012 IntelliFlo VF
Secret option #3????
The VS is a lot cheaper than the VF. My local pool supply company can't give a straight answer on the differences. We have a fairly large pool (20' x 40', 12 ft at deep end) so I'll need a lot of turnover. I also wonder if maybe I should just invest in a 2 speed pump - one speed for when I'm vacumming/using the solar heater and the lower speed for "normal" turnover.
Once I've got that figured out, I need to invest in the solar heater. I'm planning on installing it myself - the SunHeater 4'x20' grids seem like a pretty straightforward purchase. I also want this to be automated, so I'm looking at the SunTouch Solar package, which comes with the 3way value and a few sensors. It supposedly plays nicely with the intelliflow VS. Does this sound right?
Lastly, and this is a biggy, I need to lay some 2" PVC from my pump to the roof. It's a pretty long run (~60') although my house is only single story. Since I need a new subpanel I figured I'd just dig an extra deep trench and throw the direct burial line a foot under the solar pipes. Something inside me thinks this might be a bad idea, but a friend of mine is convinced this would be "code".
Any advice / suggestions? I'm having an electrician come out tonight to quote me on the subpanel wiring. I was hoping to order the other parts this week and start installation next weekend, but I want to make sure I'm getting the right things and not missing anything huge.
I have a couple things going on at once:
1. My 1.5 HP Pump just died and I need to replace it.
2. I'd like to a solar heater
3. We just a hot tub from a friend and would like to hook it up. It's near the pool, but the current electrical setup I have is old and decrepit. My electrician friend tells me there's "no way" I'd be able to have both my pool pump and hot tub running at the same time with my current setup.
So first things first, the new pump. I've been looking at the intelliflow line. I'm having a hard time deciding between the different models:
Pentair 011013 IntelliFlo VS 3050
Pentair 011012 IntelliFlo VF
Secret option #3????
The VS is a lot cheaper than the VF. My local pool supply company can't give a straight answer on the differences. We have a fairly large pool (20' x 40', 12 ft at deep end) so I'll need a lot of turnover. I also wonder if maybe I should just invest in a 2 speed pump - one speed for when I'm vacumming/using the solar heater and the lower speed for "normal" turnover.
Once I've got that figured out, I need to invest in the solar heater. I'm planning on installing it myself - the SunHeater 4'x20' grids seem like a pretty straightforward purchase. I also want this to be automated, so I'm looking at the SunTouch Solar package, which comes with the 3way value and a few sensors. It supposedly plays nicely with the intelliflow VS. Does this sound right?
Lastly, and this is a biggy, I need to lay some 2" PVC from my pump to the roof. It's a pretty long run (~60') although my house is only single story. Since I need a new subpanel I figured I'd just dig an extra deep trench and throw the direct burial line a foot under the solar pipes. Something inside me thinks this might be a bad idea, but a friend of mine is convinced this would be "code".
Any advice / suggestions? I'm having an electrician come out tonight to quote me on the subpanel wiring. I was hoping to order the other parts this week and start installation next weekend, but I want to make sure I'm getting the right things and not missing anything huge.