Opinions on IntelliFlo VF versus Tristar Energy Solutions?
I have a pool that holds about 32K gallons with a spa. Plumbing is 2 inch pipe. Currently have a 1.5 HP single speed pump for filtration with a simple time clock and a 2 HP pump for the spa jets. I currently have a rooftop solar (2 stories up) but am taking it down for a solar PV system and will just rely on a solar cover (kids grown up and we don't use the pool that much anymore). So replacement pump will just handle suction side vac (Hayward navigator - although I will check out The Poolcleaner recommended by poolguyNJ when it wears out it's wings and pads) and filtration. Figure I'll program for 2 hours of vac/skimming and rest of time for slow filtration with a variable speed pump.
I searched and no one seems to have a Tristar Energy Solution in this forum. I realize it has a standard induction motor versus the DC permanent magnet motor for the IntelliFlo but a quote I got had a $700 difference in cost (installed) between IntelliFlo VF and the Tristar.
I see JasonLion says the IntelliFlo is the better pump but didn't lay out why.
The Hayward savings calculator says that for 1 turnover, my current pump should run 8.2 hours and the Tristar should run 14.9 and it will save me $686.14/year (close to 50% savings). The Pentair calculator says my current pump should run 9.4 hours for 1 turnover and if I set the Speed to 1700 RPM (yields closest runtime to Tristar - 15.1 hours), I would save $1,303/yr. The Pentair estimate of savings is outrageously optimistic as I figure my energy cost is 1.5kwh X $0.27 X 9.4 hours X 365 = $1389.56 which would be a 94% savings. From what I've read, a 70% savings is realistic and this would be $972.69. To be apples to apples, using the Hayward runtime of 8.2 hours for my pump, the savings for the VF would be $848.52 @ 70% savings). I don't know what to adjust the Hayward numbers by but their number seems realistic since theoretically, they are not as efficient as IntelliFlo. So the difference in cost between the two would be covered in 4.3 years. The installed cost of the VF would be paid off in 1.75 years (at 70% savings). The payback on the Tristar would be 1.2 years. Are the estimates I'm using reasonable? I didn't overcomplicate the calculation by factoring in that I run 8 hours for 6 months and 4 to 6 hours the rest of the time so my actual payback will be a little longer.
The reason I'm looking at the VF rather than the SVRS is it makes more sense to me to know the flow rate versus setting a RPM (I don't have a flow meter) and it seems like it is easier to play with the settings using GPM. I can easily figure out cost and runtimes when I change the GPM and set according to what makes sense for my situation. Like in the winter, I can quarter the run time by telling it my pool is 1/4 its actual size (I live in San Diego) - according to my pool guy, that should be fine for water quality in winter.
Oh, noise or sound of the motor is another factor. I have no idea how loud the Tristar would be for the 2 hours I set it to vac/skim while people on the forum seem to indicate the Pentair is still fairly quiet. Pool equipment is fairly close to my bedroom window and main patio area.
I have a pool that holds about 32K gallons with a spa. Plumbing is 2 inch pipe. Currently have a 1.5 HP single speed pump for filtration with a simple time clock and a 2 HP pump for the spa jets. I currently have a rooftop solar (2 stories up) but am taking it down for a solar PV system and will just rely on a solar cover (kids grown up and we don't use the pool that much anymore). So replacement pump will just handle suction side vac (Hayward navigator - although I will check out The Poolcleaner recommended by poolguyNJ when it wears out it's wings and pads) and filtration. Figure I'll program for 2 hours of vac/skimming and rest of time for slow filtration with a variable speed pump.
I searched and no one seems to have a Tristar Energy Solution in this forum. I realize it has a standard induction motor versus the DC permanent magnet motor for the IntelliFlo but a quote I got had a $700 difference in cost (installed) between IntelliFlo VF and the Tristar.
I see JasonLion says the IntelliFlo is the better pump but didn't lay out why.
The Hayward savings calculator says that for 1 turnover, my current pump should run 8.2 hours and the Tristar should run 14.9 and it will save me $686.14/year (close to 50% savings). The Pentair calculator says my current pump should run 9.4 hours for 1 turnover and if I set the Speed to 1700 RPM (yields closest runtime to Tristar - 15.1 hours), I would save $1,303/yr. The Pentair estimate of savings is outrageously optimistic as I figure my energy cost is 1.5kwh X $0.27 X 9.4 hours X 365 = $1389.56 which would be a 94% savings. From what I've read, a 70% savings is realistic and this would be $972.69. To be apples to apples, using the Hayward runtime of 8.2 hours for my pump, the savings for the VF would be $848.52 @ 70% savings). I don't know what to adjust the Hayward numbers by but their number seems realistic since theoretically, they are not as efficient as IntelliFlo. So the difference in cost between the two would be covered in 4.3 years. The installed cost of the VF would be paid off in 1.75 years (at 70% savings). The payback on the Tristar would be 1.2 years. Are the estimates I'm using reasonable? I didn't overcomplicate the calculation by factoring in that I run 8 hours for 6 months and 4 to 6 hours the rest of the time so my actual payback will be a little longer.
The reason I'm looking at the VF rather than the SVRS is it makes more sense to me to know the flow rate versus setting a RPM (I don't have a flow meter) and it seems like it is easier to play with the settings using GPM. I can easily figure out cost and runtimes when I change the GPM and set according to what makes sense for my situation. Like in the winter, I can quarter the run time by telling it my pool is 1/4 its actual size (I live in San Diego) - according to my pool guy, that should be fine for water quality in winter.
Oh, noise or sound of the motor is another factor. I have no idea how loud the Tristar would be for the 2 hours I set it to vac/skim while people on the forum seem to indicate the Pentair is still fairly quiet. Pool equipment is fairly close to my bedroom window and main patio area.