Hi y'all!
They are starting gunite as I am writing this, and I am still trying to figure out what I want for my equipment! So, that makes me a newbie! These forums have been a wealth of information and acceleration of my learning curve....
The problem:
I want to plan for solar heat--but panels will be at about 40 feet above pump pad. Considering using SunTouch controller and Intelliflo VF or VS pump. Was hoping to avoid a booster pump for the solar by using the Intelliflo to overcome the 40' static head, priming the solar, then backing off to a reasonable flow rate. However, the Pentair tech that I spoke to on the phone says you can't do that with any of their controllers--you can only have a "solar speed" which is active the whole time solar is active. So I asked if using a VF and just kicking in the solar valve (without "telling" the VF what was going on) would work--hoping the VF would juice up the HP to make up the flow needed for priming the solar panels (since it would try to maintain it's setpoint GPM), then automatically back off after priming. But, he says that sudden change in load would cause an alarm on the VF and it would shut down.
Maybe I am making too big a deal out of this, but it seems like running the pump for many hours of solar heating at the higher speed (the speed that is really only needed for a minute to overcome my static head) would be a real waste of energy, and therefore extra cost.
Some of you folks with similar solar panel heights and/or pump gurus, do you think this is a significant issue, and if so, any suggestions on a controller or a plumbing scheme which would allow such specific speed changes?
Thanks in advance!
They are starting gunite as I am writing this, and I am still trying to figure out what I want for my equipment! So, that makes me a newbie! These forums have been a wealth of information and acceleration of my learning curve....
The problem:
I want to plan for solar heat--but panels will be at about 40 feet above pump pad. Considering using SunTouch controller and Intelliflo VF or VS pump. Was hoping to avoid a booster pump for the solar by using the Intelliflo to overcome the 40' static head, priming the solar, then backing off to a reasonable flow rate. However, the Pentair tech that I spoke to on the phone says you can't do that with any of their controllers--you can only have a "solar speed" which is active the whole time solar is active. So I asked if using a VF and just kicking in the solar valve (without "telling" the VF what was going on) would work--hoping the VF would juice up the HP to make up the flow needed for priming the solar panels (since it would try to maintain it's setpoint GPM), then automatically back off after priming. But, he says that sudden change in load would cause an alarm on the VF and it would shut down.
Maybe I am making too big a deal out of this, but it seems like running the pump for many hours of solar heating at the higher speed (the speed that is really only needed for a minute to overcome my static head) would be a real waste of energy, and therefore extra cost.
Some of you folks with similar solar panel heights and/or pump gurus, do you think this is a significant issue, and if so, any suggestions on a controller or a plumbing scheme which would allow such specific speed changes?
Thanks in advance!