Controlling SWG with new Pentair Whisperflo VST

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ChristianK

Bronze Supporter
Jul 23, 2022
17
Somerset, New Jersey
Pool Size
15100
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
I currently have a Speck ES90-II pump with a US Motors EZ48 motor with a THP:1.0. I have 1.5" PVC piping and the pressure gauge on my sand filter is showing around 15-17 psi at the moment. I have a ~15,000 gallon pool with one return by the stairs, one skimmer and one port about 16" down near the deep end of the pool. No floor drains or water features. I have a SWG. My pump currently runs on 120V, but I do have 240V available at the pump location. My SWG can also run on 240V

I would like to switch to a variable speed pump. I'm considering the Pentair Whisperflo VST, I know with 2.6 THP it is oversized for my pool, but I figure I can run it at lower speeds, and the VST seems to be a bit newer in terms of communication connectivity.
A few questions:
  • Do you think this pump is a good choice, or should I go for a smaller one?
  • Right now my SWG runs whenever my pump is on (it does have a flow switch as well) since they are both on the same timer. As I understand it the Whisperflo is permanently powered so that it could have a program with various speeds at different times. Is there a way within the Pentair system to turn on the SWG at a certain RPM? Would a Current Sensing Relay be a good approach?
  • If I want WiFi access to the pump operation and programming, is the IntelliSynch the cheapest option? Will it provide any functionality in terms of triggering the SWG?
  • If I want to use the NodeJS Pool Controller, can I interface directly with the RS-485 on the pump, or do I need the IntelliSynch board or some other automation board?
Thanks
Christian
 
ChristianK said:
Do you think this pump is a good choice, or should I go for a smaller one?
Click to expand...
It is as you stated. A higher HP pump allows you to run at a slower RPM and still move the same amount of water.

ChristianK said:
Right now my SWG runs whenever my pump is on (it does have a flow switch as well) since they are both on the same timer. As I understand it the Whisperflo is permanently powered so that it could have a program with various speeds at different times. Is there a way within the Pentair system to turn on the SWG at a certain RPM? Would a Current Sensing Relay be a good approach?
Click to expand...
How does your current pump and SWCG get power? Is it on a mechanical timer? If so you can keep the SWCG on the timer and just sync the time such that SWCG is set to have power 15 mins after pump starts and shuts off 15mins before pump ends it schedule.
 
HermanTX said:
It is as you stated. A higher HP pump allows you to run at a slower RPM and still move the same amount of water.


How does your current pump and SWCG get power? Is it on a mechanical timer? If so you can keep the SWCG on the timer and just sync the time such that SWCG is set to have power 15 mins after pump starts and shuts off 15mins before pump ends it schedule.
Click to expand...
Right now my mechanical timer is inside the house, with just a single circuit running out to the pool that goes both to the pump and the SWCG. If I kept that setup, it would cut power to the Whisperflo as well. If there was some kind of relay output at the Whisperflo above a certain RPM (enough to run my SWCG), then I could control it that way
 
I would run the wire from the house hot and mount the mechanical timer at the equipment and then run the pump on the line side to have continuous power but be controlled by its own pad on the pump. The SWCG would run through the timer within the schedule of the pump run time.
 
ChristianK said:
Right now my mechanical timer is inside the house, with just a single circuit running out to the pool that goes both to the pump and the SWCG. If I kept that setup, it would cut power to the Whisperflo as well. If there was some kind of relay output at the Whisperflo above a certain RPM (enough to run my SWCG), then I could control it that way
Click to expand...
If the pump was connected to the LINE terminals of the timer, it would have constant power and not be controlled by the timer. The SWCG would stay on the LOAD terminals
 
Jim,

That is a great suggestion. I wasn't aware of that pump. It comes with integrated WiFi and the relay card, so I don't need any extra automation devices. I've ordered one from Leslie's. They didn't have the 011066 model that comes with the relay board, so I ordered the basic pump 011065 (1.5 HP since I have 1.5" plumbing) and the 356365Z IntelliFlo3 VSF optional universal relay board kit.

Thanks

Christian
Jimrahbe said:
Christian,

or.. You could buy the IntelliFlo3 with the relay card.. The card has 2 relays and you could use one of them to control the SWCG.


Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
 
Christian,

Well, that is not what I would have done.. I never, ever recommend buying a small (1.5 HP) VS pump instead of the larger (3 HP) VS pump.

The basic issue is that the larger the pump, the more water you can move at a lower RPM.. When you have a small VS pump you will have to run it much faster.

The slower you can run it the quieter it is...

The fact that you have 1.5' plumbing is not relevant. It makes zero difference. :mrgreen:

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Jim,

I unfortunately had already ordered the new 1.5 HP pump. I figured I can run it at lower speed for more hours. Right now I run my 1.0 THP pump 8 hours a day at full speed (single speed pump). It is moving about 32 gpm. If I run the newer pump for 24 hrs, I assume I can run it at around 1/3 of its output, which should still give me substantial savings.
 
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