Fixed to variable speed motor, wifi pool timer

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Mike Desmond

New member
Apr 1, 2025
3
Franklin, TN
New to the forum but use similar forums with other topics and find most input helpful. Two questions:

is it worth it in electrical savings to change my fixed speed (stealth Jandy 1.5 hp) pump to a variable speed and can that be done?

Has anybody installed a wifi pool timer that they find works well?
 
Mike Desmond said:
is it worth it in electrical savings to change my fixed speed (stealth Jandy 1.5 hp) pump to a variable speed and can that be done?
Click to expand...
Depending how slow you can run the VS pump, yes, it can be a considerable saving.

My Hayward SuperPump drew 1700 watts, and I used to run it 8 hours a day = 13.6kw/hours a day x 18c/kw/h = $2.45 a day, roughly $75 a month
My Calimar VSP runs at about 400W, and I run it 24 hours a day now with my SWG = 9.6kw/hours a day x 18c/kw/h = $1.73 a day, roughly $50 a month

So I run my pump longer, it moves almost as much water, and I save at least $0.70 a day, or roughly $20-25/mo. Over a 7 month season, that's $150. Huge saving ? No, but combined with the savings from the SWG, it was significant.
I'm looking at adding a heater bypass this summer which will probably cut my pump power usage in half...

Mike Desmond said:
Has anybody installed a wifi pool timer that they find works well?
Click to expand...
I had a wifi timer that worked well, integrated with Alexa/Google Home etc, but since switching to the VSP that runs all day, I don't really use it any more.

Steve
 
I considered this. I already had a WiFi timer for my 1.5hp single speed. Problem is, the WiFi timer would be useless with a VS pump as it needs power all the time. You would not be able to control the pump speed or schedule thru WiFi with any of the retrofit motor kits I found. I ended up coughing up for a 3hp IntelliFlo with a relay kit. I’m working out some kinks but so far I really like it.
 
Simple answer is yes a VSP will save money.

I have a Jacuzzi JVS270S 2.7THP Variable Speed Pool Pump (same as a Hayward TriStar VS 950 Omni) and use a wifi relay for a timer and speed control.

I used this Tuya 4CH AC 85-250V/ USB 5V Smart Life Remote Control Dry Contact. With combinations of each contact you can get 6 or 8 speeds I think. I also wired it up in a waterproof enclosure with some latching illuminated push button switches so I can manually change the speed locally and also see what it's set too.

1743535005748.png 1743535032123.png
 
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I currently have an 8 year old 1.5hp Jandy 240v stealth single speed (on or off) pump. I’ve read the newer pools are going with variable speed pumps. Can I retro-fit / do a push - pull and put a variable speed pump into my current system? What does the average ROI look like if you use average run times and cost of electricity?

2nd question - anybody have a good wifi enabled pool timer they recommend? Currently using the mechanical timer wheel.
 
Mike,

VS pumps have changed how people operate their pools and it is a lot more than just ROI.

With a single speed pump, you basically want to run your pump for the shortest amount of time possible, due to the high cost of operation.

With a VS pump the opposite is true.. I have a 3 HP IntelliFlo pump that runs 24/7, mostly at 1200 rpm. The cost to do that is less than $20 bucks a month.. And my pump is about 12 years old, newer pumps are much more energy efficient. In my case I has a SWCG and love making a little chlorine all the time and I love skimming all the time. I like the look of my pool when it it not 'dead'...

Timers are not required with VS pump as they have control panels, or apps, that tell them when to run and how fast to run.

The downside to VS pump is the initial cost..

With a single speed pump you had to try to match the pump to the pool and filter.. With VS pump, the bigger the better as the bigger the pump the more water you can move at a lower speed. The lower the speed the less noise they make.. At 1200 rpm, my pump is so quiet, that you almost have to touch it to make sure it is still running... :mrgreen:

It is easy for me to spend your money, but here is a good one...


Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jim gave you the gold standard of VS pumps. That's reflected in the price. If money were no object, that would be the best choice. On the other side of the price spectrum is the pump shown below. Many here have purchased the pump and found it to be a great value. It's probably the best value out there for a 3 HP variable speed pump.

Calimar VS
 
The Calimar was on my consideration list. I have not read of any issue with it and it's been out for a few years now. If someone needs to replace a SS pump and cost to a VSP is an issue the Calimar is about the same as a name brand SS and not much more than a SS replacement motor and seal kit.
 
Bill1974 said:
Simple answer is yes a VSP will save money.

I have a Jacuzzi JVS270S 2.7THP Variable Speed Pool Pump (same as a Hayward TriStar VS 950 Omni) and use a wifi relay for a timer and speed control.

I used this Tuya 4CH AC 85-250V/ USB 5V Smart Life Remote Control Dry Contact. With combinations of each contact you can get 6 or 8 speeds I think. I also wired it up in a waterproof enclosure with some latching illuminated push button switches so I can manually change the speed locally and also see what it's set too.

View attachment 635538 View attachment 635540
Click to expand...
Does the timer function on the pump still work, when set to ext relay control?? Not a big deal, but curious. Also wondering about the freeze protection. I will be doing the same thing you have here, sans the buttons, although they are a great idea.
 
suzook said:
Does the timer function on the pump still work, when set to ext relay control?? Not a big deal, but curious. Also wondering about the freeze protection. I will be doing the same thing you have here, sans the buttons, although they are a great idea.
Click to expand...
The timer on the pump does not work when relay controlled. I am not sure about freeze protection on the pump. With in the Tuya app or through smart home systems (Alexa, Google, Smartthings) the pump can be set to run if the temperature drops below a certain point. I winterize my pool, disconnect and drain my equipement, I would be concerned that the somewhere in the smart routines it would not work. If I were going to do freeze protection I would looked for a mechanical switch that could be set to close at set temperature and wire it in to automatically turn on the pump as a backup if the smart controls fail.

Something like this: Amazon.com
 

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Bill1974 said:
The timer on the pump does not work when relay controlled. I am not sure about freeze protection on the pump. With in the Tuya app or through smart home systems (Alexa, Google, Smartthings) the pump can be set to run if the temperature drops below a certain point. I winterize my pool, disconnect and drain my equipement, I would be concerned that the somewhere in the smart routines it would not work. If I were going to do freeze protection I would looked for a mechanical switch that could be set to close at set temperature and wire it in to automatically turn on the pump as a backup if the smart controls fail.

Something like this: Amazon.com
Click to expand...
Well that blows. I just want to be able to control speed at will, but leave the timer on pump. Might have to look into something else
 
I had that thinking at first too, but do you really need more than 7 preset speeds (there are 8 but one is off)? You can set the preset speeds to whatever you want on the pump. I basically use 4 or 5 speeds and one is only when I am vacuuming. Another speed is for starting so it will prime if for some reason prime was lost. Then I have a slow speed just fast enough for the SWG to work, and the other two are faster so debris are skimmed from the surface.

Choosing a speed is easy from the app. I haven't labeled the buttons to easily set the speed from it, it's mainly used to set the speed higher to vacuum, skim faster, backwash or turn off the pump.

1743704825805.png
 
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Bill1974 said:
I had that thinking at first too, but do you really need more than 7 preset speeds (there are 8 but one is off)? You can set the preset speeds to whatever you want on the pump. I basically use 4 or 5 speeds and one is only when I am vacuuming. Another speed is for starting so it will prime if for some reason prime was lost. Then I have a slow speed just fast enough for the SWG to work, and the other two are faster so debris are skimmed from the surface.

Choosing a speed is easy from the app. I haven't labeled the buttons to easily set the speed from it, it's mainly used to set the speed higher to vacuum, skim faster, backwash or turn off the pump.

View attachment 635884
Click to expand...
No, don't need more speeds, but want the actually timer on the pump to still work
 
You can remotely mount the pump control panel. But that is still wired to the pump and there is no wireless control. Maybe after going through the menu system on the pump a few times fiddling with schedules will change your mind.
 
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