Freeze guard on a Superflo VS pump?

[dssmrn]

Hi Jimrahbe,

I just got a Pentair SuperFlo VS installed and the technician told me that it has to run always hot, so he bypassed my intermatic switch. Thus now I'm without freeze protection. You mentioned that there is away to use my existing freeze protection connecting it to the digital input of the pump.
Can you please provide more details? I can buy the SuperFlo input kit and I can do some easy electric job if it is not to complicated.
Thanks.

 

[Jimrahbe]

D,

I also live in the Dallas area, and the simplest thing to do is just run the pump 24/7 for the couple of days where the temps will be low enough to freeze. Just use some low speed like 1000 RPM.

But, if you look in your pump's manual you can see where they talk about an external control cable.. Basically, the pump puts out 5 VDC.. You can run that 5 VDC into a freeze control relay and then back to the pump. When the freeze control relay closes, the 5 VDC will pass through the relay and tell the pump to turn on. You might be able to use the freeze protect relay on your old timer...

I just don't think it is worth the hassle for people living in this area..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[dssmrn]

Thanks Jim R.
I've no problem keeping the pump running all day while I'm at home, but if I'm away for weeks, I prefer having the freeze sensor in place. I looked at the manual and the connection seems pretty simple. Today I'll check if my freeze sensor works at low voltage or 240V, I suspect the latter unfortunately and then decide how to proceed. The guy who installed the pump suggested to buy the pentair easytouch system which is an expensive overkill for what I'm trying to achieve.

 

[Jimrahbe]

D,

I agree with you about the EasyTouch.. I run my pump 24/7 all year long... I have the 3 HP IntelliFlo and run it, most of the time at 1200 RPM.. This costs me less than $20 bucks a month...

Jim R.

 

[dssmrn]

In the end I bought the external control cable ($57) and reused an old 240V to 5V transformer connected to the freeze sensor and everything is up and running.
The only slightly annoying thing is that the digital input overrides every program running, so if the freeze sensor sends the signal to the pump while a program at high RPM is running, the pump immediately switches to the low RPM one (which I chose for freezing temperatures). Just a minor issue, but the pump control could be smarter.

 

[ampradhan]

In the end I bought the external control cable ($57) and reused an old 240V to 5V transformer connected to the freeze sensor and everything is up and running.
The only slightly annoying thing is that the digital input overrides every program running, so if the freeze sensor sends the signal to the pump while a program at high RPM is running, the pump immediately switches to the low RPM one (which I chose for freezing temperatures). Just a minor issue, but the pump control could be smarter.

Hello dssmrn - I am on the same boat. Old motor died, upgraded to pentair superflow vst and now trying to figure out how to use the old school intermatic freeze protection with it. Do you mind sharing a picture of how you are using the AC to DC converter and where exactly those connect? Thanks in advance.

 

[heath711]

Hello dssmrn - I am on the same boat. Old motor died, upgraded to pentair superflow vst and now trying to figure out how to use the old school intermatic freeze protection with it. Do you mind sharing a picture of how you are using the AC to DC converter and where exactly those connect? Thanks in advance.

Hello - Were you able to figure out how to connect to your old freeze protector? Could you please share if you were able. Thanks.

 

[1poolman1]

Easiest way to avoid freeze damage is to run 24/7 or at least from about 2:00AM until about 8:00AM, during Winter. Freeze protection devices can fail.