Have I got this right???

[doofus57]

After years of fighting my pool to keep it clean (it had a 2 speed pentair pump, stainless 24 sq ft DE filter, polaris 280, using chlorine tablets), I found my filter was way undersized, so I bit the bullet and upgraded all my older equipment by installing a Pentair Intelliflo pump, waterway 525 sq ft cartridge filter, Circu-pool RH-60 salt chlorine generator and a Dolphin s200 robotic cleaner (most were selected based on recommendations I found on TFP).

I'm an energy miser and currently run the intelliflo at 1250 RPM on skimmer for 7 hours per day. I'm running the salt chlorine generator at 55% and let it turn on and off with the flow switch. I check chlorine level every few days and it's staying right where your training states (I had to adjust the salt chlorine generator up a little to get it where it should be). I have the robotic cleaner run for an hour every day. My filter pressure gauge reads zero (because of the low pump speed), but every week or two, I spin my pump up to 3000 rpm to check the pressure reading so I'll know when to clean the filter. I use powder shock about once per month, but the shock doesn't seem to improve how clean the pool already is.

The pool is staying clean as can be, but I'm wondering if I'm being to miserly.

Second question is that I have a few friends who have single speed pumps. I'm wondering what you people think of the cheaper VSP's out there (Black and Decker, etc) and what VSP is recommended that won't break the bank.

 

[Mdragger88]

If you are following the FC/CYA Levels & keeping fc above minimum for your cya at all times there is no need for a monthly “shock”.
If you suspect you have an issue an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test would confirm the need to do the SLAM Process.
There is no right or wrong with the pump runtimes.
Run your pump at a high enough rpm to engage the flow switch of your swg & to skim effectively to your liking, also long enough to allow your swg to maintain adequate fc & to remove particulates to your satisfaction. Those are the only things that really matter- if it’s enough run time/rpms for your situation then you’re good to go
Some folks with vsp’s choose to run them on a low rpm (1200-1400) most all the time so they can set the swg to a lower percentage yet get constant chlorine production & skimming. It really all depends on how you wish to slice the pie & whether there are non peak rates involved for electricity that you may want to take advantage of as well as the debris level which can vary between seasons.

****The flow switch should not be the primary disconnecting means for the swg**
You must have something else other than the flow switch ensuring that there is no power to the swg if the pump is off otherwise if the flow switch malfunctions & the swg is on while the pump is not due to pump malfunction there can be an explosion
Most people use an external timer with the swg set to come on well after the pump turns on & turn off well before the pump turns off & that they are fed from the same power supply so that if the breaker trips or there is a power failure for the pump the swg will be off also.
There are several threads here about how to accomplish this.

 

[Jimrahbe]

57,

Using just the flow switch is a bad idea. It is kind of like riding around in your car with the air bags turned off. You might be able to drive 100,000 miles without any problems, right up to the point of the crash.

The flow switch should be the secondary safety device. The cell should not be getting power when the pump is not running.

One way to get around this is to run your pump 24/7. At 1250 RPM you can do that for about $10 bucks a month, if you have a newer IntelliFlo. This allows you to make a little chlorine all the time and skim all the time,

As pointed out above, you don't need to add shock as long as you keep your FC at you target range based on your CYA. See this chart.. FC/CYA Levels

It really is just that dirt simple.

I just clean my cartridges twice a year. My filter pressure at 1200 RPM is about 1 lb. on a 30 lb. gauge.

Thanks,

Jim R.