Help a newbie to VSP

[Geminisq]

Hi TFP Family,
We recently signed up for solar. The solar company looked at our pool pump and at their cost installed a variable speed pump to replace our single speed pump as the variable speed is more efficient. So now we have a Pentair Superflow VST, 2.2 THP. We don't know how to program the pump correctly, although we have some of the info about it. It does have instructions on how to set the clock time, etc, but we are not sure how to program it as far as time to run and on what speed, etc. I have attached photos of the pump info. The guys who installed it did not do any programming of it, they only installed it. TIA any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Kelley

 

[Newdude]

IMO you don't need any schedule. Start with low RPMs and notice where the skimmer door starts bobbing away. Run that (low) speed for as long as you need for skimming and filtering. If the pool chemistry is good but it lost its sparkle, you need longer filtering cycles, Likely in the spring and fall. If the water is stoopid clear you can probably decrease runtime.

Mine draws 110W where it skims fine and I just run 24/7 to not ever care if I'm doing enough. It's so cheap I splurge up to 220W because we like the look of slightly more running water.

 

[Bill1974]

Since you are using chlorine you should not need to run the pump to long or that fast. 5-6 hours at 1400 rpm should be get you one filtration of all you water (provided your back pressure is less than 5-6 psi). If your pool needs more filtration run it longer. If there are times of the day when debris is more likely to get into the pool, run the pump the faster (2000 - 2500 rpm) for a half hour or so to do skim the surface better. You can run it slower provided the skimmers still function but it should also be run longer too.

You ideally want to filter the water at least once per day, 2 to 3 times a day would be better. Much depends on what you pool needs depending how much use it gets and how much debris gets into the pool.

If there times of the day when power is less expensive try to run the pump then.

I run mine slow (1200 rpm almost all day) and a couple of times a day I bump the speed up. I bump up the speed before times when I am likely to use the pool so as much debris skimmed off. I also have SWG so i need to run it longer so enough chlorine is made.

Here is the flow curve for your pump.

 

[Newdude]

You ideally want to filter the water at least once per day, 2 to 3 times a day would be better.

One needs 15 mins to mix the chemicals, twice a day is even better.

Other than that, any debris that falls in needs to be filtered / skimmer. Much more is needed in the fall and spring and barely any may need needed mid season.

A heavy debris yard needs more filtering than an open yard across the boards. There's just no one size fits all about it.

Much depends on what you pool needs depending how much use it gets and how much debris gets into the pool.

Exactly. Needs are all over the map and impossible to nail down. If the industry picks a high enough #, say, 3 turnovers as they like, then they pat themselves on the back that they were right. Even if the owner only needed a half hour of runtime.

Many of us can't be bothered and run 24/7 cheaply and never think about it again.

 

[reggiehammond]

You ideally want to filter the water at least once per day, 2 to 3 times a day would be better. Much depends on what you pool needs depending how much use it gets and how much debris gets into the pool.

This is not a TFP recommended practice. Water turnover has been proven to be a myth and that filtration is actually one of the least important aspects of pool care.

Turnover of Pool Water - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Pool pump can be run as long as necessary to:
1) Skim the pool (subjective to how clean the pool looks)
2) Filter the water (subjective to how clean the pool looks)
3) Disperse chemicals after addition (usually takes tens of minutes)
4) Satisfy a SWCG or Heater flow switch (when necessary)

 

[Geminisq]

This is not a TFP recommended practice. Water turnover has been proven to be a myth and that filtration is actually one of the least important aspects of pool care.

Turnover of Pool Water - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Pool pump can be run as long as necessary to:
1) Skim the pool (subjective to how clean the pool looks)
2) Filter the water (subjective to how clean the pool looks)
3) Disperse chemicals after addition (usually takes tens of minutes)
4) Satisfy a SWCG or Heater flow switch (when necessary)

Thanks to all for your help! We are still trying to figure out what the display/buttons and how the pump is currently set. It looks as if speed #2 is 1400 RPM. That being said, I found today during manual vacuuming that I don't have great pressure at 1400 RPM. I would like to increase it, but no button I push will change it. I'm having difficulty finding an owners manual online, the installers did not leave me with one. Thanks so much!