My old single speed pump (Jandy MHPU Series, with Century Centurion/AO Smith motor) sounds like it's about to explode and I'm taking this as my cue to upgrade to a new VS pump. I have been doing a lot of reading and research here on TFP as well as other sites to try to fully understand how to select the right VS replacement pump, but I'm just not confident I'm getting it right.
First, I have been unable to find the true "Total Horsepower" of my old pump. It's listed as 2.0 HP "Uprated", but the catalog number and the service factor number on the label are blank. Pics attached.
Then, I tried calculating my pool's TDH, but I'm really questioning the number I got (roughly 25 ft/hd). I don't have piping plans, so I just got out the tape measure and guessed where I thought the pipes were laid. It's a 22,500 gallon in ground pool. It's all 2" piping. I have 3 return lines that each come all the way back to the pool pad. I have 2 skimmers and 1 main drain pipe (with 2 drain openings in the bottom of the pool, but I don't think that matters, right?). The pump pad is about a foot or 2 above the water level and sits roughly 40' away from the center of the deep end. I have a Pentair Quad DE60 filter. You'll see a heater in the pictures below, but it's never worked and I cut it out of the piping a couple years ago (though I haven't ruled out putting in a new heater someday). I currently do not have an SWG installed, but I am putting one in when I do this pump replacement. I already bought a CircuPool RJ45+ (it was on a decent sale last week and I pulled the trigger). I plan to run the new VS pump a good bit of the day at a low speed (maybe 50 gpm?), acknowledging that I might also have to do a cycle at a higher speed to skim. Does that sound right?
I have, perhaps unwisely, limited my VS pump search to Pentair, and more specifically the Intelliflo3 VSF models. This might be a little more sophisticated than I need for my pool...I don't have any water features or spa or anything. But I have been swooned by the concept of being able to use the Pentair Home App to control it. I already use the app to control my Pentair Prowler 930W robot, and I like the idea of being able to introduce a little automation without having to get the Intellicenter or some other full-on automation setup. I was thinking of getting the Intelliflo3 model that has the built-in I/O board and using one of the relays to enable/disable the new SWG, as I've read on here that it is unwise to rely on just the SWG flow switch. It looks like the Pentair Home App lets you program whether each relay is active or inactive during various programs you create; I thought this seemed pretty slick as opposed to installing a separate standalone timer for the SWG.
So if that logic isn't crazy, my biggest question would be, do I need the 1.5HP or the 3HP Pentair Intelliflo3 VSF? But I'm really open to any other suggestions or criticisms as well. I've pretty much completely bogged my brain down to a stand-still with this decision at this point. Just trying to figure out if I've been looking at this correctly and come to a decision before this old pump calls it quits.
The pool guy (who I will always refer to as "Tommy the Pool Man") referred me to TFP eight years ago when I moved into this house and inherited my first pool, and it has helped me look like a pool pro...to the wife and kids anyway...ever since. So I'm hoping you all can help guide me here. Thanks.
First, I have been unable to find the true "Total Horsepower" of my old pump. It's listed as 2.0 HP "Uprated", but the catalog number and the service factor number on the label are blank. Pics attached.
Then, I tried calculating my pool's TDH, but I'm really questioning the number I got (roughly 25 ft/hd). I don't have piping plans, so I just got out the tape measure and guessed where I thought the pipes were laid. It's a 22,500 gallon in ground pool. It's all 2" piping. I have 3 return lines that each come all the way back to the pool pad. I have 2 skimmers and 1 main drain pipe (with 2 drain openings in the bottom of the pool, but I don't think that matters, right?). The pump pad is about a foot or 2 above the water level and sits roughly 40' away from the center of the deep end. I have a Pentair Quad DE60 filter. You'll see a heater in the pictures below, but it's never worked and I cut it out of the piping a couple years ago (though I haven't ruled out putting in a new heater someday). I currently do not have an SWG installed, but I am putting one in when I do this pump replacement. I already bought a CircuPool RJ45+ (it was on a decent sale last week and I pulled the trigger). I plan to run the new VS pump a good bit of the day at a low speed (maybe 50 gpm?), acknowledging that I might also have to do a cycle at a higher speed to skim. Does that sound right?
I have, perhaps unwisely, limited my VS pump search to Pentair, and more specifically the Intelliflo3 VSF models. This might be a little more sophisticated than I need for my pool...I don't have any water features or spa or anything. But I have been swooned by the concept of being able to use the Pentair Home App to control it. I already use the app to control my Pentair Prowler 930W robot, and I like the idea of being able to introduce a little automation without having to get the Intellicenter or some other full-on automation setup. I was thinking of getting the Intelliflo3 model that has the built-in I/O board and using one of the relays to enable/disable the new SWG, as I've read on here that it is unwise to rely on just the SWG flow switch. It looks like the Pentair Home App lets you program whether each relay is active or inactive during various programs you create; I thought this seemed pretty slick as opposed to installing a separate standalone timer for the SWG.
So if that logic isn't crazy, my biggest question would be, do I need the 1.5HP or the 3HP Pentair Intelliflo3 VSF? But I'm really open to any other suggestions or criticisms as well. I've pretty much completely bogged my brain down to a stand-still with this decision at this point. Just trying to figure out if I've been looking at this correctly and come to a decision before this old pump calls it quits.
The pool guy (who I will always refer to as "Tommy the Pool Man") referred me to TFP eight years ago when I moved into this house and inherited my first pool, and it has helped me look like a pool pro...to the wife and kids anyway...ever since. So I'm hoping you all can help guide me here. Thanks.
