Help with differentiating these pump lines

[lostinhydration]

Hi, was wondering if anyone out there could help us (new pool owners/older pool) figure out which lines are running from the pump to filter.
We have three handy valves.
1 has a two way split (believe that these would correspond to the skimmers)
And a pipe (believed to be the drain) is located just north of the split.

Follow up question: should the drain remain closed while the running in filter mode?

 

[PoolStored]

The one with the two way split is likely the skimmers. The other is likely the MD. You are correct.
We recommend running 90% from the skimmer and 10% from the MD just to keep water flowing for chlorination.
In the second picture, both skimmers are open. The MD is closed. Leave the skimmer valve, and move the MD about 10-20% gust to get some movement from the MD.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Lost,

If you want to know which skimmer line is which, just shut one off and see which skimmer no longer has any motion in the water..

It is not a big deal, but.. The skimmer that is farther away from the equipment pad will always have less suction with the valve set in the middle like you have it..

If you wanted, you can adjust the valve so that you get close to the same amount of suction at the far skimmer as you have at the near skimmer.. Basically you reduce the suction at the near skimmer until both skimmers have about the same amount of suction..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[lostinhydration]

The one with the two way split is likely the skimmers. The other is likely the MD. You are correct.
We recommend running 90% from the skimmer and 10% from the MD just to keep water flowing for chlorination.
In the second picture, both skimmers are open. The MD is closed. Leave the skimmer valve, and move the MD about 10-20% gust to get some movement from the MD.

Thanks for the quick response. We'll try that and see if there is a difference. In this case I think our concern was about the possibility of stressing the pump or throwing off the pressure

 

[Jimrahbe]

In this case I think our concern was about the possibility of stressing the pump or throwing off the pressure

Lost,

Unless you close all three suction pipes at the same time, nothing will be damaged at all.. Kind of why you have valves... so that the water flow can be adjusted..

As long as you have at least one of the three pipes open, then your pump will run just fine..

Thanks,

Jim R.