I'd like to add an efficient pump and a solar heater controller ???

[gonefishin]

Hello All!

I'd like to add a more efficient pump and a controller for my Fafco Solar Heater, but I'm confused about the choices.


After we got our previous pool set up just the way we wanted...we sold the house. So, the pool that our house has is a 33' round above ground pool with approximately 25,000 gallons of water. We have a single speed 1 1/2HP Hayward pool pump with cartridge filter. We also have a aqua-rite salt water chlorinator. All the piping is pvc.

Two things I would want to accomplish. In our old pool we had 2 speed pump, loved it...but it stayed with the house. I'd like to get a more efficient pump...the electric bills are considerable with our single speed pump. I'm not opposed to getting a variable speed pump.

The second thing I'd like to accomplish is setting up the Fafco solar heater with an automatic valve. We can really utilize the sun at our new house...but continuously monitoring weather, in order to manually turn heater valve on or off is not in the cards. We did that at the old house, before we got the heat pump...I don't want to manually control the heater...but I'm unsure of my best options.


Thanks,
Dan

 

[pooldv]

Re: I'd like add an efficient pump and a solar heater controller ???

Sounds like a great plan! My Pentair Intelliflo variable speed pump runs at 1100 rpm for solar standby, skimming and making chlorine with the SWG. It uses 150 watts and cost 12 dollars per month to run 24x7. My Pentair Solartouch solar controller opens the solar valve and ramps the pump up to 2100 rpm when solar heat is available. It works great!

So, if you want Pentair you can get
Intelliflo 3hp VS pump
Or
Superflo 1-1/2 hp VS pump
Or
Superflo 1-1/2hp 2 speed pump
And a Solartouch solar controller

Or if you want to stay with Hayward you can get
Goldline GL-235 solar controller
Maxflo VS 1-1/2 hp pump
Or
Maxflo 1-1/2hp 2 speed pump
Or
The big 3hp VS pump that I can't remember right now!


Edit: you can probably change just the motor to a 2 speed motor and keep the pump.

 

[gonefishin]

Re: I'd like add an efficient pump and a solar heater controller ???

Sounds like a great plan! My Pentair Intelliflo variable speed pump runs at 1100 rpm for solar standby, skimming and making chlorine with the SWG. It uses 150 watts and cost 12 dollars per month to run 24x7. My Pentair Solartouch solar controller opens the solar valve and ramps the pump up to 2100 rpm when solar heat is available. It works great!

So, if you want Pentair you can get
Intelliflo 3hp VS pump
Or
Superflo 1-1/2 hp VS pump
Or
Superflo 1-1/2hp 2 speed pump
And a Solartouch solar controller

Or if you want to stay with Hayward you can get
Goldline GL-235 solar controller
Maxflo VS 1-1/2 hp pump
Or
Maxflo 1-1/2hp 2 speed pump
Or
The big 3hp VS pump that I can't remember right now!


Edit: you can probably change just the motor to a 2 speed motor and keep the pump.

Thanks PoolDv,

So, just to think out loud...if I go the way of Pentair...the Intelli-Flo 3hp would be the top choice for all out performance and automatic response to other Pentair product. If I went with a Pentair motor, it would make sense to get a Pentair solar controller. These two items would communicate with one another and the speed of the motor would respond when the solar controller comes on.

Some thoughts on this setup. I'm not sure that I need the full 3hp on my 33' round above ground. My pump is located in the normal ABV area, and my solar panel is level to the pump at the rear of the pool (approximately 20' away or so).

So, if I would be fine with the Super-Flo VS, at 1 1/2 HP and three speeds, this may be a good choice...although will I give up some flexibility with automatic speed changes for my Pentair solar controller? I don't know...I've heard some people say that the Pentair Super-flo VS can alter the speed if it gets a signal from your Pentair Solar Touch, does anyone know if this is true? If the Super-FLo will change the speed for the Solar-Touch controller...I don't know that I would really be missing out on any other automation features that I would need...keeping in mind that my salt generator is a Hayward Aqua-Rite. Even if I got the better Intelli-Flo I foresee only using one speed alteration (for the discussed solar controller).

Warranty, it looks like buying the Intelli-Flo VS2, I would need to purchase from a brick and mortar store, which many times will be a much higher price. I will check before I purchase my items. Also, the Intelli-Flo looks to carry a 3 year warranty if installed by their definition of a professional. This professional can be a pool installer, electrician, contractor or HVAC with a license business and receiving payment for the services of installing the pump. It looks like the Super-Flo can be purchased online, but fall under the same requirements of installation personal in order to qualify for the warranty (along with sending it in within 60days of installation date).


The Supper-Flo VS seems like a reasonable solution, especially if I can get that single speed change reacting to the Solar-Touch controller. Am I missing anything here? With the motor being three speed...I don't foresee any problems with the chlorinator being set for 24 hour run time with the Pentair products.

With the Hayward system. It appears the solar controller is all inclusive, is this correct...or are there any other items you would need to complete hookup. Hayward was talking about freeze protection and snap switches...I just don't understand how freeze protection works for the Hayward...or the Pentair. Does anyone know how these two solar controllers directly compare to each other?

On the MaxFlo VS it looks fairly comparable. A few more speeds, but I'm not sure the lowest speed would be any good with the Aqua-Rite any more. The Pentair can be used with 220 or 110...while the MaxFlo needs to be ordered as 220 or ordered as 110. Only the 220 Hayward has automation with Hayward products...other wise additional relays need to be used. The Hayward 2 speed pump looks to be an entirely different pump and motor from the VS...and price looks pretty close to the VS. As for the Hayward 3HP VS, I'm not convinced I need the additional HP. Maybe a VS 2HP would be decent...in variable speed...but that's not available as an option.


Thanks,
Dan

 

[pooldv]

I agree that the 3hp pumps are a lot more than you need. It is more than I need, I never run mine over 2500 rpm. Either 1-1/2hp VS pump would be more than enough. Pentair VS pumps have built in freeze protection in the on board controller. I am not certain that the Superflo VS pump can receive a speed change from the Solartouch. But, I'm going to check it out so we'll know for sure.

I don't know if the Hayward VS pumps have built in freeze protection. But, it seems like they would. I don't know much about the GL-235 except that quite a few folks Gere have them and they work fine.

 

[pooldv]

It doesn't look good for the Solartouch unless a relay can be configured to switch the speed. I can't tell though. It also can't control a 2 speed pump. You might need to move to a Suntouch, it can control a 2 speed pump.

Give Pentair a call and tell them what you are doing and they will be able to give you better info. Their customer service is good. 1.800.831.7133

 

[gonefishin]

Thanks again.

I've been going through the pdf manuals for the Suntouch and Superflo VS. Can I possibly hook the solar booster pump output on the suntouch to the Automated Control System Input Connector (18-30V AC;9-30V DC ) on the Superflo VS pump? I'll look at a few more things and give them a call in the next couple of days.


Pentair Dig Input Kit 353129Z

one reviewer had said - Works as expected on my Pentair 342001 SuperFlo Variable Speed pump when paired with the Pentair SolarTouch Control Panel, but the cable seems unnecessarily expensive! I wish I could have simply found the pin-out diagram online somewhere and wired the pump myself without buying this cable. Had the price been $20 instead of $50 it would have gotten 5 stars. SunPlay shipped quickly and I was very happy with their service!

To control the SuperFlo pump via the SolarTouch control panel, wire the Red and Yellow wires to the Solar Pump Relay inside the SolarTouch control panel. That's it, those are the only two wires you need for the SuperFlo pump and the SolarTouch control panel. Whenever the SolarTouch activates solar heating it will kick the SuperFlo pump into speed setting program #2, and whenever the SolarTouch turns off solar heating it will revert back to the normal timed program. No need to buy a second booster pump, or the more expensive variable speed pumps just to increase head flow volume to the solar panels when they are activated.

 

[pooldv]

Yes, that did occur to me as well. I think that would give you the ability to change speed from current speed (1100 rpm for me) to solar speed (1950rpm for me). What I don't know is if the speed will revert back to 1100 rpm when solar turns off. Or if the pump needs another relay to send the 1100 rpm speed signal.

 

[gonefishin]

The way it sounds to me, reading the manuals, is that the Automated Control System Controller gets wired to the speed wanted. Receives the voltage it runs at the connected speed. What you're saying is that you don't know when the voltage stops if it reverts to the prior program speed or stays at current (solar) speed.

Buying the superflo VS would sure save me money...and unneeded features. It's just whether or not it can perform this solar controller feature the way I'd like it too.

hmmmm

 

[gonefishin]

Got off the phone with Pentair...I stated I wanted to run a solartouch with superflo Vs...he suggested I can get the easytouch 8. I asked if I would be able to get any automation on speeds from the solartouch to the Superflo vs, without getting the easytouch...he said yeah, you can do that. Then I wanted to clarify I wanted the speed to come up possibly from the "booster pump" terminal on the solartouch and run it to the Automated Control System Controller on the superflo VS...he says yeah, you can do that. I asked another question on these two units, he responded yeah, you can do that too.

Either these are the most versital units ever built...or this gentleman and I weren't doing a good job at communicating with eachother.

There are plenty of people who asked about this very question, hooking the superflo vs and solartouch...but I can't find any that gave an update if this actually ended up working or not for them.

 

[pooldv]

Hmmm, not entirely helpful.

There is another active thread also discussing this here, Pentair Superflo VS - setting up to use heater and salt system

It has this comment that I've asked for more details on

here's a comment from someone who bought the wiring kit

To control the SuperFlo pump via the SolarTouch control panel, wire the Red and Yellow wires to the Solar Pump Relay inside the SolarTouch control panel. That's it, those are the only two wires you need for the SuperFlo pump and the SolarTouch control panel. Whenever the SolarTouch activates solar heating it will kick the SuperFlo pump into speed setting program #2, and whenever the SolarTouch turns off solar heating it will revert back to the normal timed program. No need to buy a second booster pump, or the more expensive variable speed pumps just to increase head flow volume to the solar panels when they are activated.

My question is does it revert back to speed 1 when solar turns off.

 

[pooldv]

Jim did some nice detective work in the other thread. Here is his response.

So, it appears to me that the Superflo has an "External Control" connector. Pentair makes cable P/N 353129Z, sold by Sunplay for about $50.. that plugs into the connector.

The Superflo provides 5 volts to the connector which comes out the Red wire on the cable.

You would then wire this five volt DC output to the input of the "Booster pump" relay inside the SolarTouch.

Connect the output of the booster pump relay to one of the 3 speed inputs on the cable.. Green wire for Speed1, Yellow for Speed 2, Orange for Speed 3.

When the SolarTouch turns on the Booster pump relay, the Superflo will ramp up to whatever Speed (color) where the five volts was connected.

So, the Superflo would work off of it's internal time clock schedule until the SolarTouch turned on the solar system, which in turn would turn on the Booster Pump relay, which would ramp the Superflo up to the desired speed.

When the booster pump relay is de-energized, the SuperFlo will return to its normal schedule.



Looks like it should work to me... What am I missing?

Jim R.

 

[gonefishin]

Thanks pooldv! Great response from Jim and great help and responses from you too...appreciate it.

 

[Brentr]

Hi gonefishin, please post back responses if you purchase the VS and SunTouch controller as I too would like to be able to to accomplish the same as you. I only have the GL-235 and this seems to work OK for me but I only have a one speed pump and would like to convert to a VS pump.

 

[gonefishin]

If I end up going that route (which I'm leaning), I definitely will post an update

 

[gonefishin]

I thought I'd give an update. I decided to order the Pentair IntelliFlo 3hp VS pump. So, I won't be trying the SuperFlo with the solartouch controller.

Dan

 

[pooldv]

Nice! You won't regret that. I love my intelliflo. I'll buy another one within 3 minutes of this one quitting.

 

[gonefishin]

I figured it was time for an update. My install is done and the Intelliflo is running. I can't believe how quiet this thing is compared to my old single speed pump. Priming is extremely quick and it seems to have fast smooth operation at all speeds. I haven't bought the Solar Controller yet, I kind of wanted to get this all done then move on to the next upgrades.


A question though...

Now I have my intelliflo VS pump. I am going to add a Solar Controlled valve...I also have a Aqua-Rite SWG. Is there a way to get a Pentair Solar Controller (solartouch or suntouch) and also tie my Aqua-Rite SWG into the IntelliFlo/Pentair system?

I just don't want to overlook something I could consider implementing into my system, while I'm still in the hook up/purchasing stages.

Thanks!

 

[kevreh]

gonefishin!

I may have a good solution for you(!) Recently I upgraded my Suntouch to a Hayward Prologic. I had the Suntouch running for a few years, but decided I wanted something that had more room for controlling all my equipment. I was going to post the Suntouch in the Everything Else section for $75, including 2 temp probes and the relays. You'll just need to buy the actuator on Amazon or somewhere else.

You'll have to read the manual, but the Suntouch may give you more pump control (over the vs pump) and will also let you control other things if you want (pumps, lights, and of course the solar control valve). So the nice thing is you can use it for more than just the solar valve.

PM me if interested.

 

[pooldv]

I run my SWG with an Intermatic timer. I run my pump a lot more than my SWG when heating the pool. I just make sure to run the SWG well inside the pump run time window. When heating in the spring and fall my pump runs at 1100 rpm from 8a to 10p. My SWG is running 10a to 6p or so right now.

The Suntouch can control your SWG through a relay and it will control solar. The control for the Intelliflo is the same with a Solartouch or a Suntouch.

 

[kevreh]

Just to add to what pooldv said above, I didn't use a relay for my SWG, I connected the power for the Aqua Rite SWG controller to the main pump. The Aqua Rite I had has a 0-100% output dial. Didn't want to take up a relay (the Suntouch only has room for 3 relays inside it.....but one....ehem.... could house a 4th relay in a water tight box external to the Suntouch )