Impeller question

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tcrb

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Aug 14, 2010
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Houston, TX
I have a Pentair WhisperFlo pump w/1.5 HP single speed motor. The motor crapped out on me and I'm ordering a replacement. I'd like to move up to a 2 HP. I realize that I also need to get a different impeller that matches the new HP rating. My question is:
Is the Impeller for the 2 HP a bigger impeller than the 1.5 HP... i.e. Will it increase my pressure and flow?

Thanks in advance.
 
tcrb said:
I have a Pentair WhisperFlo pump w/1.5 HP single speed motor. The motor crapped out on me and I'm ordering a replacement. I'd like to move up to a 2 HP. I realize that I also need to get a different impeller that matches the new HP rating. My question is:
Is the Impeller for the 2 HP a bigger impeller than the 1.5 HP... i.e. Will it increase my pressure and flow?

Thanks in advance.
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Why would you want to go to a larger horsepower pump and motor unless it is a VSP? Yes, a 2hp impeller is larger. The problem is that you will be trying to shove even more water down plumbing and equipment that is, probably, already maxed out on flow. Remember, the more pressure you see in a system the less flow there will be. Wastes energy, the noise you would likely hear from a setup like that, with no benefit.
The best thing you could do is get an Intelliflow (or IntelliPro) for your system. Long, slow filtration, with high speed for the spa (if you don't have a separate jet-pump), is the best way to keep your pool healthy.
 
If you don't want to get a new pump and only want to replace the motor we can recommend one that will work with your EasyTouch so you have one speed for filtration and another for spa.
 
1poolman1 said:
Why would you want to go to a larger horsepower pump and motor unless it is a VSP? Yes, a 2hp impeller is larger. The problem is that you will be trying to shove even more water down plumbing and equipment that is, probably, already maxed out on flow. Remember, the more pressure you see in a system the less flow there will be. Wastes energy, the noise you would likely hear from a setup like that, with no benefit.
The best thing you could do is get an Intelliflow (or IntelliPro) for your system. Long, slow filtration, with high speed for the spa (if you don't have a separate jet-pump), is the best way to keep your pool healthy.
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Why? There are a couple of reasons:
1) The original install was a 2 HP. A few years back that motor died while I was travelling for business and the company that my wife hired for the repair installed a 1.5 HP, as that was what they had in stock. Since then, the spill-over from the spa to the pool has never had the pressure or volume it had before. It doesn't really look nice because instead of spilling over with a nice even, waterfall look, it's uneven. Hard to explain, but it doesn't look like it should, or the way it looked before the downsized motor/impeller was installed. I've always assumed that the reduced volume was due to the different impeller. Hence my question above.
2) It seems that Pentair 1.5 HP motors are in short supply right now. The few dealers I've found online that have one in stock want upwards of $500. That seems a little steep to me when I can get a 2 HP for < $400.
 
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Using relays, you really only get 2 pump speeds.

However, you probably need at least four speeds.

1) Circulation at about 20 GPM.
2) Heating at 40 GPM.
3) Spa Jets at high speed.
4) Spillover.
5) Other (as needed).
 
The Nidec Neptune has 4 digital inputs, so if you had four spare relays (uncommon) then you can control four speeds.

Discrete InputRPM
INP # 43450
INP # 32760
INP # 21725
INP # 11350
 
guinness said:
You'll need a pump with digital inputs like Nidec Neptune 2.7THP as shown in Installation and Operation Manual and unused relays in your EasyTouch. You would use the filter relay for a low speed and another relay for a high speed when using the spa. Is your filter relay being used and do you have a spare AUX relay?
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I misunderstood. I thought you meant a motor recommendation for my Whisperflow. I dont think I want to buy a whole new pump.
 
guinness said:
You'll need a pump with digital inputs like Nidec Neptune 2.7THP as shown in Installation and Operation Manual and unused relays in your EasyTouch. You would use the filter relay for a low speed and another relay for a high speed when using the spa. Is your filter relay being used and do you have a spare AUX relay?
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I'm not an electronics guy, and if I decide to go the route you are suggesting, I will definitely hire a local pool company to do the installation. Can you tell from this picture if there are enough unused relays? It looks to me like there are at least two.IMG_0106[1075].jpg
 
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Someone removed some of the screws from the relays, but it looks like some are on the bottom of the box.

You should put those somewhere safe so that they don't get lost.

I would go with an Intelliflo pump over rebuilding the current pump.

Your pump breaker should be a 20 amp GFCI breaker, not a 30 amp regular breaker.
 
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tcrb said:
I'm not an electronics guy, and if I decide to go the route you are suggesting, I will definitely hire a local pool company to do the installation.
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To be honest it'll be a hassle getting this setup with a service company. As James recommended previously it'll be easier getting an Intelliflo (or Whisperflo VST) that was designed to work with the EasyTouch.

If you are set on just replacing the motor a simpler alternative would be getting a Dual Speed Motor and the 2-Speed Pump Relay for the EasyTouch. Run low speed for filtration and high speed for spillover/spa.
 
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guinness said:
As James recommended previously it'll be easier getting an Intelliflo
Click to expand...
Did he ? :ROFLMAO:


JamesW said:
I recommend a IntelliFlo pump.
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JamesW said:
I recommend the IntelliFlo.
Click to expand...

JamesW said:
I would go with an Intelliflo pump over rebuilding the current pump.
Click to expand...

@tcrb something to consider with rebuilding the pump for 2 speed is the possibility that the low speed doesn't have enough flow for the SWG to turn on. Some of the smaller pumps and/or plumbing configurations don't have enough flow to activate it and are forced to run the high speed, kinda defeating the purpose.
 
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