Intelliflo3 reviews?

Jump to latest Follow Reply
djdonte

djdonte

Well-known member
Mar 25, 2019
692
Houston, TX
Pool Size
11300
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
CircuPool RJ-30 Plus
I am toying with getting a VS upgrade for my pump but now I am intrigued by this Pentair model. It seems from the literature that I can control both the pump and turn on/off my SWG from a wifi app, without standalone automation. Do I have this right? I also see an optional relay board, but it looks like that is for something else.

Those of you using this pump or similar, what do you think about the app? Will I be able to control pump speed and SWG power without automation? I currently have a single speed motor and SWG hooked to a wifi timer. My motor is very old and noisy. I'd like to replace it proactively and save some energy consumption as well.

EDIT- Reading back thru the manual again, it looks like I would need the optional relay to control my SWG. I'm confused.
 
Last edited:
djdonte said:
Reading back thru the manual again, it looks like I would need the optional relay to control my SWG.
Click to expand...
dj,

Well, it looks like you answered your own question... :mrgreen:

I have only seen positive comments about the IntelliFlo3

Besides the optional relay card, you can also get an optional display..

You can get a 1.5 HP option or the 3.0 HP option.. I never, ever recommend the smaller 1.5 HP model.. I just beleive that bigger is better when talking about a VS pumps.

Here is a good link to the different options...


Thanks,

Jim R.
 
So you don't think I should replace my 1.5hp single speed with a 1.5VS?

I see I need the relay board, but I would be able to control my pump and my SWG from the app without automation correct?
 
djdonte said:
I see I need the relay board, but I would be able to control my pump and my SWG from the app without automation correct?
Click to expand...
Yes, but…

When you say control your SWG the app will just turn the SWG on or off using the relay. It will not change the %.
 
Jimrahbe said:
dj,

Well, it looks like you answered your own question... :mrgreen:

I have only seen positive comments about the IntelliFlo3

Besides the optional relay card, you can also get an optional display..

You can get a 1.5 HP option or the 3.0 HP option.. I never, ever recommend the smaller 1.5 HP model.. I just beleive that bigger is better when talking about a VS pumps.

Here is a good link to the different options...


Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link. Those prices are good and the relay is already installed. Why do you say I should spring for the 3hp?
 
djdonte said:
Why do you say I should spring for the 3hp?
Click to expand...
dj,

The bigger the pump the slower you can run it and still move a lot of water.

The slower you can run it the less it costs to run.

The slower you can run it the quieter it will be..

I have a older 3 HP IntelliFlo and run it 24/7, most of the time at 1200 rpm.. this costs me less than $20 bucks a month.. And.. the newer IntelliFlo3 pumps are much more energy efficient, then my old pump..

At that speed, you almost have to touch the pump to make sure it is actually running... :mrgreen:

VS pump are really variable HP pumps... you just adjust the HP of the pump to match what you are wanting to do.

I am assuming that your current pump is being run from 240 VAC.. If you do not have 240 VAC at your equipment pad, then obviously, you should get the 1.5 HP pump.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
I understand. I have 220 at my pad so I will go with a 3hp. Will running extended hours at a lower speed cause more wear and tear on my salt cell?
 
dj,

Just to make sure...

The IntelliFlo3 does not have the same form factor as the standard WhisperFlo pumps.. This means that you will have to do a little plumbing work to connect the new pump.

If your old pump was not installed with pump unions, you will have to replumb anyway, but if you do have unions, the IntelliFlo3 is not a drop in replacement..

Thanks,

Jim R.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
djdonte said:
Will running extended hours at a lower speed cause more wear and tear on my salt cell?
Click to expand...
dj,

It will have no effect on your salt cell...

Without any 'proof' I personally believe that running the pump 24/7 is much better for the pump than turning it on and off each day.. Until this year, I had three pools that all have 3 HP IntelliFlo pumps.. all three have been running 24/7 for at least 12 years. All three pumps run today, just like they did when installed. I like making a little chlorine all the time, and I like skimming all the time.. I also like the look if my pool when there is a little action to the water... I never have to worry about freeze control as the pump is already running..

I run 24/7 because that works best for me.. You should run whatever works best for you. :mrgreen:

As a side note... When running at a low rpm, you will initially swear that your skimmers are not working... They just 'look' different, but they are working just fine.. It is the weir door that makes your skimmers work, not the speed of the pump.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
The Pentair 011075 is the basic 3hp model. I bought one last week, and will install it in a week or two. You can control it via wifi / home app. I guess by a video or two, you can also do some very basic controls on the unit itself.

The Pentair 011076 is exactly the same, but it includes the relay board. The relay board allows for two items to be attached (and controlled) by wifi. As previously mentioned, the controlled is just power. So, lights on one, and a booster pump on the other, maybe.

Youtube search for pentair intelliflo relay board programming and you'll see a few good videos.

For me, since I bought the pump already, and am also buying an SWCG, I'm going to buy the relay board separately. It'll be worth it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Newdude
I do not have unions, but I see Pentair sells a riser stand to convert from the whisperflo. This made me think it was drop in replacement, save for a height adjustment on the pump. I thought I would be cutting threaded adapters off and gluing pipe/unions only, but I guess not.
 
I saw that. The manual says it comes with adapter bushings, but I think there are elevation changes for the suction and discharge ports.
 
Looking at diagrams, the elevation of the suction is the same, but the pump will have to be moved back 1.38 inches.
 
It worked out really good. The 3hp Intelliflo pump suction is the same elevation as the 1.5hp Whisperflo suction, so minimal plumbing there. I did have to modify the discharge a little bit. I used this trick with a heated hole saw to reuse fittings since I didn't have much space to cut and solvent weld new PVC. Without this trick I would have been cutting up my suction side and replacing a few 3 way Jandy valves. I also had to change the fitting on my liquid tight conduit and get a longer bonding wire. I have the SWG hooked to the smaller 5 amp relay. The pump runs at 35 percent with the SWG at 40 percent. I have the pump running full speed a few min a day to make sure the pump basket fills back up. The larger relay could power my waterfall pump but the switch is too far away.

The Pentair app isnt perfect but its pretty good. Sometimes it doesnt refresh unless I exit out to the first menu and go back. Also it seems to run a few minutes ahead of the time you set. Sucks I can't control the SWG from my phone too, but this is cheaper than real automation.

I did notice one time the RJ-30 control box was giving me some type of error. It said low temp and the screen looked weird, but the water was 85ish. After a power cycle it worked fine, so I have the app cutting power to the RJ-30 for the few minutes it runs at high speed to let it reset each day.

I am using about 1/3 of the power my old pump did. To be honest, I think this thing is a little overpriced for what it is. I guess I am really paying for being able to monitor the pump on my phone and see the power consumption. Part of me wishes I just got a traditional VS pump and saved quite a bit, but oh well. Between Ring, Nest, Bluetooth plugs and this, I am a sucker for running the house on my phone. The only other VS I found with a relay was a Neptune I think, and it only turned on the relay above a certain speed. I could have installed a disconnect for the pump to leave it on 24/7 and used a timer for the SWG.
 
How do you have the RJ wired to the pump? Two wires from the relay obviously go straight to the rj, but the two other wires to the relay, do they feed from the pump power few inches over? Do they feed from the same circuit breaker as the pump? Do they feed from a completely separate circuit? I'm getting ready to do mine probably tomorrow.

Current plan is to have the hot come into the pump power area, into a pigtail, and from the pigtail go to the pump, relay one, and relay two. And then I have the other hot coming into a second pigtail and then from that pigtail going to the second screw on the pump, relay one, and relay 2
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply