Is this a superflo vs or whisperflo vs drive?

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BoneDr210

Gold Supporter
Aug 15, 2024
47
Carlsbad, CA
Pool Size
14000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Recently updated a lot of the pool equipment in my new place with your guys' help - thank you! But I kept the old Calimar 1.5 HP pump and added the automation adapter to have better control using 3 relays on the intellicenter. However, always thought it would be nice to have a pentair pump to go with the intellicenter and all the other pentair equipment that I had installed. Wanted more customization other than the 3 relays could provide using Calimar. Also I was maxing out on the pump RPMs to get a flow rate of around 50GPM to get water to the solar collectors. Thought a slightly bigger pump might be ideal.

So I've been checking facebook marketplace and offerup to see if I can score on a good deal. Saw one today - whisperflo vst for a reasonable price, only in use for a couple weeks before the seller realized it wasn't meeting his needs and he needs the intelliflo instead. I get the pump and it looks pretty new, however, when I unscrewed the control panel to make my electrical connections, I saw a NIDEC drive kit. When I googled the model number (KCCA0348-P2-G31), it shows up as a superflo drive -- click here .

Now I'm wondering if this pump has been refurbished... I checked the pictures for both whisperflo and superflo and the pump housing looks like whisperflo (pictures attached) but the only thing throwing me off is the motor/drive. The metal on the outside is a gold color (like superflo, although whisperflo is similar looking) and the nidec model number (KCCA0348-P2-G31). Of course I worry if that drive is a superflo drive than it won't produce the HPs a whisperflo is supposed to. Learned by lesson to only buy things new from a reputable dealer when it comes to expensive equipment.

I'm going to call pentair tomorrow and ask. The seller says he hasn't touched it...

Does anyone know if a whisperflo vst can have that nidec drive?

Thank you!
 

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Pentair Almond SuperFlo/SuperMax VSx Drive Kit (RS-485) - 356282 - INYOPools.com

Pentair Almond SuperFlo/SuperMax VSx Drive Kit (RS-485) - 356282
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Pentair WhisperFlo VST Variable Speed Pump Parts - INYOPools.com

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Pentair / Sta-Rite SuperMax VS & Superflo VS/VST Variable Speed Pump (After 11/02/2020) Parts - INYOPools.com

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JamesW said:
Motor (TEFC) 356286S.

Same motor.
Click to expand...
Thank you! That's interesting... how are superflo and whisperflo rated at different HPs if they have the same motor powering them? Sorry if this is a naive question.

JamesW said:
Is there a barcode sticker with a P/N and date?
Click to expand...
I tried to find it but it looks like that sticker's been taken off. I found this serial number locator, but on my pump... there's nothing there.
 
BoneDr210 said:
I tried to find it but it looks like that sticker's been taken off.
Click to expand...
Seems suspicious.

www.pentair.com

WhisperFlo® VST Variable Speed Pool Pump

The WhisperFlo® VST Variable Speed Pump offers high quality, dependability, performance, and energy savings you can expect from variable speed pumps.
www.pentair.com www.pentair.com

BoneDr210 said:
how are superflo and whisperflo rated at different HPs if they have the same motor powering them?
Click to expand...
Manufacturers make up HP ratings.

For example, the EC-011533 is rated at 22.6 hp.

:unsure:

1742831403344.png


www.pentair.com

WhisperFlo® VST Variable Speed Pool Pump

The WhisperFlo® VST Variable Speed Pump offers high quality, dependability, performance, and energy savings you can expect from variable speed pumps.
www.pentair.com www.pentair.com

1742831701768.png
 

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Whisperflo VST uses a a 073130 impeller, which is 2.6 hp (Total).

Pentair can rate the HP at pretty much anything they want to make the pump brochure meets the marketing needs.

You want a strong pump, then it is 2.6 hp?

Your want a low power efficient pump, then it is a 1.5 hp pump.

The WhisperFlo VST has better performance, so it uses more power.

Impeller......Total HP.

073126.........0.95
073127.........1.25
073128.........1.65
073129.........2.20
073130.........2.60
073131.........3.45

1742831997328.png

1742832167007.png

www.ebay.com

356289S Pentair 3562289 SuperFlo Pump Motor and Drive 56PP240VPM402BB | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 356289S Pentair 3562289 SuperFlo Pump Motor and Drive 56PP240VPM402BB at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com

1742832972915.png

1742832991591.png

1742833003581.png
1742833043137.png
1742833462914.png
 
@JamesW - thanks so much for all this info. I guess the only way to make sure the pump I have is a Whisperflo and not superflo, is to look at the impeller given the motor/drive are the same for both pumps. Everything else checks out (except the lack of the sticker with the S/N)... so is it worth taking the pump apart to confirm the part no on the impeller... :unsure:
 
BoneDr210 said:
Recently updated a lot of the pool equipment in my new place with your guys' help - thank you! But I kept the old Calimar 1.5 HP pump and added the automation adapter to have better control using 3 relays on the intellicenter. However, always thought it would be nice to have a pentair pump to go with the intellicenter and all the other pentair equipment that I had installed. Wanted more customization other than the 3 relays could provide using Calimar. Also I was maxing out on the pump RPMs to get a flow rate of around 50GPM to get water to the solar collectors. Thought a slightly bigger pump might be ideal.

So I've been checking facebook marketplace and offerup to see if I can score on a good deal. Saw one today - whisperflo vst for a reasonable price, only in use for a couple weeks before the seller realized it wasn't meeting his needs and he needs the intelliflo instead. I get the pump and it looks pretty new, however, when I unscrewed the control panel to make my electrical connections, I saw a NIDEC drive kit. When I googled the model number (KCCA0348-P2-G31), it shows up as a superflo drive -- click here .

Now I'm wondering if this pump has been refurbished... I checked the pictures for both whisperflo and superflo and the pump housing looks like whisperflo (pictures attached) but the only thing throwing me off is the motor/drive. The metal on the outside is a gold color (like superflo, although whisperflo is similar looking) and the nidec model number (KCCA0348-P2-G31). Of course I worry if that drive is a superflo drive than it won't produce the HPs a whisperflo is supposed to. Learned by lesson to only buy things new from a reputable dealer when it comes to expensive equipment.

I'm going to call pentair tomorrow and ask. The seller says he hasn't touched it...

Does anyone know if a whisperflo vst can have that nidec drive?

Thank you!
Click to expand...
Pump manufacturers don't make motors, they purchase them from contractors. Nidec is a large motor manufacturer.
Apparently Pentair had them make motors for that pump. Since there are no aftermarket variable-speed motor drives available that match that Pentair motor, it is OEM.
Waterway used to use Century V-Green motors for their VSPs, now they use Nidec Neptune.
Jandy used to, and may still, use Century variable-speed motors on their pumps.
You are going to need a special communication cable to have your Intellicenter control that VST motor and which cable will depend on the manufacture date of the motor. It is not the same cable as the one used on an Intelliflow pump.
The drive does not determine the horsepower of a VSP, it just turns it on and off and varies the speed by frequency. It is the motor it self that has a particular power output and energy demand.
What is often overlooked is that the horsepower rating on an electric motor is a measure of how much energy it will use. On a VSP that amount varies with the RPM selected. On a single-speed it is constant but the performance is completely dependent on pump design. That is why a 1hp Whisperflo (high-head pump) will out perform a 1hp SuperFlo (medium-head pump) though they will both consume the same amount of electricity.
Superflo impellers do not fit a Whisperflo, or vice/versa. That picture is a Whisperflo.
 
1poolman1 said:
Superflo impellers do not fit a Whisperflo, or vice/versa. That picture is a Whisperflo.
Click to expand...
That's great info thank you! Since I have the whisperflo wet end, and the same motor/drive that superflo and whisperflo share, I will assume everything is good to go and install it.

Fortunately, I am putting in the whisperflo where I have the calimar 1.5 HP pump -- the dimensions for the height of the pump (suction side) and the distance between the suction and effluent are identical so should be an easy swap. I got the hi temp unions for whisperflo from amazon. Hopefully should be straightforward swap but I don't mind some plumbing work as needed.
 
So I installed the new whipserflo vst. Got these relatively highly rated hi temp unions that someone had posted on here. But having a leak on the outflow side - looks like its coming from where the male union threads into the female. Attached is a picture. Here is a link to a video

I used silicone grease on the O-rings, hand tightened it so it was snug followed by a 1/4 turn with a channel lock.

Any help would be appreciated! Should I get the pentair brand unions?
 

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