Motor/pump question

[mike.stocker]

Howdy, this may be a dumb question but is there any harm in using the switch in the attached photo to turn the pump off for whatever reason such as when I need to change a skimmer sock? It’s much easier and quicker versus using the buttons on the control panel and the pump just resumes the schedule when I flip the switch back on.

Also, the current motor is a 2-speed Century that I don’t think has much life left in it (it’s old I think and makes weird high-pitched noises sometimes) and I also haven’t noticed any energy savings with it versus my old single speed. I run two cycles, 6 hours on high late afternoon into the evening and 6 hours on low late at night into the early morning. I am going to replace it with a variable speed motor, probably the Neptune NPTQ270 per prior recommendations. Eventually I would also like to install a SWCG and it would be really nice if I could control the pump and SWCG via WiFi and an app on my phone. Is this possible with that motor or should I look at something else? The wet end of the pump is a Whisperflo HP if that matters.

 

[HermanTX]

Howdy, this may be a dumb question but is there any harm in using the switch in the attached photo to turn the pump off for whatever reason such as when I need to change a skimmer sock? It’s much easier and quicker versus using the buttons on the control panel and the pump just resumes the schedule when I flip the switch back on.

That will work for the 2 speed pump. I would not do this for the VS motor when you replace it. I tried to research your VS motor but could not find manual. Most VS motors should maintain constant power so do not connect it to a switch but you can use that as a junction box to connect the VS motor to constant power and remove the switch.

I am going to replace it with a variable speed motor, probably the Neptune NPTQ270 per prior recommendations. Eventually I would also like to install a SWCG and it would be really nice if I could control the pump and SWCG via WiFi and an app on my phone. Is this possible with that motor or should I look at something else? The wet end of the pump is a Whisperflo HP if that matters.

You will need to set up VS to have constant power, then program the pump’s controller with schedules for on and off times, change in speeds, etc.
A SWCG needs to have power cut to it when the pump is off. You can do this by syncing a timer which connects to the SWCG only. Set the timer to turn on after the pump schedule turns on and turn off before the pump schedule turns off. It is important that you keep these 2 items in sync.

Based on what I found, the pump does not have wifi capability which means you have to schedule the program times directly on the pump interface screen.

 

[mike.stocker]

Good info, thanks Herman! Regarding removing the switch, isn’t there an electrical code about having an emergency cutoff switch? I think that’s why my electrician added that, wasn’t there before. I’ve just been using it as a lazy shortcut to cut power when needed. My old single speed was wired into an Intermatic mechanical timer.

 

[HermanTX]

Good info, thanks Herman! Regarding removing the switch, isn’t there an electrical code about having an emergency cutoff switch? I think that’s why my electrician added that, wasn’t there before. I’ve just been using it as a lazy shortcut to cut power when needed. My old single speed was wired into an Intermec mechanical timer.

Where is the circuit breaker for that switch? It should also be on a GFCI breaker.

 

[mike.stocker]

Main panel, does appear to be a GFCI breaker.

 

[Poolero]

electrical code requires a "safety disconnect" within 5 ft. of any hardwired appliances. That switch is a "safety disconnect" in this case.

 

[HermanTX]

Main panel, does appear to be a GFCI breaker.

OK. EDIT That should be changed, maybe you can do it when you change over to VS pump.
The Intermatic timer had a manual switch for on/off. Did the timer stop working altogether which is why the other switch was put on the wall?

 

[mike.stocker]

OK. That should be changed, maybe you can do it when you change over to VS pump.
The Intermatic timer had a manual switch for on/off. Did the timer stop working altogether which is why the other switch was put on the wall?

The breaker should be changed? It is GFCI.

Ah yeah that’s true it did have a switch. I think it still worked fine, it just wasn’t needed since this pump has a built in timer/scheduling function.

 

[HermanTX]

The breaker should be changed? It is GFCI.

Correct - I mistyped. It is GFCI so you are good.

 

[mike.stocker]

Correct - I mistyped. It is GFCI so you are good.

Ah okay great, thanks again

 

[HermanTX]

Ah yeah that’s true it did have a switch. I think it still worked fine, it just wasn’t needed since this pump has a built in timer/scheduling function.

You may want to get that repaired since the pump or the SWCG will not be on wifi.
You could have just removed the timer clock pins and used the manual switch to turn on and off. I am assuming the clock stopped rotating which they do break over time.
If you replace the timer clock (available on Amazon for about $70 ( I just did that replacement on a friends pool). Then you can hook the VS pump to the LINE side (same 2 terminals that the clock motor uses) to have constant power. Then set the SWCG to be powered by the LOAD side. The 2 terminals that were being used by the single speed or 2 speed pump. Then sync the time clock to the direct schedule on the pump. So pump will turn on, then minutes later the time clock will turn on SWCG, etc.

 

[mike.stocker]

Sounds like a plan. I won’t be doing the SWCG for a while but that sounds like the way to go when the time comes. Appreciate the guidance.