New Pentair system to replace aging Jandy set up.

Dcoumes

Member
Jan 30, 2022
7
Franklin, TN
New to forum, what’s a complete list of recommended Pentair equipment to replace 18 year old Jandy system that I’m tired of fixing. 40k in ground pool and spa combo, pool pump, spa pump, filter, heater, 2 auto valves, salt cell, spa lights, pool lights, air blower, air and water temp inputs, booster pump (or am I better off with an electric robot cleaner). Would like to control with phone and device in pool house, thanks. Pretty handy, considering demo and installing myself, best place to buy? Also looking for advice on VS pumps as we run pool all year.
 
D,

I would suggest that you look at this site... Welcome to Polytec Pools

You would want the new Poll and Spa IntelliCenter with a 60K SWCG. A 40K pool needs an 80K cell, but 60K is as large as they come..

A 3 HP IntelliFlo VS pump. I have been running an IntelliFlo VS pump 24/7, most of the time at 1200 RPM for about 11 years. It is just as good today as it was when new. Cost to run 24/7 is less than $20 bucks a month and the newer pumps are even more efficient.

I am a big fan of Dolphin robot pool cleaners.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
New to forum, what’s a complete list of recommended Pentair equipment to replace 18 year old Jandy system that I’m tired of fixing. 40k in ground pool and spa combo, pool pump, spa pump, filter, heater, 2 auto valves, salt cell, spa lights, pool lights, air blower, air and water temp inputs, booster pump (or am I better off with an electric robot cleaner). Would like to control with phone and device in pool house, thanks. Pretty handy, considering demo and installing myself, best place to buy? Also looking for advice on VS pumps as we run pool all year.
Jim, thanks for quick reply, will be talking to Polytec Pools today. Another question (sorry) my current Jandy system has three pumps, single speed filter pump (will replace with a VS), Polaris cleaner pump (need to decide whether to replace or go with electric powered cleaner) and a single speed jet pump for spa. Does it make sense to replace the jet pump for spa with a VS pump? I'm thinking that during spa use (we rarely use it) you would run a VS spa pump at full speed but during freeze protect maybe there would be a benefit of being able to run this pump at a lower speed, thoughts?
 
D,

A lot of Pools/Spas only have one large VS pump. Since the pool is already plumbed with a separate Spa jets pump, I'd just leave it the way it is.. Unless the spa jet pump is bad, I don't see any reason to replace it.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jim, I'm close to pulling the trigger on a self install of a new pool control system to replace my aging Jandy set up (can't even get a pool contractor to give me a quote). I'm looking at a Pentaire Intelicenter 521903-IC60 Kit and one of their VS pumps as well as flow meters, check valves, valve actuators, etc. I'm going to keep my Jandy cartridge filter and Hayward heater for now. A few questions. You said earlier that I should go with a 60K salt cell even though my pool is 38K, reason for this? I've been looking at all Pentair pumps to replace my Jandy 1.5HP single speed filter pump. You recommended 3HP size, reason for this? Looking at Pentair's pumps - should I go with the ones with flow control (about $50 more)? Pentair VS pumps seem to come with 8 or 4 programmable speed settings, do I really need 8 or even 4? I definitely want to get away from my current set up where the 1.5HP Filter pump runs full blast whenever it is on and continuously when under freeze protect (I don't close pool in winter), thoughts on how many speeds needed? With the Intellicenter and VS pump, are pump speed/time programs controlled at the Intellicenter or at the pump's panel? Finally I'm going to redo all the plumbing on the equipment pad as it's been patched a lot during the 15+ year life of the pool. Is there a resource on the forum that talks about an ideal equipment pad plumbing layout? My old Jandy installation manuals suggest layouts and I'm sure Pentair does as well just wondering if that's been a topic here, thanks.
 

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D,

Salt cells are rated when running 24/7 at 100% output. This is why we always recommend a cell that is at least 2 X the volume of your pool.. This is less a problem for those in the frozen North and more of an issue the further South you get.

The larger the pump the slower you can run it and still move a lot of water. I personally have three 3 HP IntelliFlo pumps and would never, even think about replacing them with a 1.5 HP VS pump.

99.5% of people never really "need" the variable flow option of the VSF pumps. There is nothing wrong with buying a VSF pump, but I always suggest initially setting it up using just the RPM mode.. You can always use the Flow mode later if you find you need it at some point. The Flow mode just makes something very simple much more complicated and makes people spend hours trying to figure out why their pool does not have the amount of flow they want, or think they need.

There is zero reason to buy a flow meter.

Pump speeds are controlled by the IntelliCenter.. The pump's ability to store pump speeds are for standalone operation and have nothing to do with how the pump works when connected to an automation system. All schedules are also controlled by the automation system.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Let’s say your pool needs the flow from 1/2 HP. A 3 HP VS running at the RPM equivalent of 1/2HP will use significantly less energy then a 1.5HP VS running at the RPM equivalent of 1/2HP. Over the life of the pump the 3HP VS pump is a better value.

Operating a VSF pump in flow mode often does not work well. Most run it in RPM mode. But the VSF gives some additional information on the display. For $50 more I would get the 011056 VSF pump.
 
There is no best equipment layout. You are restricted by where your suction and return pipes are. Your layout of HEATER - pump - filter - pump looks fine. Why do you want to change it?
 
Jim - thanks again for your quick response, your answers are pretty much what I had anticipated. Allen - thanks for your feedback as well, definitely going with a new 3hp Pentaire VS pump to replace my one speed Jandy filter pump. I will probably leave my Jandy single speed 3hp spa jet pump alone for now. We rarely use the spa, most of the pump's running time is when it comes on during freeze protect mode. There's probably 6 to 8 weeks of winter when this will run all night when temp gets below 34 or so. Maybe the best replacement here would be a simple 2 speed pump one speed for when the spa is being used and a much slower one for freeze protect, is that possible with the IntelliCenter? I think my layout is pretty good as well but I plan on replacing all the (18 year old) PVC pipe more or less in same configuration when I replace the aging Jandy equipment with Pentair. I currently don't have any check valves in my system, not sure if I need them. I want to make sure my salt cell is the best position after the heater. Currently my flow comes out of the heater and splits to return to the spa and pool, the salt cell is on the pool branch. I'm thinking my new cell should be right after the heater before the return splits, thoughts? Again guys thanks for all the help.
 
D,

The salt cell needs to feed both the pool and/or the spa.. So, after the heater is where is should be.

If you have a spillover spa, then you would normally have a check valve in the spa return line, to prevent the spa from draining back into the pool when the pump is off.

You should not need any other check valves.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 

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Jim, thanks again. I'm pretty much set on my new system layout, will be close to what I've got now but will move the new salt cell to direct behind the heater and add check valve as you suggest. Talked to Mark at Polytec pools for about 30 minutes yesterday, very knowledgeable. Unfortunately Intellicenter that I want and pump that I want are out of stock there (haven't been able to find an Intellicenter anywhere). Said it could be a month to six months until they are available. Mark also said you can't get two speed pumps anymore, said VS pumps will be mandated in some states in near future. Meantime I'll line up the other parts and limp along with my current equipment.
 
Another couple of questions. I've always repaired pool plumbing with schedule 40 PVC pipe from Home Depot, is there a made for pool use PVC that I should be using? My PVC is unpainted, I've read that sunlight degrades PVC, suggested brand of paint to use? Finally, since I'm going to have to wait on an Intellicenter, does anyone know if I can install the Pentair VS pump and control it with my existing Jandy Aqualink RS with the One Touch pad.
 
Another couple of questions. I've always repaired pool plumbing with schedule 40 PVC pipe from Home Depot, is there a made for pool use PVC that I should be using?

Read Types of PVC in PVC Repair - Further Reading

My PVC is unpainted, I've read that sunlight degrades PVC, suggested brand of paint to use?

Rustoleum

Finally, since I'm going to have to wait on an Intellicenter, does anyone know if I can install the Pentair VS pump and control it with my existing Jandy Aqualink RS with the One Touch pad.

You need Aqualink Rev O or higher and I think iAqualink. I don’t think the OneTouch has the VS programming screen. @PoolGate may know.

 
It hopefully will work with Aqualink and it should be accessible from any interface including the OneTouch.
 

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