new pressure gauge only displays zero psi

[mjustison]

Hello All,

I'm a fairly new pool owner and I tried replacing my old pump pressure gauge (hard to read; only displays in bars) with a new one from Lowes (goes from 0-60psi).
It's not exactly rocket science to install - I screwed it in without over-tightening and turned everything back on like I normally do. There's a momentary jump to about 7-10psi before I open the valve between the filter and the return and then....zero.
To make sure I wasn't crazy, I put the old gauge back on and it seemed to work as normal: displaying just about .75 bar. I feel pretty confident that old gauge worked. It would display about .75 bar until the filter started getting too clogged at which time it would usually display about 1-1.1 bar.
Is the new gauge bad? Why would it jump before I open the return valve and then go to zero while the old bar gauge seems to work?

Thanks!
-Mark

 

[Catanzaro]

Is the new gauge bad?

Yes, return it. Lowes does not give anyone trouble about returning items like this. You may want to purchase an extra one. My gauge went bad. I went to Leslie's and there gauge needles bounced all over the place because of vibration. That gauge was used for the well, which has no vibration and because I sent an e-mail to Hayward, they sent me a brand new one at no charge. Still some vibration, but not as bad as Leslie's. Chances are that they are made poorly.

 

[mknauss]

I would suggest getting a pressure gauge from TFTestkits.net. Theirs are designed for pool and have a tighter pressure range more normal for pool use.

Be sure to clean your filter system once your filter pressure is 25% more than when it was clean. Your statement above showing you went 40% or more.

Take care.

 

[mjustison]

I would suggest getting a pressure gauge from TFTestkits.net. Theirs are designed for pool and have a tighter pressure range more normal for pool use.

Be sure to clean your filter system once your filter pressure is 25% more than when it was clean. Your statement above showing you went 40% or more.

Take care.

I think that was more of a worst-case scenario number (1.1 bar) back when I had an algae event and was cleaning the filter every day. Ever since then I'd be cleaning it when it started hovering around .9 bar (or the return flow started to get noticeably weaker).
I'll be returning the gauge and looking for something with a tighter range. Leslie's gauges are way too expensive for what they are. Given that there were at least a 2 re-taped packages on the rack at lowes, I'm guessing I'm not the only one dissatisfied with the gauges there.
Thanks!
-Mark

 

[domct203]

I think that was more of a worst-case scenario number (1.1 bar) back when I had an algae event and was cleaning the filter every day. Ever since then I'd be cleaning it when it started hovering around .9 bar (or the return flow started to get noticeably weaker).
I'll be returning the gauge and looking for something with a tighter range. Leslie's gauges are way too expensive for what they are. Given that there were at least a 2 re-taped packages on the rack at lowes, I'm guessing I'm not the only one dissatisfied with the gauges there.
Thanks!
-Mark

The gauges at TFTestkits.net are a very high quality glycerin filled gauge at a very good price.

http://tftestkits.net/Pressure-Gauge-Glycerin-filled-2-5-Rear-Center-Mount-p78.html

http://tftestkits.net/Pressure-Gauge-Glycerin-filled-2-5-Bottom-Mount-p77.html