Pentair VSF pump error

[uraceulose]

Hey Allen @ajw22 ,

My 011056 pump has thrown this same error code over the last few weeks once or twice. It seems to only happen when I'm stopping/starting the pump quickly when changing settings on the schedules for example.

I've been working with Pentair to get them to add the feature where we can set schedules and adjust based on GPM rather than RPM. I understand what you mean about the pump working too hard to meet a given GPM but I also believe that would be due to an obstruction/dirty filter etc or a pool owner mistakenly setting GPM too high.

Pentair or any manufacturer always recommends a given flow rate for heater, filter, chemcheck, pressure side cleaner etc...never RPM. It would make more sense to me to set pump for GPM then let the RPM do whatever it needs to in order to meet your desired/recommended/required flow?

As of now, on IntelliConnect...I am only able to set schedules based on RPM.

For helping this OP troubleshoot...I see the reasoning...but for daily use, why would you not use GPM if given the choice?

Thank you,

Donnie

 

[ajw22]

for daily use, why would you not use GPM if given the choice?

The pump controls directly measure RPM.

The pump does not have a direct measurement of GPM. It is a calculated value from RPM and pressure sensors to get a target RPM for the controls.

The GPM control of the pump does not work well and often the pump cannot achieve the GPM flow set however when using RPM the pump cannot more then meet the actual GPM.

While manufacters recommend GPM flow rates pump controls work with RPM. The GPM a pump achieves at a given RPM depending on on external factors that the pump controls cannot directly see.

 

[uraceulose]

Thank you. I really wish it could measure GPM somehow so the pump would ramp up RPM as filter gets dirty to maintain GPM.

 

[ajw22]

Thank you. I really wish it could measure GPM somehow so the pump would ramp up RPM as filter gets dirty to maintain GPM.

Your pump will never directly measure GPM.

Maybe some future pump model will.

Don’t run your pump RPM close to minimum flow rates and clean your filter more often.

 

[ajw22]

Why don’t run as low as possible?

I was thinking it would prolong the pump life.

It will not. Speed is not what causes pump wear and failure.

My next question was going to be..do I need the flow to properly get the filter to function?

Nope.

I mean I can skim 99% of what sits on the surface with 2 bettas and the vacuums get the stuff on the walls/floor but all the small fine stuff still needs filtering..is there an ideal flow rate for best filtering?

Filtering the water is different then skimming.

The filtering a pool needs depends on its environment. No two pools are the same.

With modern VS pumps low and slow for 24x7 is the best way to run a pump and filter.

Prefer to wash filter no more than every 3 months. Literally getting rid of oak trees and a few crepe Myrtles to primarily get rid of root problems and keep leaves out of pool. Willing to do what is recommended here as you guys haven’t steered me wrong yet.

Whatever works for you. While many here like a cartridge filter I can backwash my DE filter in 15 minutes without getting wet. Not a big deal to clean it as needed.

 

[uraceulose]

I was questioning my reasoning on the pump speed is because you said "run pump faster and clean filter more"

Say 750 rpm on my pump is about 40 watts draw...1400 rpm is about 125 watts...the difference is like 20 cents per day or 50 cents per day...it's not enough to where I care about the cost to watt ratio. But if the efficiency of the filtering is the same or better at the low rpm AND OR life of the pump is prolonged one way or the other I'd be interested to do what are the best in that regard.

I prefer not to backwash even though it takes 15 minutes...it takes me about an hour maybe to clean the grids fully and know I'm not overcaking the grids and have exactly the 6.0 lbs

Overkill but after 5 months at 1400 rpm, I'm at 2.5-3 psi through DE and 14 psi at 2500 rpm. With the pool store stuff I was having to clean the filter every month due to pressure rise primarily from the clarifier type Crud/perfect weekly etc

Thanks again,

Donnie

 

[ajw22]

I was questioning my reasoning on the pump speed is because you said "run pump faster and clean filter more"

If your heater requires 40 GPM then do not run your pump RPM so you get 42 GPM. Run your pump RPM fast enough that you have head room as the filter gets dirty so your GPM does not drop below 40. My clean RPM gives me 50-55 GPM at heater RPM of 2400.

Say 750 rpm on my pump is about 40 watts draw...1400 rpm is about 125 watts...the difference is like 20 cents per day or 50 cents per day...it's not enough to where I care about the cost to watt ratio. But if the efficiency of the filtering is the same or better at the low rpm AND OR life of the pump is prolonged one way or the other I'd be interested to do what are the best in that regard.

Not enough of a difference to consider.’

I prefer not to backwash even though it takes 15 minutes...it takes me about an hour maybe to clean the grids fully and know I'm not overcaking the grids and have exactly the 6.0 lbs

Overkill but after 5 months at 1400 rpm, I'm at 2.5-3 psi through DE and 14 psi at 2500 rpm. With the pool store stuff I was having to clean the filter every month due to pressure rise primarily from the clarifier type Crud/perfect weekly etc

You can run your stuff your way.