Pool Slide PVC pipe

[Dirk]

it's handy if that pump starts leaking you just turn it off and keep the rest of the system flowing

A wrench and a PVC plug that would fit where the booster hose starts would accomplish the same thing, although not as conveniently. As is, that ball valve is almost as prone to failure as that booster pump is! It'll be fine until he needs to bypass his booster, and then he'll find that the ball valve leaks, too, as soon as he tries to turn it! That bypass doesn't warrant a Jandy valve, IMO. A 50¢ PVC plug, taped to the pipe for handy use, is how I'd go.

My quibbles: contrary to how some here believe, I don't like the notion of a valve setup that could inadvertently be used to starve (blowup!) a pump. The two ball valves on his suction manifold qualify for that issue. As does the valve in front of the booster. That's why I suggested he eliminate the booster shutoff, and replace the suction manifold valves with a single Jandy three-way valve. That would make his pad idiot-proof. I'm not suggesting our distinguished fellow member would make such a mistake, but someone else in the household might, or Uncle I-Was-Just-Helping could.

It's just me.* Those valves could live safely, as is, indefinitely. So I'm just pointing out how I'd do it, and why. Then, at least, he has his options and he can decide which way to go.

Lastly, the other consideration, according to Murphy's Law, those ball valves won't fail while he's at home on a quiet weekend. No, they'll start leaking the day he and his family are on their way to their no-refund-dream-vacation. That's just what pools do...

* Ha, I've told this story here before. I was playing Star Trek Commander in my uncle's pump house (irrigation for his entire large farm). It was clear to me that certain valves needed to be repositioned to better protect my ship from Klingon invaders. Who knows what I messed up, but I do know I got my hide tanned for that! So I'm just projecting, but if there are kids about, you never know what aliens they may need to thwart!!

 

[Newdude]

All valid points.

1) it's not a problem
2) until it is

My dogs have never turned a valve. But if i had a valve that could starve the pump, I have no doubts there would be a mole or something in the ground near it and their collar would snag the valve. Zero doubts.

 

[sande005]

The only argument for dual valves on the inlet side is if he wants to balance the flow - more suction at a skimmer vs deep end, etc. During elm/maple seed time I'll shut off my deep end and direct all flow through the skimmers. Other times, if I'm brushing a lot of dirt to the deep end, I'll open that full and reduce down the skimmers, so most of the deep clouds of dirt get to the filter sooner. But then there is that risk of the pump starving if something was set to warp drive incorrectly...

 

[Dirk]

The only argument for dual valves on the inlet side is if he wants to balance the flow - more suction at a skimmer vs deep end, etc. During elm/maple seed time I'll shut off my deep end and direct all flow through the skimmers. Other times, if I'm brushing a lot of dirt to the deep end, I'll open that full and reduce down the skimmers, so most of the deep clouds of dirt get to the filter sooner. But then there is that risk of the pump starving if something was set to warp drive incorrectly...

But that's the thing. There's no easier way to adjust the balance of two "inputs" than with a Jandy three-way. In the middle, both get 100% suction (well, 50% each). Turn one way, and one stays at 50%, while the other is reduced to any %, and vice versa. But there's no way to reduce both less than 50% and no way to get 'em both to 0%.

It really is the safest, most easily-adjustable set up.

And you can repair it, rebuild it, quite easily.

None of that is true of two ball valves...

 

[Dirk]

All valid points.

1) it's not a problem
2) until it is

My dogs have never turned a valve. But if i had a valve that could starve the pump, I have no doubts there would be a mole or something in the ground near it and their collar would snag the valve. Zero doubts.

Ha, ha, I had to read that a couple times. I'm all "Why would a mole be wearing a collar?"