Thanks again Arizonarob! Great info! I'm going to call the pool company with these suggestions to make sure we're on the same page. I don't want any surprises when they get here - holding up our opening!
No, a breaker is not sufficient. You must have surge protection for a VS pump or it may not last very long. Line surges can fry the sensitive electronics in the VS drives and they are very expensive to replace. I installed both of mine for the main house and the pool equipment sub-panel. If you have ever done electrical work, it is not hard to install. However, if you have never done electrical work, then I am not sure I would recommend doing this as your first project.In regards to the surge protector, they said that's more in an electrician's camp and not something they could hook up. Our pump and heater are hard wired to a covered outdoor switch that turns the whole system on. Would the breaker in the house be enough protection with it being hard wired - or would you still suggest the add-on surge protector? If so, how difficult are those to wire?
Got it - thanks! I talked to an electrician friend of mine that said he can install/wire the surge protector.No, a breaker is not sufficient. You must have surge protection for a VS pump or it may not last very long. Line surges can fry the sensitive electronics in the VS drives and they are very expensive to replace. I installed both of mine for the main house and the pool equipment sub-panel. If you have ever done electrical work, it is not hard to install. However, if you have never done electrical work, then I am not sure I would recommend doing this as your first project.
If the the main panel feeds the sub-panel, in theory, the sub-panel should be protected. But to be safe, you might want two anyway.
I think it was added in 2011 so I am surprised that yours passed inspection.
For the house, one at the main panel would protect the entire house from external surges. However, internal surges (e.g. appliance malfunction) could theoretically (and very rarely) take out something else in the house even with the main panel surge protector. But you can't do much about that except use power strip protectors as secondary protection. But that is a little overkill IMHO.
However, if your pool sub-panel is fed directly from the meter, like mine, you will need one on the pool sub-panel as well because the main-panel surge protector won't protect the sub-panel with that setup. If the the main panel feeds the sub-panel, in theory, the sub-panel should be protected. But to be safe, you might want two anyway.
We've got two separate main lines, so two surge protectors it is! Thanks a ton mas985 for helping me figure all of this out!Are there two separate main lines coming into each breaker box or does one box feed the second? If the later, you only need one surge protector on the primary breaker box.
What pump did you install? Please modify your signature.
Why have the 'pool company' add 'shock'? What is the 'shock'? Run your own tests and follow the SLAM Process process. If you need to SLAM, your filter is plugging up and that is what is restricting your pump. Lower the flow rate on the pump to at least 1750 rpm (1/2 speed).
At 1750 rpm, the pump is barely "working". Doesn't seem to be sucking any water and the pressure on the filter is really low. Can you help me understand how cleaning will help it pull more water? By cleaning, I assume you mean to backwash and regenerate the DE? Bare with me - I'm no expert. I have to run out, so I'll turn it off for now.No water? No, that is not normal. I would turn off the pump until you can clean the filter.