Pump speed with swcg

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

I’ve gotten most everything worked out on my new pool as far as settings and valve positions go. The last thing I’ve been getting figured out is pump speed. I plan to run 24/7 to generate chlorine and also to skim to keep the pool clean. I know you want to find the point where the swcg comes on then add a couple hundred rpm to that to account for a dirty filter.

I had to turn my pump all the way down to 690 RPM before the swcg turned off due to low flow. The next speed up available to me is 1035 RPM. Everything appeared to be working fine at that speed. I’m just concerned the skimming action won’t be adequate. Also, at 1035 RPM, my filter pressure gauge reads 0 psi. I’m concerned that I won’t know when to backwash the filter. Are my concerns valid? It would be nice to run the pump at that speed. Based on the watts it’s using according to the prologic, monthly cost to run the pump would only be $8 or so.

I’ve turned the pump up to 1200 RPM just be on the safe side for now. Any thoughts?

 

[Jimrahbe]

BC,

There is no reason not to run at 1035 as long as your skimmer and SWCG are working.. The only way to know is to try it..

When running at that speed, a zero PSI is pretty normal.. I use a 30 lb. gauge.. and still get zero or close to it..

I would not worry about backwashing based on pressure, unless it obviously goes up.. I now only clean my large cartridge filter once a year..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

Awesone. Thanks, Jim. I’ll dial it back down and see how it goes.

 

[mas985]

I’ve gotten most everything worked out on my new pool as far as settings and valve positions go. The last thing I’ve been getting figured out is pump speed. I plan to run 24/7 to generate chlorine and also to skim to keep the pool clean. I know you want to find the point where the swcg comes on then add a couple hundred rpm to that to account for a dirty filter.

I had to turn my pump all the way down to 690 RPM before the swcg turned off due to low flow. The next speed up available to me is 1035 RPM.
Everything appeared to be working fine at that speed. I’m just concerned the skimming action won’t be adequate. Also, at 1035 RPM, my filter pressure gauge reads 0 psi. I’m concerned that I won’t know when to backwash the filter. Are my concerns valid? It would be nice to run the pump at that speed. Based on the watts it’s using according to the prologic, monthly cost to run the pump would only be $8 or so.

I’ve turned the pump up to 1200 RPM just be on the safe side for now. Any thoughts?

The TriStar is fully programable to any speed. But keep in mind that when you go much below around 1000 RPM, the wattage draw of the pump motor does not decrease very much so there may not be any benefit to running at lower RPM. Also skimming tends to be less effective at lower RPM. Just make sure the water is traveling over the top of the skimmer weir door rather than around the sides.

 

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

Interesting. When I go to the settings menu to change the pump speed it only lets me change it in set increments of 5-10%. I’m going to have to do some digging to see if I can figure out how to program it. Maybe it’s the limitation of the prologic system that’s controlling it.

 

[pjt]

The next speed up available to me is 1035 RPM.

That seems odd. I would think you could program your automation to operate the pump at the RPM you desire, but I don't have familiarity with Hayward.

I’m concerned that I won’t know when to backwash the filter.

Check the pressure when the pump is running at a high RPM (3000+). Clean the filter when it's 20% above clean pressure.

 

[mas985]

Interesting. When I go to the settings menu to change the pump speed it only lets me change it in set increments of 5-10%. I’m going to have to do some digging to see if I can figure out how to program it. Maybe it’s the limitation of the prologic system that’s controlling it.

Yes, the Prologic has that limitation but it is still in 172.5 RPM steps and you shouldn't really need to have finer resolution than that.

 

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

Yes you’re right. 690 turned the swcg off. 863 turned it on so I set it up one notch from there to 1035.