Running VS Pump with 4 speeds.

[Mattou01]

I have never messed with it, but I think I want to. It’s Hayward Tri Star VS. pump with speeds of 600rpm-3450rpm.
I don’t know if I should run it 24/7 at a constant speed or if I should change it. I also can change my Prime duration. It’s currently at 2:30. Final point is I have SWG that is always on as well. It’s not on a timer or anything.

 

[PoolStored]

I have never messed with it, but I think I want to.

Why? How is it running now?

I don’t know if I should run it 24/7 at a constant speed or if I should change it.

You run your pump for a reason. Mixing chemicals, heating, skimming, filtering, running the SWCG.

If you get good skimming or don't need it (solar cover), you don't have a heater, then backwash your filter, turn the pump down until the SWCG turns off, then add 200rpm and run that speed. The 200 is to allow for a filter getting dirty.

I also can change my Prime duration. It’s currently at 2:30.

Prime duration should be long enough to prime. Doesn't "need" to be longer.

Final point is I have SWG that is always on as well. It’s not on a timer or anything.

The SWCG and the pump should be tied together, either with a timer or a current sensing relay, so that the cell is never on with the pump off. The flow switch for the SWCG should not be the primary disconnect for the SWCG.

 

[Mattou01]

No idea if my pump and SWG are tied together to be on and off at same time other than flow switch. How would I figure this out?

I just wasn’t sure if it matters if my pump ran 24/7 like if that was bad for pump or not efficient…

 

[Jimrahbe]

Matt,

I have three saltwater pools that all run 24/7, mostly at a low RPM of 1200... They have been running this way for well over 10 years, so my take is that running 24/7 is not detrimental to the pump at all.

In my mind, running 24/7 makes a lot of sense, if you can do so at a low RPM. How slow you can run is determined by your plumbing, and what equipment you have, such as your filter, heater, and anything that is in the water's path back to the pool.

As a side note... If you normally run 24/7, then having the SWCG on a timer is not really necessary..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JFarr]

In general these vs pumps are more efficient the slower you run them. Drastically more efficient. I run my pump 24/7 at 1000 rpm. It runs at that speed on just under 100 watts. When I add chemicals I kick my pump up to 2300 rpm on a two hour egg timer. At 2300 rpm it consumes over 800 watts. Eight times more energy to get about double the flow through my returns.