VSP with In-Floor Setup Questions

[jtrovato21]

So I'm working out the equipment details with my PB and have some questions on how much a VSP would benefit me with an in-floor system. Don't want to debate the in-floor at all, I've done the research and heard all the opinions of robots but have decided to go with the in-floor anyways, for heating and cleaning purposes (vinyl liners should see more cleaning benefit).

My vision is that I get the VSP with an Easytouch system and have a valve controlled by ET that can isolate flow either to the floor system or the surface jets. My plan would be to run at high speed to the in-floors for about 4 hours a day to clean and heat, and then switch over to low speed isolated to the surface returns for another 4-6 hours for chlorine production and filtering (SWCG).

The PB mentioned that the Pentair VSP is not high head so it wouldn't work with the in-floor system. He owes me an answer on whether he means this is only if I don't have a way to isolate the surface returns then the low speed wouldn't work on the in-floors because it wouldn't have enough pressure to pop the heads up. With my plan to be able to isolate flow to the surface returns only when on low speeds via a valve controlled by ET, I'm thinking it would work fine and I would see some savings by doing it this way. Can someone validate what I'm thinking is correct while I'm waiting to hear back from the PB? They said they normally only do single speed pumps with in-floors, but I'm pretty sure they normally have the surface returns as one of the zones on the in-floor valve so there's not a way to isolate like I am suggesting they do with a separate run and valve.

 

[kadavis]

Your best option depending on the manufacturer of your infloor system is to contact them directly and talk to there technical support about your concerns. Most PB that use infloor systems send the pool design plan to that company so they can spec out the system.

 

[kadavis]

The Pentair VS pump is equivalent to a 3HP pump at 3450 rpm, so I'm sure it can handle any infloor system design. One company A &A manufacturing, has venturi fed infloor heads to compliment VS pumps

 

[jtrovato21]

They do a hybrid system with a Paramount valve and Caretaker heads. So I should probably contact both to see what they have to say.

 

[kadavis]

When you contact them ask if all your warranties will be honored, since they are mixing two systems together

 

[jtrovato21]

Just called and asked both Paramount and Caretaker their thoughts on Variable Speed or Two Speed pumps and how they work with their systems. Got the same answer from both, which was that the system will work with a 2 speed pump and that is what most installers are doing now. The valve will have no problem with the lower RPM, but at some point when you get down close to 1,000 or below, the gears will stop spinning and the valve won't cycle. With the Caretaker heads, they said if you use a 2-speed pump with a low speed of around 1750-1800 RPM, that will be enough to pop up the heads, but might not come all the way up, so it won't rotate to its next position during the low speed operation, but will work.

So, my idea sounds like it will work, and if I isolate the surface returns with a valve controlled by EasyTouch, then there wouldn't be any issue. And from the info from the manufacturers, even if I don't isolate the surface returns, there still won't be an issue running on a speed of about 1800 RPM. I want to be able to isolate to the surface returns so I can program it for during the evening or on a weekend afternoon when we will have a lot of people swimming, I don't want the heads to pop up and have people stepping on them, so all flow will go to the surface returns and run at a lower speed. I will also have a heater and only want that to run through the in-floors to more efficiently heat the water, so I would program it to say if heat is called for, then only run through the in-floor system, and not the surface returns.

 

[kadavis]

iJet - Paramount Pool and Spas , your idea to valve between valve and returns will work fine, especially since you can program valve to operate through the easygoing controls. I have customers who have infloor heads in there spas and when they hit the spa button, the valve actuates around to turn off heads. What about the warranty on using two systems

 

[Pool Clown]

When we first began to install the Paramount systems, it was before VS pumps were available, and we ran into flow issues that were difficult to adjust. The first systems were integrated into the main filtration system like what you want to do. We ran into issues with the restrictions in the system. From the heater, and the SWCG cell, to the ever changing restriction created by the filter as it got dirty. We had to, from suggestion of Paramount, plumb in by-passes for the heater and salt cell. But it was impractical to bypass the filter. Since every system had it own "personality", some systems worked better than others. To properly deal with this problem, we ultimately went to a separate pump just for the infloor. Since doing that, the flow issues disappeared.

One variable that you will have that we didn't will be the VS pump. You will be able to adjust the speed as the flow rate changes (filter getting dirty). Unfortunately, it will be something that you may need to monitor at least for the first season or so, to get a feel for when you would need to adjust speed. I suppose if you were to be proactive with cleaning the filter, you may not have to change the speeds at all.

 

[will]

We run our paramount on a VSP- long story but it was existing pool that had dedicated pump and previous owner bought all new equipment before we moved in and her pool guy got rid of dedicated pump and put in VSP (he was not too bright). I familiarized my self with IFS and as stated above it's all about flow!!! Increased filter size (most paramounts don't run through filter), replumbed his spaghetti plumbing and put in by pass of heater (and flow gauge). Now getting more than enough GPM. ITS ALL ABOUT FLOW

 

[chiefwej]

I have an A&A infloor system and an Pentair Inteliflo 3 hp pump. It just runs at a high (2800 rpm) speed of 1.5 hours each morning. That provides well over the 50 gpm needed for my system. Then the pump drops back to a lower speed. If I see that the pool isn't cleaned well, I have a "quick clean" button programmed on the pump that will run the system at 3000 for another 1.5 hours. That's over 75 gpm. The reason for the 1.5 hour timing is that's what it takes to compile at a cleaning cycle in my system. That is every head will have run in each of its rotational postitions at least once.