Variable speed pool pump efficiency test Pool Technicians 760-537-0289

We are a swimming pool repair company located in the Coachella Valley Palm Springs area of California. We built a test tank to compare performance and efficiency of a Pentair Intelliflo variable speed pump to a standard single speed pool pump.

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Education

[DwayneRussellMusic]

Who the heck runs their pool 8 hours a day?

[energygroup06]

If the only input to the VFD is a user set-point, why not just use an energy efficient single speed motor that drives a pump moving less water? Also, does backwash require higher speed/flow/pressure than normal circulation?

[eline65]

Thanks for the detailed info

[rpiercebutler]

You are correct that most homes do not have 3 phase power but by using a VFD 3 phase power can be generated. What makes the VFD particularly desirable is the VFD's ability to drive a 3 phase motor at almost any speed. It is this ability to lower the speed that results in huge energy savings.

Yet another by product of the lowered speed is the improved filtration and clearer water. The noise of the pump and motor is also significantly reduced.

I use the TECO 7300CV VFD.

[arrestmaps]

@rpiercebutler

Ok. How many homes have 3-phase power at the load center? Zero. Residential power is not 3-phase anywhere. Power company would probably want about $10k to put 3-phase to your home if they would even allow it.

[ramealtube]

mikejosephine - Pool vac’s like other suction cleaners don’t use pressure…they work on the suction side of the hydraulic system. However, suction cleaners will not work properly at lower flow rates…but can program the variable speed pump to work a higher flow rates when you need to run the cleaner and other water features and a lower flow rates when filtrating.

[mikejosephine]

I dont think a pool vac. will work very well at those low presures.

[rpiercebutler]

Variable speed pumps are nothing new. Industry has been doing exactly that for years but it hasn't cost them anything even close to $1000 per pump. By installing a used 3 phase motor and a VFD, one can upgrade to a variable speed pump for a few hundred dollars. There are other advantages to reducing the speed of a pool pump. Better filtering which results in lower chemical costs can be one. The 80% energy savings is nothing to sneeze at either. Chemicals and cleaner is a non issue.

[johnsas2]

How do I rig a meter up to check my readings as in the video?

[bkgeig]

Many thanks for the "real world" demo. I just tested my aging 1.5hp Whisperflo and it's drawing about 1.7kw. For those wondering about varying flow for solar, sweeps, etc., I will probably go with a VS-3050 and Suntouch control. The VF will compensate for increased head pressure in most cases by ramping-up speed, according to Pentair. I like the VS w/ Suntouch because I can automate my solar (and if the control every dies it's much cheaper to replace than the cpu on the VF).