Best Variable Speed Run Times for your Swimming Pool
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- Опубликовано: 9 сен 2024
- My basic principle of setting the run time of a Variable Speed pump is to keep it simple. Yes, you can set up to 8 different speeds and run times in most pumps but why bother with that? I prefer to just set two different run times and call it a day.
I like just using a low and medium speed. A high-speed program is not necessary in most cases. What I mean by low is 1700 to 1800 RPM or if you are using percentages to set your speed that would be 50%. Going off of 3450 RPM being 100%, half of that would be around 1,700 RPM or 50% in the menu. Then I would set a medium speed of 2400 RPM to 2600 RPM or roughly 70% if you are setting it that way. You really are not saving anything if you set the speeds any higher.
Basically, you can set your low speed by simply taking your current single-speed pump run time and doubling it on the low-speed mode. So if your pool ran for 8 hours per day at 3450 RPM you will need to set your low speed (1700 RPM) to run for 16 hours. This will give you that one full cycle at a low speed. Then you will set a medium speed and run that for a few hours each day - mainly to get the surfaced clean and to get any automatic cleaners moving in the pool. I would say 4-6 hours per day depending on your pool size. Of course, if you have a very large pool, 25,000 or larger you will be running your VS pump almost 24 hours a day if not 24 hours per day.
Not to worry since the pump is designed to run 24/7 so if you have to run it longer for a larger pool it won’t damage the pump in any way. You may also need to increase the medium speed to circulate the water better in a larger pool. But for most average size pools you shouldn’t need to run your pump more than 14 to 18 hours per day.
One thing to keep in mind is that even if you need to run your pump longer your energy use will not be impacted negatively. For example, if you are running your pool for 10 hours a day at 1700 RPM you probably are using about 130 watts per hour. Compare that with a single speed 1.5 hp pump which uses about 1200 watts per hour. So that 10 hour period is about equal to one hour of run time from a single-speed pump. So it is a bit of an illusion really and running a VS pump for that long does not translate into more energy use. In fact, a VS pump should save you 80%-90% in energy cost.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you notice any water quality issues like algae or cloudy water, you may need to increase your run time and or run speeds. It may be a lack of chlorine or a dirty filter but it could also be too short of a run time. It is not an exact science and the water quality or general look of the pool is a good indicator of your run time. Installing a flow meter is a smart move and this can give you a more exact run-time since a flow meter will give you more exact gallons per minute. I always suggest a flow meter for variable speed pumps to help fine-tune the scheduling and run speeds.
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Pretty much what I do.
I run the pump starting at 3am - 11am. I have it start at 2400rpm for the first 4 hours and knock it down to 2000rpm for the last 4 hours. That with having the right chemistry and adding a weekly dose of Phos Remover, my pool looks like the waters off the Caribbeans.
Chemistry is just as important as pump speed and run time. They go hand in hand.
Without knowing a few things, you just cannot make a decision here. Best practice is that you need to cycle your water at least one time per day. But there are unknowns with a variable speed pump and your setup. So in order to make the best decision you will need to know the flow rate through your system and the wattage the pump is using at a given RPM.
Your cost is equal to the electric rate, which is a constant unless you can use some variable rate adjustmet, the hours runtime, times the wattage. Since I'm assuming the electrical rate is a constant, lets ignore.
Cost = Hours * Wattage
Now both hours and wattage are variables here. How many hours is what it takes to turn over your pool water multiplied by the number of times per day you'd like to do this. You know your gallons in the pool. But you'll need that relationship between flow rate and wattage here and the best way to determine that through your system is to install some flow meter. This gives you all the information you'll need.
So back to hours. This can be defined as
Hours = (Number of turnover times) * PoolGallons/[(FlowRate in GPM) * 60 (to get GPH)]
So FlowRate and Wattage are tied together here and once you have that table you can optimize for Cost. I don't know a better way without guessing to come up with any optimizations against cost without having actual numbers.
Bill
Great information. Subscribed and will definitely be checking out other videos. Had a rather large pool built last October and trying to optimize for savings. It is a 31,000 gallon pool (pool+hot tub). Variable speed. Salt water. In Las Vegas. Based off of your video, and other recommendations you have left in comments, I was thinking because of the size it will need to be a 20 hour run with 12 being at 1800 RPM and then 8 hours at 2200 RPM. Hope I'm wrong about the 2200 run time. I'd love to get that closer to 4 hours if possible.
Almost should run it for 24 hours. 14 hours at 1800 RPM and then 8 hours at 2600 RPM. Still saving a lot on your electric bill.
Hi - I know this is an older video, but I hope you can help me. We have a Pentair 1.5HP Superflo VST installed, and the installer left without giving us instructions. We live in Florida, have a 10,600 gallon IG pool and built in spa, concrete, rectangle shape. We have a Chlorsync 30 SWCG, that runs when the pump is on. My output for the SWCG is set to 25%, and that works well for us in the summer. I do not know what to set this pump to. I was thinking 1750 from 8am - 10pm and then 2200 from 10pm - 2am? That gives us 16 hours of run time. Will that lower my electric bill? We had a 3/4 hp single speed pump. We only use the heater when we use the spa, and it's rare, but I know I have to kick up the pump speed for that. Are my numbers right, or am I off? Thank you!
Try 1800 RPM for 8 hrs and 2600 RPM for 4 hours. That should be plenty.
Thank you!
If I run my variable speed pump on lower setting on a salt system if my salt cell is still calling will it cause more build up on the cell since its not pushing at higher gpm or rpm's. I am trying to find the best schedule to save on cost however i am concerned by running my pump at lower rpms constantly it will that reduce the life of my cell because its constantly running and cause my to have to replace it sooner than necessary?
Jandy 1.8 hp variable pump
21,000 gallon pool
1.5 pipes
Current Schedule
2am - 4am - 3000 rpm
4am - 10pm - 1200 rpm
10pm - 4am - 1900 rpm
Peak Electric hours are 4am - 10pm in my area
The cell output is what causes wear and not the runtime. When it is off the plates do not wear out. Only when it is running.
Just got a jacuzzi 1.65hp vs old fiberglass pool 8000 gallon the pool guy recommended run for 8 hours per day from speed 1 8am -12am 2000 rpm and 4pm -8pm speed 4 2400 rpm any recommendations please. I want safe energy but at the same time would like my pool work properly
Hello, I run my pool for 8 hours a day, what Rpm should my spa, cleaner, pool and spillway be set at. I have a Pentair VP speed. 3 horse power, filter 420 sq 17,719 gallon pool
1800 RPM for 12 hours, 6-8 hours at 2400 RPM
Would a 1800 rpm cycle for 24 hours filtering 18,000 gallons also satisfy SWG and NG heater flow needs?
No. You will need a medium speed of 2600 RPM at least for 6-8 hours to heat the pool properly.
Hi, I have a pentair inteliflow 3hp pump and a pool heater system on the roof. Seems like 2100 is enough to push water up to the roof to heat. What do you think is the lowest that this may work at? My pool is about 13K
You can try it at a little lower but I think over 1900 RPM would be good.
@@SPL thanks for the response, just saw it now
Thank you so much for all your videos I have kept a great clean pool for a year now thnx to you, my cya level is like 120 im thinking of switching to the unstable tabs already ordered a 44# bucket what submersible pump do you recommend to do a partial drain?
Thanks for the great feedback! I would drain 1/2 the pool in your case. Thanks!
Hi, I have a suction side cleaner (the Pool Cleaner) on Tristas VS pump. I noticed that I struggle to get my pool cleaner’s wheel rotating more 6rpm when my pump is at 2300 rpm. Should I reduce the valve opening from my MD line so I could get more suction on the vacuum line?
Try increasing the RPM to 2600
Came across your video as I try to open up my pool for the summer. New home with system I'm still figuring out. 30,000 gallon inground pool, Tagelus 100 sand filter. Inteliflow Pump. I installed a new pressure gauge on the filter and a flow meter to get a better grip on dialing in my pump. I have to keep my RPMs at 2200 to get a flow rate near 50gpm to try and turn my system over twice a day. My PSI at 2200 is around 10. If I dial it down to 1700 my flow goes slightly below 40gpm and there is a slow fill into the bucket, it's just not enough suction, PSI around 3. Is this par for the course for a large system like this? The wattage reading scares me when I think about the amount of time this system needs to run. Welcome to owning a pool, I guess.
At 2200 RPM you are fine. There isn't a huge savings difference from that and 1700 RPM. You are perfectly fine as is.
Just had a Pentair Intelliflo3 installed. What speeds and times do you recommend for a 34k gallon pool? Side pressure cleaner. Pebble Tec finish with Jandy CL580 cartridge filter. Thanks in advance.
That is a big pool. 1800 RPM for 16 hours. 2600 RPM for 7 hours.
@SPL is there a way to convert GPM to RPM? Only options in the settings are FLOW/GPM & Speed/pump speed %
Hello! I live in Arizona where the pool is bath water temperature from May-October. I just got a new VS pump but need to figure out the optimal settings for my pool. After extensive research and listening to your podcast, I understand it varies greatly. Any programming suggestions/recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I have a 12k gallon pool, no heater, sand filter. I was thinking a 24 hour cycle of some kind to keep the algae at bay? I also need a quick clean setting for quick add of chemicals and post storm dust in the pool management. Thanks for any thoughts on the mater! Margaret
Would say 12 hours at 1800 RPM and then 6-8 hours at 2400 RPM would be good. So about 20 hours.
@@SPL Thank you!
@@SPL I also have a 12,000 gallon swimming pool in AZ but I use a PoolRX unit during the pool season. Would you still recommend that same setting schedule with PoolRX?
Live in Long Island. 15000 gallon, heater, one jet one skimmer. Heater kicks on at 1400. Pentair Superflo. What setting would you recommend?
It just depends on how fast you want to heat the pool. The ideal setting would be 1800 RPM for 10 hours and then to really heat the pool 2800 RPM for 4 hours.
Excellent. I have a heat pump. How should I approach that on run speed and run time. Thanks
When you heat your pool or spa I suggest full speed to heat it faster. So the full 3450 RPM is fine for the short time that it is needed.
This podcast is super helpful. What do you recommend for variable pump 3hp in Puerto Rico with salt generator. Pool is 15x30 4.5ft deep average. I currently been running 1800 for 16 hours and 8 hours 2600. Does that sound good?
You can reduce that to 1800 RPM for 12 hours and 2600 RPM for 4 hours.
Hello pool expert! I appreciate your knowledge. Like someone earlier on here, I also have a 17,239 gal in ground pool. (austin, tx...hot!). You told them to "Try 12 hours at 1800 RPM and 6 hours at 2400 RPM" which calculates leaving 6 hours turned off? Am I understanding that correctly? Should you leave your pump off? If so, when? Night? Day? Evening? or? Also with a Polaris 280 cleaner on a booster pump, which RPM should I try to snyc that to? Thank you!
Leave pump off at night. For the polaris 2400-2600 RPM is perfectly fine. 👍
@@SPL thanks for the info. helps a lot!
I have a VERY small in ground pool. 3250 gallons. I do have a salt water generator that require 20gpm flow. I just bought a 1.5hp black and decker variable speed pool pump. What would you recommend. Thank You!
Usually 1800 RPM is enough to get the salt system working.
My Jandy Truclear Pro series salt system is saying NO FLOW. I cleaned the cartridge and even ran the pump with no cartridge to make sure water flow was great/strong, which it was. What could be the problem? Do I need a new salt cell or can I replace the flow sensor?
What speed is it running at? It won't activate unless it is over 1800 RPM. If is is over that speed it could be a flow sensor. But those generally don't go bad in the TruClear.
do you suggest any adjustment in the speed during super chlorinate cycle? Or required min to ensure effectiveness?
Typically if you are super chlorinating I suggest 3100 RPM or higher.
So I’m in Kansas City and my peak is 1-7PM. I have a 14500 gallon pool and am thinking 2800 from four hours. Say 9am - 1pm (I will also have a controller on my booster pump to run my cleaner during this time) and then 800 RPM from 1pm-7pm. And then 1800 from 7pm - 11pm. That way it’s as low as it can be during peak times but still moving some water to decrease chlorine uptake in the hottest part of the day and running during the times me and friends will be in the actual pool to make sure and debris is gone. Thoughts?
I would just run a 1400 RPM cycle from 1 pm to 11 pm. 1400 RPM seems high but it is only about 130 watts depending - so equal to two 65 watt light bulbs. That will move the water and save you a ton on your energy cost 800 RPM really does nothing to the water as far as circulation.
So 2800 from 9am - 1pm and then 1400 until 11?
Hello - we are new pool owners as well. What settings do you recommend for a 17,500 gallon, in-ground pool? Our pool company set the VSP to run 12 hrs at 2600 and 12 hrs at 2000 rpm’s. Seems excessive based on feedback here.
Try 12 hours at 1800 RPM and 6 hours at 2400 RPM
Thank you!
Hi! We are in Los Angeles with a VS pump/ozone/UV system/2 skimmers/13,500 gallon pool/spa and automatic cover that helps keeps it clean and warm. Would this change anything for what you do? Do you also keep the spa on the same schedule or different? Thank you!!!
Correction: 12,000 gallon pool/spa
You can probably get away with cutting a couple of hours off of each run time. Sounds like an easy pool to care for.
What VS pump would you recommended. Im shopping around and all the reviews are filled with horror stories of the pump lasting between 3-8 months. I am looking for reliable and energy efficient. If that exists. TIA
Pentair Intelliflo is the most reliable. Followed by Jandy. You should get 10-12 years out of these.
hi my pool has the paramount in floor cleaning what rpm you think I should run and for how long pool is 15000 gallon and I have the 2.7 hayward variable speed thanks if you can help
Takes a bit of power to get those to pop up. Try 2600 RPM and see if that does it. Raise it if you notice pop up issues.
Hello,
Thanks for the video!
I have a Jandy JEP-R .
I watched your other video on the setup.
My pool is small , 7000 gallon.
I have the energy star running at 2700 rpm from 8am to 1pm and my second speed is running from 1pm to 3pm .
Do you think this is ideal?
It's a simple pool no spa 10 x 20 5 ft deep
No cleaner.
Thank you!
Would say that speed is too high. I would set one speed for 1800 RPM and run that 6 hours and then a medium speed of 2200 RPM and run that for 3-4 hours.
@@SPL thank you!
Hello Pool Guy . . . I have a pool in Palm Springs and am trying to figure out how long at what speed to run the filter. I have a sweeper and all the pool stats but can't find a formula anywhere . . . 9,000 gallons, 3hp, variable speed pump. The water is warm in the summer but unused sometimes for weeks so maybe settings differ for summer/in-use and summer/not-in-use and the winter is mostly heated all the time (snowbirds!). Thanks in advance.
Would set it to run at 1800 RPM (Low or 50% depending on your pump) for 8 hours and then 2400-2600 RPM (75%) for 3-4 hours. Not a very large pool.
Thanks for all your contributions. Really the most helpful pool professional on RUclips. I have a quick question id like your feedback on....
I live in Texas. I have a 15k gallon pentair intelliflo chlorine system, with cartridge filters. I've been running it in the summer from about 7am to 10-11pm at 1900rpm for years. I never thought to set it for a higher speed during another time frame. (It does run a little faster when the cleaner comes on for 2 hours each day). I normally have to shock at least once a week, and brush it about 2x week. Would adding the high speed interval reduce the need to brush as often?
Thanks for the great feedback!👍 Give a high speed time a shoot at say 2600 RPM for 6 hours. You are still saving on your electricity and it should keep the pool cleaner.
@@SPL thanks! Will do!
@@SPL to be clear... on my intellitouch system, i would just set the "cleaner" to 2600rpms for 6 hours? I don't see a way to set a schedule for a higher speed
Hi Mr. Pool Guy, I am very new to the pool world, and desperately need help. Hoping you can help, as the info on the net is overwhelming, Massachusetts, 23k in-ground, salt water with a Hayward Super Pump. What two speeds should I try, for how long and suggested times? Pump is not nearby house so noise is not an issue. Please and many thank yous!!
Try 1800 RPM for 16 hours, 2800 RPM for 6 hours.
See, that is why i needed your help, everywhere i read said not to run more than 8 cause of the salt cell thingamajiggy. Will start today!!! 😁
New Pool owner here. I live on Long Island. Inground pool, 20k gallons. What's the ideal schedule for my variable speed pump? Please and thank you
1800 RPM for 14 hours. 2600 RPM for 8 hours
What is suggested prime speed and for how long?
I like 2 minutes at 2400 RPM
What RPM in the morning?
I like starting in low speed so 1800 RPM
@@SPL Thanks, SPL.