Variable Speed Pump Vs Single Speed: A Comparison
Andrew Darress
Good circulation is crucial to properly maintaining a pool, which is why a variable speed pump can be one of your best pool investments.
Circulation ties directly into the pump operation mainly the flow rate of the water and time of circulation. In addition, the more times your water turns over in a day how many times the full volume of water in the pool passes through the circulation system the better the pool the circulation will be.
There are two main types of pumps in the pool space, single speed and variable speed pumps. The difference between the two is that variable speed pumps allow you to adjust the flow rate of water through the circulation system, while single speed pumps only have one speed. Typically this single speed correlates to the max operating speed of variable speed pumps.
With a variable speed pump a pool owner can circulate their water at lower flow rates for a more prolonged period of the day without added energy consumption. This study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory confirms that variable speed pumps are significantly more energy efficient than single speed pumps.
For a quick comparison, lets compare the energy cost of a single speed pump running for 8 hours a day at 3450 rpm, to a variable speed pump running for 24 hours a day at 2400 rpm.
No matter what type of pool sanitation the pool is using, I will always recommend continuous for three reasons:
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What Speed Should I Run My Variable Speed Pool Pump
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The idea is to try and run your variable speed pump at the lowest RPMs as possible while still filtering your pool water properly. If you are running your pool pump to filter and turn your water over, we recommend using the middle and lower speed settings.
Also Know, how many watts does a variable speed pool pump use? A pool pump that uses 1119 Watts per hour at 3450 RPM will use only 140 Watts at 1725 RPM. At 862.5 RPM’s the motor is using only a scant 17.5 Watts. Most variable speed pool pumps go as low as 500 to 600 RPM’s so you can really see how this can reduce on the electricity that you use.
Also to know is, is a variable speed pool pump worth it?
How much can I save by purchasing a variable speed pump and is it worth it? Now a standard 2.0 HP pool pump costs about $900 installed, and a high efficiency variable speed pool pump costs about $1600 installed, so the cost difference is significant, but so are the savings.
Should I run my pool pump on high or low?
If you’re wondering when to run the pump on high vs. low speed, most folks run two-speed pumps on low speed 24/7 and turn the pump to high when vacuuming the pool, running a heater , or when leaves are falling and they want to blow them towards the skimmer.
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How Long To Run Your Variable Speed Pool Pump
When people upgrade from a single speed pool pump to a variable speed pool pump they often continue to run their pump from eight to 10 hours a day, just as they did with their single speed pump. However, it is important to note that a variable speed pool pump should ideally be running 24 hours a day to ensure proper and optimal water circulation.
When your pool pump is not running, the water is sitting stagnant in your pool allowing bacteria to survive and grow. Additionally, any method of water disinfection you use is not able to work properly when your water is not circulating. This can lead to health hazards because even if you turn the pool pump off only when you are not using the pool, once you turn the pump back on it will take some time before that stagnant water is fully disinfected.
While running your pool pump 24 hours a day may subtract from some of the energy savings you gain by switching to a variable speed pool pump, it will be worth doing in order to have peace of mind that your pool water is healthy.
Best Setup For Variable Speed Pool Pumps
For the most part, pool owners understand the concept of variable speed pumps. However, when it comes to the best setup for variable speed pool pumps, pool owners are somewhat in the dark. We want to change that.
In this blog article, we provide tips on how to set up your variable speed pool pump to achieve the greatest performance and energy savings. Overall, we want pool owners to feel comfortable purchasing a new pump knowing they are capitalizing on the most savings.
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Why You Need A Variable Speed Pool Pump
More Efficient Motor
Variable speed pool pumps are essential to operating a healthy pool for a variety of reasons. They are powered by a different motor than single and dual speed pumps, known as a permanent magnetic motor. The same type of motor used in electric cars, it is much more efficient than the induction motors used in traditional single and dual speed pool pumps.
These motors use permanent magnets to create a magnetic field between the rotor and the windings. The improved efficiency is due to the magnets working to spin the rotor, as opposed to standard induction motors that require additional electricity to induce the magnetic field into the rotor.
Permanent magnetic motors have efficiency ratings of 90 percent while the average single speed pool pump will only achieve efficiency ratings between 30 percent and 70 percent. This means that running a variable speed pool pump will consume a significantly less amount of energy with the same flow rate as a single speed pump.
Less Power Consumption
Although variable speed pool pumps have a higher upfront cost, they will end up recovering all of that cost and saving you even more money over time. This is because variable speed pool pumps allow you to run your pool at a lower speed for a longer period of time, as opposed to single speed pumps that run at higher speeds for a shorter period of time.
Better Pool Circulation
Less Pool Pump Noise
Better Pool Filtration
Rebates
Avoid Fines
How Long Should You Run Your Pool Pump
- |May 19, 2020
Running your pool pump is the first step in Pool Maintenance 101. Every savvy pool owner knows that this is one of the easiest parts of owning a pool: cleaning your pool without breaking your back. The science to running your pool pump, however, can be a bit more ambiguous.
Every pool is different and every pool filter has its own specifications. Knowing how long to run your particular pool pump and what time of day makes the most sense can actually save you a bundle in the long run.
Answering these two questions can make a huge difference to your pool chemistry and more importantly, your utility bills. So, how long should you run your pool pump?
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Reviewing The Affinity Laws
Reducing the speed of a pumps impeller by half does not reduce electricity costs by the same 50 per cent. Rather, energy costs are slashed an amazing four times as much as the reduction in motor speed. This is accomplished through physics known as pump Affinity Laws. These laws are used in hydraulics to understand the relationship between several variables involved in pump performance .
Therefore, a pump operating at half of full speed , the system will have one quarter the head pressure and use approximately one eighth of the energy .
Of course, running a pump at half speed may double the time it takes to completely turnover the pool water however, doubling the run time only uses a quarter of the energy the pump would require running at full speed. This results in a 75 per cent energy savings.
How To Calculate Pool Pump Run Time
If you have a pool, then you almost assuredly have a pool filter pump. But how long should you run the filter pump? Knowing that a pool pump filter system is the second highest energy consumer during the summer, , we want you to get the most bang for your buck.
Lets walk through a few common questions and then breakdown the calculation behind finding the ideal pool filter pump run time for your swimming pool. We will show you the standard calculation and a simple calculation.
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How Many Rpms Should A Pool Pump Run
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. Then, should pool pump run continuously?
Although it’s generally recommended that all the pool water undergo filtration every 24 hours, the pump does not need to run all the time. If your pool is in constant use, you may need to run the pump for up to eight hours per day, frequently checking the water clarity and chemical balance.
Also Know, what PSI should my pool pump run at? A pool system’s pressure is generally measured at the filter’s pressure gauge the usual range is 10 – 25 pounds per square inch When you installed your filter, or after a thorough cleaning, make a note of the clean filterPSI. This rating will be used as a benchmark for pressure tests down the line.
Keeping this in consideration, how many hours a day should I run my pool filter pump?
If you do not own a timer, get one. Click here for our pool timers. Swimming pool pumps should be run an average 8 hours a day to properly circulate and clean your water. The pump should push your entire pool in gallons in this 8 hour period of time.
Is it better to run a pool pump at night or day?
Running the pump at night should only be when you are doing a major chemical treatment such as algae clean-up. Your pool is more vulnerable during the day, plants don’t grow at night the way they do during the daythat’s true of ALL plants including Algae.
Finding The Right Program For A Variable Speed Pump
czipper said:So I got this new Variable speed pump. It uses bunch less energy than the old Hayward Superpump, but the hayward was one speed only, I didn’t need to think about it. Now i have an enormous number of possible pump protocols to choose from. Max speed for the same amount of time the Hawyward was doing is easy, but I haven’t found any guidelines about how to figure out the optimal use of the variable speed pump. Can I run the pump for less time, or should I break it up during the day? Maybe running it all day at a lower speed would be best. I would like to hear all manner of viewpoints on this please.
Divin Dave said:I have the same pump.There are so many variations of how speed and for how long to run the pump its sort of ridiculous. Basically, you need to figure out what works for you.I run mine at 1500 RPM 3 times a day for 2 hours each time. I chose this because I have a SWG and that RPM and those times work well for me.I run an additional 10 hours at 900 rpm , just for skimming purposes. I dont like anything floating on top of my water except for a good lookin woman. One neat thing about the pump, is just for fun, you can turn up the speed make really make the water in the pool move…sort of like a big whirlpool.
What growth are you taking about? Cartridges have filter pressure gauges too, if that is what meant.
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The Importance Of Pool Water Circulation
One key factor in maintaining a healthy pool that is often overlooked by pool operators is the importance of pool circulation and turnover rate. Your pools turnover rate refers to the number of times the entire volume of the water is circulated in a 24-hour period. According to the Gage-Bidwell Law of Dilution, water that is recirculated with a turnover rate equal to one turnover in each 6 to 8 hour period will provide 95 to 98 percent dilution of contaminated pool water with water that has been filtered and disinfected.
Three to four turnovers per day, or one turnover every 6 to 8 hours, has become a standard in public pools and is highly recommended in residential pool owners who want a healthy pool that doesnt require large quantities of chemical disinfectants. For example, AOP systems make it possible to drastically reduce chlorine use to drinking water levels of 0.5 ppm or less in residential pools, but this requires the use of variable speed pool pumps running at an optimized flow rate 24 hours a day and with a minimum of three turnovers per day.
For those who are used to running their pool pump for only 8 or 10 hours a day, it may seem counterintuitive or wasteful to run your variable speed pump 24 hours a day. But remember that running your variable speed pump for a longer period of time is still much cheaper and more effective than running a single speed pump for a short period of time.
Vsps Are Becoming A Part Of Aquatics Vernacular Learn How They Save Energy In Addition To Providing Many Other Benefits
Variable speed pump technology has made quite an impact on the pool/spa and aquatics industries in the last few years, and there are no signs that their popularity will end anytime soon. Looking at the enormous benefits VSPs provide to the bigger picture of swimming pool management, it is no wonder that VSPs are often the leading choice over standard single-speed pumps for dealers and consumers alike. Below are 10 great reasons you should consider this intelligent equipment choice when selecting your next filtration pump.
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What Are Variable Speed Pool Pumps
Variable speed pool pumps, also known as multi-speed pool pumps, are one of three pool pump types available to you.
Single-speed pumps are one of the options, and the name is pretty self-explanatory. You can’t change the speed of the pump, and they constantly operate at their full potential. These are typically the cheapest pool pump option on the table, but running them can be expensive in the long run.
Dual-speed pool pumps offer you two-speed options of high and low. The low setting on these pumps allows you to lower energy usage and therefore costs. The high setting is helpful for specific cleaning tasks, while the low setting is suitable for just pool filtration.
Variable speed pumps enable you to control the pump’s speed precisely between the low and high-speed settings. Think of this type of control like the one you use to dim lighting in a room.
Unlike the other two pump options we just mentioned, variable speed pool pumps tend to have a different type of motor , which is conducive to being precisely controlled.
Another great thing about magnetic motors is that they have high energy-saving properties. This is why they are also used in electric cars, for example.
Furthermore, many new versions of variable speed pool pumps have the availability to be upgraded. Many simply use a drop-in placement system where the old motor can be switched out for a new one.
Calculating Savings With A Variable Speed Pool Pump
One of the biggest false arguments against variable speed pumps versus single speed pumps is that you can just use a single speed pump and turn it off part of the day. This is how people used to save money with their pool pumps and the argument exists today that this is a viable option. In my expert opinion this is a fallacy and one that is argued mostly by people who do not understand the math behind exactly how energy you save by using a variable speed pump. Lets look at this equation of a variable speed pump versus a single speed pump that only runs part of the day.
First, a single speed pump of even moderate size will usually have the ability to meet the turnover rate for filtration of the average pool many times over per day. This part of the logic is sound. Single speed pumps move a lot of water and most pools can easily turn off the pump for part of the day and still meet one, two or three turnovers of the pool water per day. For the purposes of illustration we can use the calculated flow rates for a generic 1.5 horsepower pump.
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What Speed On A Variable Pump
I just installed a pentair intelliflo on my in ground freshly epoxy coated fiberglass pool. It has a 175 sq foot cartridge filter with 1 1/2 pipe coming and going. Pool is approximately 14500 gallons and I have a Hayward suction side cleaner and a skimmer and main drain.I never knew the main drain was in play until I did the recoat job and figured out how they plumbed the thing. I have 2 pipes that are in the bottom of the skimmer area. One goes to the pump and the other to the main drain. In order to pull off the bottom I have to hook a hose up in a loop to get the pump to pull off the bottom instead of the skimmer.My question is what is the ideal rpm to turn this pool over in the summer and the winter? We are in the pool almost every day during summer.I have found that the Hayward cleaner climbs the best and doesn’t try to collapse the hose at around 1200 RPMs, but for turning over where should I run it at?
12×30, 14,500 gallon FG in-ground pool, intelliflo vs pump, Hayward 175 sq ft cartridge filter
