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Old 08-16-2018, 11:13 AM
 
Location: Valley of the Sun
2,623 posts, read 2,349,025 times
Reputation: 2824

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponderosa View Post
The pool guy who did my acid wash this winter says Pentair is the best and Hayward is junk. I don't know why he has that opinion other than maybe his personal experience with problems.
This 2003 is a Hayward but I keep hearing that Pentair is the one to go with.

Quote:
Originally Posted by KurtAZ View Post
Hayward Tristar VS 950

Our original single speed gave out (finally) and part of the installation cost was the concrete pad under the pump. It had deteriorated pretty much to the point where you could see the re bar in the cement. I have been pretty happy with this one, 4 speed variable and moves the water much more efficiently than our old single speed.
My rebar is showing too. I'll ask my pool guy about that when he comes over.

My concern with the variable pumps is how the in floor cleaning system will work on those lower speeds? Many don't like the in floor cleaning systems but ours functions very well. It gets most of the dirt and debris without me having to do a thing all year. No extra vacuum needed, very little sweeping dirt and rarely skimming the surface.
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Old 08-16-2018, 12:29 PM
 
Location: Victory Mansions, Airstrip One
6,783 posts, read 5,093,007 times
Reputation: 9239
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponderosa View Post
I'm going to redo my pool gear this winter and am going to use a regular pump. A VS pump would take years to break even on a time of day with demand plan running the pump only in the off peak periods. A pool guy won't put in a regular one now as they are required by law in AZ to replace with VS pumps.
Last time mine failed I took the motor in and had it rebuilt for less than $100. Should be good for a few years.

What's the expected life of a VS pump? I have a hard time imagining the electricity savings will offset the cost of the upgrade.
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Old 08-16-2018, 01:00 PM
 
Location: Hard aground in the Sonoran Desert
4,866 posts, read 11,245,230 times
Reputation: 7128
I can't get the yearly usage graph for 2017 on my aps account now but when I installed the VS pump in February 2017 my electricity usage was SIGNIFICANTLY less each month after that.

If anyone knows how to get to the APS graph that compares 2017 usage to 2016 I'll post it so you can see the decrease in electricity usage I got from installing the VS pump.
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Old 08-16-2018, 01:09 PM
 
Location: Sonoran Desert
39,109 posts, read 51,340,810 times
Reputation: 28356
Quote:
Originally Posted by hikernut View Post
Last time mine failed I took the motor in and had it rebuilt for less than $100. Should be good for a few years.

What's the expected life of a VS pump? I have a hard time imagining the electricity savings will offset the cost of the upgrade.
If you have an installer do it they give you a three year warranty. If you do it yourself, it's like 60 days. Those electronic sitting out in the sun day after day would give me pause.
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Old 08-16-2018, 01:21 PM
 
Location: Sonoran Desert
39,109 posts, read 51,340,810 times
Reputation: 28356
Quote:
Originally Posted by LBTRS View Post
I can't get the yearly usage graph for 2017 on my aps account now but when I installed the VS pump in February 2017 my electricity usage was SIGNIFICANTLY less each month after that.

If anyone knows how to get to the APS graph that compares 2017 usage to 2016 I'll post it so you can see the decrease in electricity usage I got from installing the VS pump.
I won't dispute your savings, but in my rate plan the charge is 5 cents a Kwh during offpeak. I run the pump 6 hours a day, so it costs me 30 cents. I'd have to run the VS pump at high pretty much the same amount of time for cleaning. Even if it were more efficient at high speed, how much could I save? 10 cents, 20 cents a day. A new high efficiency non-VS costs 300-500 less than an VS and that is DIY without warranty. Double it for professional install. It would take me many years beyond the life of the pump to break even.

Now if one runs the pump a lot more or during peak periods, then the savings go up. I noticed Pentair does their saving calc presuming .16 per KWh. Nobody on a time of day pays that. And think about this, with APS there are only 5 hours a day that are on peak - 25 a week.
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Old 08-16-2018, 02:23 PM
 
2,775 posts, read 5,738,035 times
Reputation: 5104
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponderosa View Post
You can buy a pump online for around $700. So maybe they charge 500 bucks to put one in. That's ridiculous considering all it takes is a hacksaw, a couple fittings and some glue. But that is how it goes with pool services and supplies.

Yeah, that's about what I thought.
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Old 08-16-2018, 02:56 PM
 
Location: Hard aground in the Sonoran Desert
4,866 posts, read 11,245,230 times
Reputation: 7128
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponderosa View Post
I won't dispute your savings, but in my rate plan the charge is 5 cents a Kwh during offpeak. I run the pump 6 hours a day, so it costs me 30 cents. I'd have to run the VS pump at high pretty much the same amount of time for cleaning. Even if it were more efficient at high speed, how much could I save? 10 cents, 20 cents a day. A new high efficiency non-VS costs 300-500 less than an VS and that is DIY without warranty. Double it for professional install. It would take me many years beyond the life of the pump to break even.

Now if one runs the pump a lot more or during peak periods, then the savings go up. I noticed Pentair does their saving calc presuming .16 per KWh. Nobody on a time of day pays that. And think about this, with APS there are only 5 hours a day that are on peak - 25 a week.
I believe your calculations are off...you can't just multiply the cost per kWh times the length of time you run the pump. You would have to know the kWh your pump uses during the time it is running.
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Old 08-16-2018, 03:08 PM
 
Location: Sonoran Desert
39,109 posts, read 51,340,810 times
Reputation: 28356
Quote:
Originally Posted by LBTRS View Post
I believe your calculations are off...you can't just multiply the cost per kWh times the length of time you run the pump. You would have to know the kWh your pump uses during the time it is running.
You're right. It's way too hot to go out and look at the plate, so ballparking it I have a 1.5 HP pump. 1 HP is roughly 748 watts so it uses around 1.1 KWh per hour. That's a bit more, but it is not going to change the basic calculus. I just don't see how a pricey VS pump would pencil out with rates of only .05 per KWh. It is likely an entirely different result for people who are on a straight rate.

That's not to say they do not have some attractive features. You can gently circulate during the day for peanuts and a pool with a little ripple looks nicer than one just stagnant. That might also help with dust storms as the dust could be held in suspension and filtered instead of settling out and then have to be sucked up or blown around again for cleaning. Last but not least, these new pumps are really quiet - even on the high settings.

Unless one is a DIYer who wants to forego an extended warranty, then its got to be a VS pump installed by your friendly pool man.
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Old 08-16-2018, 03:28 PM
 
Location: Valley of the Sun
2,623 posts, read 2,349,025 times
Reputation: 2824
Quote:
Originally Posted by hikernut View Post
Last time mine failed I took the motor in and had it rebuilt for less than $100. Should be good for a few years.

What's the expected life of a VS pump? I have a hard time imagining the electricity savings will offset the cost of the upgrade.
My pool guys estimated it would save us about $300 per year in energy compared to our 2003 Hayward 1.5 HP pump.

ROI would be about year 5 then.
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Old 08-16-2018, 04:07 PM
 
Location: Victory Mansions, Airstrip One
6,783 posts, read 5,093,007 times
Reputation: 9239
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponderosa View Post
You're right. It's way too hot to go out and look at the plate, so ballparking it I have a 1.5 HP pump. 1 HP is roughly 748 watts so it uses around 1.1 KWh per hour.

I've read that these motors are roughly 50% efficient, and that a 1.5hp takes about 2kW. I haven't tried to confirm this, though.
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