Pump problem

Water bugs, swimming insects and sweat bees.
Foaming bubbly water. Frogs in the pool.
Dead animals in the swimming pool.
Phil.c
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Phil.c » Sun 24 Jul, 2022 01:42

Just a thought on "Rip-off Britain" as nothing has changed.

I bought an Astral pump from a company in Spain (not Astral) for £329 including postage, I payed no import duty, I'm told by Atral UK that they sell the same pump for £550!???


Teapot1
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Teapot1 » Sun 24 Jul, 2022 03:54

Back in my days on pools I imported most of my stuff as the UK is a luxury swimming pool place so lots of things are much more money.
I may not give you the answer you want to hear, but I will give an honest opinion of your situation as you decribe it.
Phil.c
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Phil.c » Mon 25 Jul, 2022 01:49

Teapot1 wrote:Back in my days on pools I imported most of my stuff as the UK is a luxury swimming pool place so lots of things are much more money.

Everything is more money :shock:

An update :- I've cut a 3" slot in the fan cover so hand starting at slow speed is now possible without removing/refitting the cover.
Phil.c
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Phil.c » Wed 27 Jul, 2022 04:41

Pump now running/filtering at 1200rpm.
Denniswiseman
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Denniswiseman » Wed 27 Jul, 2022 05:13

I'm not an electrical engineer but I was wondering if a different start/run capacitor was fitted would it work
Maybe enquire via a motor specialist
Phil.c
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Phil.c » Wed 27 Jul, 2022 06:51

I'm not into electrics either but a quick search on the net tells me that if the wrong cap is fitted it could burn out the windings, I've just put this on an electricians forum, I await an answer!
Teapot1
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Teapot1 » Wed 27 Jul, 2022 09:51

Single phase motors via the vfd's( inverters) vary the frequency of the ac wave forms, some motors do not like this but the majority are fine. Lowering the frequency ( phase width modulation) can cause the windings to get a bir warmer.
I may not give you the answer you want to hear, but I will give an honest opinion of your situation as you decribe it.
Phil.c
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Phil.c » Wed 27 Jul, 2022 12:29

The motor is now running 24/7 and at 1250rpm which as you know, is very slow, the motor casing is just slightly warm so that's a good sign, no suggestions yet from the electricians forum whether a different cap can be fitted to kick start the slow speed mode, to be honest, I doubt if it's possible without over heating the windings.
Teapot1
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Teapot1 » Wed 27 Jul, 2022 17:03

Well you could do as i do and just run it slow enough to get 4 turnovers per day and forget all the other speeds and programmes. My pump uses about 60 watts on filtration down fro 730 watts on the old single speed, been runnong that way for 12 years and the water is as good as you can get, I run 24/7 during the season and no longer use the other speeds and programes, just flat out for back washing. I made more improvements to maximise performance and minimise energy use and changed to Dr Drydens AFM filter media. That will be changed to AFM ng this year which is even better as a filter media. That uses less energy as well.
I may not give you the answer you want to hear, but I will give an honest opinion of your situation as you decribe it.
Phil.c
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Phil.c » Thu 28 Jul, 2022 01:06

I can manage as is, it would have been good though to be able to use the controllers timed mode.

The pool filtration was off for nearly two weeks while I waited for the new pump, so a build up of brown algae dust on the bottom, I've now got the water balanced again, vacuumed to waste, the algae is now getting less every day as I brush what's there to the main drain, I've done a backwash and the filter pressure shows zero.
Teapot1
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Teapot1 » Thu 28 Jul, 2022 15:01

Time for a new gauge! I use 0-1bar gauges on the low energy setups as mine runs about 0.5psi on filtration.
I may not give you the answer you want to hear, but I will give an honest opinion of your situation as you decribe it.
Phil.c
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Phil.c » Fri 29 Jul, 2022 02:59

Just wondering what is actually in the varispeed controller, there's some sort of motor in there as it's louder than the pump motor at slow speed, there's also two cooling fans.
Teapot1
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Teapot1 » Fri 29 Jul, 2022 08:39

A phase width modulator and triac controlled current circuit.
I may not give you the answer you want to hear, but I will give an honest opinion of your situation as you decribe it.
Phil.c
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Re: Pump problem

Postby Phil.c » Fri 29 Jul, 2022 09:46

Is a motor part of that, as there's definately one turning over in that box of tricks :) A web search of your reply doesn't show one?
nhgoodrich
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My Pool: Standard size pool, trying to replace the cover; cannot get the reel to release the cover for removal. Electric motor runs good, pump does not seem to be generating any pressure..

Please help!

Re: Pump problem

Postby nhgoodrich » Wed 14 Dec, 2022 12:20

the electric pump motor that spins the hydraulic opening and closing of the top runs great. my problem is the pump itself does not seem to have any pressure... i cannot close the pool cover...

any suggestions???

Nick in Mountain Home, AR

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