Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Pool pumps, pool filters and the plumbing of
swimming pools. Sand filters, cartridge filters,
fabric filters and alternative filter media.
Teapot
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 1337
Joined: Tue 17 Oct, 2017 10:52
My Pool: 12 x 24 (45m3) liner pool, Triton TR60 filter with AFM glass media (Activate) and variable speed pump running 0.08HP
Location: UK

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Teapot » Wed 25 Oct, 2017 03:28

Dennis what makes you think "That" forum will have a lot of people experienced with different types of pump controller? Is Dave paying to recommend that forum? Mas985 has a lot of knowledge but he and I disagree on low energy pool pumping. I have tried his way, he hasn't tried mine but I can assure you I specialise in this area and produce the lowest running cost pools in the world. The answers to Hsiao's pool is right here right now.


Denniswiseman
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue 06 Sep, 2011 05:48
My Pool: 10k inground fibreglass, Telescopic Cover, Hayward Powerline pump, Quality filter with glass media, 27kw output heat pump, K-2006C test kit
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Denniswiseman » Wed 25 Oct, 2017 04:22

What makes me think that troublefree pool.com is better, is because all the previous contributors to pool help forum have left and gone over to it because of spam and no response from Larry
No one is paying and I only recommend it as a service to people on this forum who wouldn't get a sensible response or a lot of nonsense. I stay contributing because I still like to help and also offer alternative areas to search if I'm unable to contribute
My reason to suggest that Hsiao trys Troublefree pool is because you have knowledge of products in the UK (which I'm not disputing) but if he is in the States or Australia different products are more readily available and will be used by a lot more than in the UK
What's the problem with getting other thoughts on the subject from the rest of the world?
This forum helped me especially Chem Geek in the early days and I'm forever grateful but after posting and getting no replies I tried Troublefree pool and got all the answers I needed
I suggest you try posting on a subject and see what replies you get
Teapot
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 1337
Joined: Tue 17 Oct, 2017 10:52
My Pool: 12 x 24 (45m3) liner pool, Triton TR60 filter with AFM glass media (Activate) and variable speed pump running 0.08HP
Location: UK

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Teapot » Wed 25 Oct, 2017 04:54

Hi Dennis, sorry if I sounded off, not meant to. I know a lot of the characters but not Larry. The issue with TFP for me is Dave the owner, I still have his incredibly rude email on my PC, it would not have made his parents proud of him put it that way. All I was trying to do was to help a lady with a child diagnosed with a clinical reaction to chlorinated water. Because that was not BBB (a more subtle approach was needed) Dave pulled her thread without warning and when I asked for her contact details so I could carry on but away from TFP so as not to muddle the forum all I received was abuse.

They don't take kindly to thinking outside the box and their approach is the only approach like some cult. As I said Mas985 is a good guy and we have chatted often a while back. There are better ways of doing things and there is room to take it to the next level low energy, better filtration, lower chemical needs but I dare you to speak on that forum about it you'll be bounced off without a warning.
I have seen Dave's post on here so he obviously looks in, I would rather there was an alternative forum where ideas can be aired and here seems good as the basic BBB is also the norm. Dave bought TFP of Ben Powell, the originator of BBB.

The clever-pool pump inverter is a worldwide product, I know of a similar unit in Oz but they all function in the same way. Other single phase inverters like the Inertek are probably available to but the knowledge to run low energy properly is lacking throughout the industry, I know of two guys in the US (not on TFP) myself and no others.
Hsiao Chang
Pool Enthusiast
Pool Enthusiast
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu 12 Oct, 2017 20:09
My Pool: 110m3; 1.5hp pump Qmax: 350l/min Hmax:14m ; sand filter dia: 450mm,33kw heat pump, piping : 50mm

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Hsiao Chang » Wed 25 Oct, 2017 20:51

Hi Dennis and Teapot,
You both are trying to help me and I just want to let you know that you did help me with your expertise, I've made up my mind to try a pump speed controller because of what you explained me.I really appreciate your time on replying all my questions, which let me have a better picture of the whole pool system as well :-)
I think there is no such thing as perfect, both forums exit for a reason, users stay and leave for a reason, i just hope there are more and more ppl like you two, to help and make ppl
realize we can always do better in terms of energy saving.
Teapot
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 1337
Joined: Tue 17 Oct, 2017 10:52
My Pool: 12 x 24 (45m3) liner pool, Triton TR60 filter with AFM glass media (Activate) and variable speed pump running 0.08HP
Location: UK

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Teapot » Thu 26 Oct, 2017 02:42

Hi Hsiao, thank you for your understanding and please let us know how you are doing, you have received a lot of information so no doubt you will re visit points as you go through the process. Early on in my work, I had to manufacture parts to gain the advantages I was seeking and now have everything working well. My pool is about 45,000litres and I run that on 69 watts per hour. If the flow goes to 4.5m3 the skimming action isn't good enough. I am looking at a better skimmer and multiple skimmers. I am also working on a new sand filter that works better than the commercially available products. Pool product designers don't really design, they copy so any progress in the industry is slow as every skimmer and filter and return looks pretty much like any other, no innovation.
Wishing you good luck and I am sure you won't regret your decision.
Denniswiseman
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue 06 Sep, 2011 05:48
My Pool: 10k inground fibreglass, Telescopic Cover, Hayward Powerline pump, Quality filter with glass media, 27kw output heat pump, K-2006C test kit
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Denniswiseman » Thu 26 Oct, 2017 03:01

Thanks Hsiao
It's nice to get a reply and thanks for the help offered
Quiet often we help people but get no response
Good luck with your endeavors and feel free to post about any aspect of pool maintenance
Hsiao Chang
Pool Enthusiast
Pool Enthusiast
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu 12 Oct, 2017 20:09
My Pool: 110m3; 1.5hp pump Qmax: 350l/min Hmax:14m ; sand filter dia: 450mm,33kw heat pump, piping : 50mm

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Hsiao Chang » Thu 26 Oct, 2017 22:09

Hi Dennis and Teapot,
Yes, i will post back on performance of the product for sure. I will be more than happy to share with all if it benefits pool users and the world :-).
Thank you ,
Hsiao
Teapot
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 1337
Joined: Tue 17 Oct, 2017 10:52
My Pool: 12 x 24 (45m3) liner pool, Triton TR60 filter with AFM glass media (Activate) and variable speed pump running 0.08HP
Location: UK

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Teapot » Fri 27 Oct, 2017 01:57

Hi Hsiao, The interesting point about benefiting pool users and the world. I have converted a few pools to my system using very, very low power because a few people think like us. I expected to be inundated with customers but found the general attitude was "I can afford a pool, so I can afford the running costs" The fact it brings better benefits like cleaner water, less chemical usage and a big monetary saving seems to just pass a lot of people by.
Most of my pool work takes place in France (Europe) there are an estimated 1 million domestic pools in France, If those owners switched to running an eco setup like mine it would save France 2,000,000 tons of CO2 per year. When you sell a house in France you must have an energy survey carried out on the house but not including the pool if it has one. What is the single highest use of electricity? The swimming pool pump.
Denniswiseman
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue 06 Sep, 2011 05:48
My Pool: 10k inground fibreglass, Telescopic Cover, Hayward Powerline pump, Quality filter with glass media, 27kw output heat pump, K-2006C test kit
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Denniswiseman » Fri 27 Oct, 2017 06:09

Teapot wrote:Hi Hsiao, The interesting point about benefiting pool users and the world. I have converted a few pools to my system using very, very low power because a few people think like us. I expected to be inundated with customers but found the general attitude was "I can afford a pool, so I can afford the running costs" The fact it brings better benefits like cleaner water, less chemical usage and a big monetary saving seems to just pass a lot of people by.
Most of my pool work takes place in France (Europe) there are an estimated 1 million domestic pools in France, If those owners switched to running an eco setup like mine it would save France 2,000,000 tons of CO2 per year. When you sell a house in France you must have an energy survey carried out on the house but not including the pool if it has one. What is the single highest use of electricity? The swimming pool pump.

And heat pump
What I wouldn't pay to have a way of that costing less
Teapot
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 1337
Joined: Tue 17 Oct, 2017 10:52
My Pool: 12 x 24 (45m3) liner pool, Triton TR60 filter with AFM glass media (Activate) and variable speed pump running 0.08HP
Location: UK

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Teapot » Fri 27 Oct, 2017 07:34

Hi Dennis, I don't know where you are located but your pool is the same size as mine in France. I have still put off installing a heater as I have an internal battle between heat pump and solar thermal evac tubes. I may well opt for the air source but with a new inverter variable speed model, the engineer I spoke at Panasonic reckoned any extra cost would be recouped by energy saving as the COP can in ideal situations reach 16. A single speed model in my area at 13kw should do it but the inverter model needs to be rated at 17kw.

I want add a heat exchanger so I can utilise the pump for under floor heating at other times.

Your 27kw is a big boy, any insulation on the pool structure?
Denniswiseman
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue 06 Sep, 2011 05:48
My Pool: 10k inground fibreglass, Telescopic Cover, Hayward Powerline pump, Quality filter with glass media, 27kw output heat pump, K-2006C test kit
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Denniswiseman » Fri 27 Oct, 2017 09:09

Hi John
My heat pump is a 5kw input with 27kw output under good temperature, obviously with the colder weather the output isn't as much plus the fact that it goes into defrost mode a lot more which stops the heating
A COP of 16 sounds as though it would be a lot more efficient but I'm loathe to just change untill something goes wrong with my existing model
I'm in Essex and the pool is fibreglass with sand backfilling, on reflection an insulating material would have been in order maybe some form of sprayed foam insulation before installation
Teapot
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 1337
Joined: Tue 17 Oct, 2017 10:52
My Pool: 12 x 24 (45m3) liner pool, Triton TR60 filter with AFM glass media (Activate) and variable speed pump running 0.08HP
Location: UK

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Teapot » Sat 28 Oct, 2017 12:27

Hi Dennis, in your situation I wouldn't just swap either, If and when I get around to it I will let you know the results. Interesting the defrost point, hopefully with variable speed the defrost won't need to be as frequent, long etc. I will certainly make a point of asking. Yours must warm up reasonably quickly though with a potential 27 kw? Have you still got the pool running?
Denniswiseman
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue 06 Sep, 2011 05:48
My Pool: 10k inground fibreglass, Telescopic Cover, Hayward Powerline pump, Quality filter with glass media, 27kw output heat pump, K-2006C test kit
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Denniswiseman » Sun 29 Oct, 2017 05:32

Hi John
Yes I run the pool through out the year but sometimes in the winter the heat pump is on 24/7
This is balanced by the summer months when my retractable cover acts like a green house and I don't need additional heat source
Interested in any info for future reference
Attachments
pool2.jpg
pool2.jpg (124 KiB) Viewed 931 times
Pool1.jpg
Pool1.jpg (172.26 KiB) Viewed 931 times
Hsiao Chang
Pool Enthusiast
Pool Enthusiast
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu 12 Oct, 2017 20:09
My Pool: 110m3; 1.5hp pump Qmax: 350l/min Hmax:14m ; sand filter dia: 450mm,33kw heat pump, piping : 50mm

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Hsiao Chang » Sun 29 Oct, 2017 21:42

Teapot wrote:Hi Hsiao, The interesting point about benefiting pool users and the world. I have converted a few pools to my system using very, very low power because a few people think like us. I expected to be inundated with customers but found the general attitude was "I can afford a pool, so I can afford the running costs" The fact it brings better benefits like cleaner water, less chemical usage and a big monetary saving seems to just pass a lot of people by.
Most of my pool work takes place in France (Europe) there are an estimated 1 million domestic pools in France, If those owners switched to running an eco setup like mine it would save France 2,000,000 tons of CO2 per year. When you sell a house in France you must have an energy survey carried out on the house but not including the pool if it has one. What is the single highest use of electricity? The swimming pool pump.


Welldone John :clap: an eco setup saves 2M tons of CO2 per year in France alone, that's remarkable. together we can achieve more .
Teapot
Pool Industry Leader
Pool Industry Leader
Posts: 1337
Joined: Tue 17 Oct, 2017 10:52
My Pool: 12 x 24 (45m3) liner pool, Triton TR60 filter with AFM glass media (Activate) and variable speed pump running 0.08HP
Location: UK

Re: Is a pool pump speed controller necessary ?

Postby Teapot » Mon 30 Oct, 2017 03:12

Obviously any round number could be questioned, I used a University CO2 calculator for my own figures then just scaled up. With pumps being larger in The US the savings could be far bigger.
I reckon it will take a good few years before people really start to take notice.

Return to “Pool Pumps, Filters, Plumbing & Piping”

Who is online at the Pool Help Forum

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests