Jacuzzi pool filter conversion kit?

[jacuzzipoolman]

I have a jacuzzi pool filter for a 13,000 gal pool and spa. It uses cartidge filters, the largest sized TRi-clops filters. I have replaced them from time to time over the years, when needed. Now, I can't just buy the replacement filters, apparently. I have to buy them with a 'conversion kit'.

I need help in understanding what is involved with this step: installing the conversion kit. Anyone have any idea what is involved? Any web sites that I can access to see what needs to be done? I have kept rewashing my latest set of filters (there are three in a set) for two+ seasons - but now I need to do soemthing about this issue.

Thanks for any advice/help.

[PoolDoc]

Jacuzzi Pool Products is out of business, and product support is pretty spotty. Your best bet is to find someone who wants to sell you the parts, and will explain OR to hire a pool guy to do it. If you're not 'handy', the second option is probably the best choice. I did some looking, as well, and didn't come up with anything quickly.

Unfortunately, 'work-around' parts often come with minimal support, and may be supplied with the assumption that 'you can figure it out'. I

I'll move this so others can see it, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for help. Waterbear or Waste probably can, if they have ever had to do a conversion themselves; I can't, because I haven't.

[waterbear]

Sorry, can't help either.

[waterbear]

Did a bit more checking. It seems that the original tri-clops elements were oval shaped and Jacuzzi Brothers changed over to round cartridges with more filtering area and that required a replacement of the manifold and the 3 standpipes that support the carts. This was an OEM change and and not aftermarket when Jacuzzi changed cart shapes. Not that familiar with Jacuzzi Brothers but usually replacing the manifold and standpipe in a cart filter is fairly trivial. Usually you lift the old one out and drop the new one in. Pay attention to any alingment or water flow arrows.

Also, I found a few online sources that still list the old, oval filters as available but the price was very high compared to the newer style carts.

This filter can also be converted to a DE filter by replacing the internals (removing the cartridge mainfold and standpipes and replacing with the DE mainfold and grid assembly).

[msumoose]

What PoolDoc said.

I have all Jacuzzi stuff on my pool, Magnum Force pump, and a Lazer sand filter, and I CAN NOT find parts. At one time, there was a wholesaler in Memphis that had started making limited parts for Jacuzzi, but to tell you that you can get a part nowadays would be me blowing smoke. To illustrate this, the winter drain cap for my sand filter cracked, and I now have a Hayward part on there with a bunch of silicone sealant so it won't leak as the threads are different, but close...


EDIT - I checked with the place that I used to get parts from, and they SAY they have parts, so I will try to see if I can get something. What exactly are you needing? I can tell you if they have it, and then your pool store could get it for you maybe?

[jacuzzipoolman]

Thanks to each of you for your help. I found one site that sells the "conversion kit with replacement filters" for $720. I also found Sta-Rite system with the following for $580:

Sta-Rite System3 450sqft
Starter Package Flow Block and 3 Cartridges
The Retrofit Kit Contains:
One plastic manifold that installs in seconds and can be easily removed/reinstalled when cleaning out the filter vessel.
Three cartridges with the same square footage of media as the original OEM filter cartridges.
Replace cartridges are lower cost and east to use.



Can anyone tell me if the Sta-Rite system is for the same capacity as I currently have (13,000 gal pool plus spa)? The replacement cost on the filters on this site is $281 - and I've payed as much as $377 per filter in the past! If the Sta-rite system works - I'm thinking of going with it (and seeing if there are cheaper options).

Thanks again!

[jacuzzipoolman]

Thanks for the response and help. I will do some more searching, and may look into the DE option.

[waterbear]

My advice is to RUN and not walk away from a system 3 filter! Look into a Pentair clean and clean or clean and clean plus instead. Depending on just how 'dirty' your pool gets the single cart 150 sq ft clean and clear might be enough. If you need larger filtering capacity, the clean and clear plus are 4 filter systems. How many sq ft is your current Jacuzzi and how often do you need to clean it? I have a 150 sq ft clean and clear on a pool/spa about half your size and really only need to clean it once a year or less if I wait for a 10 PSI pressure increase BUT I do clean it 2-4 times a year because my pool is open year round!

[PoolDoc]

Waterbear, you know I agree on the System3 cartridge and sand filters. But, my experience with the System3 DE filter was satisfactory.

[waterbear]

I was referring specifically to their cart filter, which is what the OP was listing. Never seen one of the sand ones except in catalogs and never sold one Their DE filters are decent if you mean the ones with the normal grids (SD series). The ones that use the cart type grid (Modular DE filter SMD series) are not as good IMHO.

[jacuzzipoolman]

Again, thanks to everyone for their responses. Waterbear, the Pentair system looks promising and with one filter - much cheaper! Sorry to be a pain, but i did not locate anythiing on converting the Jacuzzi manifold (currently inplace) to something that can take the Pentair center core and filter. Do you have any advice/tips on this? The Sta-Rite specifically targeted conversion, so this seemed easy to do. Since I will be doing this myself, anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated!

=========================================

Okay - being a real pest here - but I want to get this solved. I was able to locate some of the old style (my current manifold configuration) tri-clops 450 replacement filters online. This is one step down from what I currently have, but would be capable of handling 150 sq. ft. Do you think I could just order those - since they are about $150 cheaper and 150 sq. ft. should be enough capacity? The only dimension that seems off on them is the length at 28.875 compared to 34.875.

[waterbear]

The sta-rite is not a conversion for your jacuzzi. All the system3 series sta-rite filters can be converted from one type to another (cart to DE, etc). The pentair I was referring to would be a complete replacement for your existing filter and would cost much less than a system3 or the conversion kit for your existing filter if it costs $720. Clean and Clear $150 can usualy be had for around $500.

[PoolDoc]

Waterbear, what exactly is the "clean and clear" modification -- I mean, what parts are changed, and what do they do?

Ben

[waterbear]

Waterbear, what exactly is the "clean and clear" modification -- I mean, what parts are changed, and what do they do?

Ben
Not a modification, I was recommending that the current Jacuzzi filter be replaced with a 150 sq ft. Pentair Clean and Clear since you can buy the entire filter for less than the OP posted for the Jacuzzi mod. This filter should be more than large enough for a 13k pool/spa combo, although moving to one of the 4 cart Clean and Clear plus models is also an option.
The mod for his existing filter consists of taking out the mainifold and the cartridge support cores, dropping in the new manifold and support cores and then installing the round carts over the cores. It's really pretty simple but not necessarily the most cost effective way to go. Much depends on how much replacement carts (and the new manifold and 3 cores) cost.
The System3 mod kit is only for system3 systems to convert to a different type of filter medium such as DE to the carts. (One of the dubious, IMHO, selling points of the System3 filters that they can be converted from one type of filter medium to another by replacing the innards! I would stay very far away from both System3 and System2 cart filters! NOT fun to clean! Carts are very expensive for them also!

[PoolDoc]

My bad -- I wasn't clear. What is the internal difference between the Pentair Clean and Clear models, and the same filter, in the non-"Clean and Clear" version? Or, how does the "Clean and Clear" function of PENTAIR filters work?

[waterbear]

My bad -- I wasn't clear. What is the internal difference between the Pentair Clean and Clear models, and the same filter, in the non-"Clean and Clear" version? Or, how does the "Clean and Clear" function of PENTAIR filters work?

Clean and Clear is the NAME of one of the cart filters sold under the Pentair brand. It is a single cart filter. (They also sell the Dynamic line and the multi cart Clean and Clear Plus line under the Pentair brand). They were previously sold under both the Amercian and Pac Fab brands until Pentair (who owned those brands) just branded the filters as Pentair. (Just like Posiclear, System3, and System2 are NAMES of filters that Pentair sells under the Sta-Rite brand.)
The writing already seems to be on the wall that the Sta-Rite brand is disappearing and it seems newer units of the Posiclear, System3 and System2 are being branded Pentair.

Pentair has come out with a new version of the Clean and Clear filters called Clean and Clear RP. Perhaps you are thinking of these? The difference is the water inlet is in the middle of the tank instead of at the bottom so the dirty water hits the cart in the middle. They are new and not proven, IMHO and present some plumbing challenges since the outlet from the pump would have to travel up and then into the filter..

[PoolDoc]

Sorry: "clear pro", like here: http://www.pentairpool.com/pool-pro/products/filters-sand-triton-ii-side-mount-with-clearpro-technology-205.htm

[waterbear]

Sorry: "clear pro", like here: http://www.pentairpool.com/pool-pro/products/filters-sand-triton-ii-side-mount-with-clearpro-technology-205.htm
Not really sure what it is. I know that the laterals are different in the Clear Pro sand filter and the normal TR60.

[jacuzzipoolman]

Thanks to all for your suggestions. So my pump just stopped working yesterday (that's something beyond my capabilities) so I called my local pool guy. Luckily, it's a type that he can just remove the motor and replace it instead of having to put a whole new pump on. Anyway, I mentioned the filter situation to him, and he doesn't recommend trying to replace the 'innards" with another cartridge system, like the Pentair clean and clear. Just his opinion I guess.

[PoolDoc]

Anyway, I mentioned the filter situation to him, and he doesn't recommend trying to replace the 'innards" with another cartridge system, like the Pentair clean and clear. Just his opinion I guess.

If I were working for you, I wouldn't recommend it, either. From the service guy's legitimate point of view, a repair like that has a higher than normal chance of failure, and thus a higher than usual chance of getting blamed by the customer . . . for doing what the customer liked.

Experienced service guys in any trade get requests like that. For THEM, the smart thing is to just say, "No, thank you!", and recommend a more expensive solution (new filter) that is less likely to fail and more likely to please, once you've gotten past the bill.

For you, it's more complicated. If you DIY, it might be a good idea. If you can talk your guy into doing it for you, good for you, but bad for him. For his sake, if it doesn't work out, remember that YOU asked for it.

[waterbear]

To clarify, no one has suggested just replacing the innards of your Jacuzzi filter with the innards of a Pentair or Sta-Rite. That is NOT a good idea. The mod kit for your filter was a Jacuzzi mod (OEM) and not aftermarket. Jacuzzi changed the shape of the filter carts and that required a new Jacuzzi manifold and 3 new round Jacuzzi supports (I believe this happened about the time Cantar owned Jacuzzi.) The new, round style carts had a greater filtering area than the older (Jacuzzi Brothers) triangular shaped carts and they were less expensive.
Once again, Jacuzzi originally used three triangular shaped carts in the tri clops series of filters and then later switched over to a less expensive round cart with greater filtering area. If you have the old style triangular cart unit then you have to replace the internals with the newer Jacuzzi internals to use the new round carts. OR you can replace the cartridge internals with the Jacuzzi Earthworks DE filter internals and convert the cart filter into a DE filter. You cannot use Sta-rite or Pentair internals, only these specific Jacuzzi ones!

My suggestion was to replace your ENTIRE FILTER with a Pentair Cean and Clear 150 or larger. You quoted over $700 for the Jacuzzi mod kit while a new Clean and Clear (the entire filter) is around $500! This is a case where the entire new filter is the more cost effective solution.

[jacuzzipoolman]

Okay - got it! I admit I mis-read your post and thought that was what you were suggesting. Thank you for taking the time to clarify for me!

In the replacing the motor on the pump process, I spoke directly to the serviceman who did the replacement. He indicated he would look for a solution to the filter thing, and, as Pool Doc indicated in his post - was pushing a whole filter change, instead of what I thought could be done. So, I'm thinking that at the end of this season - I might have to go with that. It is just reassuring to hear from objective perspectives so that I can measure that against what my local service people are saying to be sure I'm not getting ripped off! Thanks again to both of you for your help!