Want to upgrade pump to save $

[GaryT]

New here. Appreciate all the pool wisdom. I have had a pool for 39 of the last 42 years in different houses. Every year I discover something new - usually as a result of a new problem. So this year the problem is the electical bill.
I currently have a Sta Rite 1HP pool pump serving a 20,000 gal pool operating 4.5 months per year.
Figure I can save kilowatts by changing to a WhisperFlo 3/4 HP 2 speed.(Could use the model number if available)
Is this a good move or is there a better one?

Pump is 65 feet from pool, elevated about 2.5 feet.
2 inlets; one return. All 1.5 inch ID

Thanks, Gary

[PoolDoc]

Yeah, I've got Amazon links to what you probably need . . . but first, I need to know what filter you have. Exact make / model / size, please.

[GaryT]

It is a Cristal-Flo Model T-240BP-1 Hi Rate Sand filter
Surface area 3.14 sq '
Flow rate 20gpm
Filter and Back wash flow rate 63 gpm
Max Press 40 psi

Thanks

[CarlD]

Ben will give you more precise advice but I have a Hayward 1hp 2spd Super Pump with a 200# sand filter and 19/20k gallon pool and I run it most of the summer on LOW about 12hrs/day. I run solar panels with 240 sq ft of surface area without problem (equal to 3 20'x4' panels), even on Low without a problem....pool is crystal clear today.

Carl

[GaryT]

Any more advice?

[mas985]

The Whisperflo is a powerful pump even at 3/4 HP so it will probably exceed the recommended flow rate of the filter. However, the 3/4 HP uprated SuperFlo (SF-N2-3/4A) will produce around 47 GPM on 1.5" plumbing which would be close to ideal.

BTW, which sta-rite model number do you currently have?

[GaryT]

Currently a 17 yo sta rite duraglas 1hp -- btw is the SF-N2--3/4A equivalent to the 11771 Whisperflo?

The 1/2 HP Hayward Tristar SP3205EC has been strongly recommended. Would it serve my needs or would it cavitate?

Thanks!

[PoolDoc]

Haven't heard good things about the wet-end of the Tristar; the wet end of the Whisperflo is well proven.

[mas985]

Currently a 17 yo sta rite duraglas 1hp -- btw is the SF-N2--3/4A equivalent to the 11771 Whisperflo?

The 1/2 HP Hayward Tristar SP3205EC has been strongly recommended. Would it serve my needs or would it cavitate?

Thanks!
Pumps rarely cavitate and only under very unusual circumstances so that should not be an issue. In fact, it is harder to make a small pump cavitate than it is a larger pump.

If you are going with a 1/2 HP pump, I would go with the Whisperflo WFE-2 but you won't save nearly the amount of money as you would with a two speed. The Superflo has a better energy factor (gallons/watt-hr) than either the Whisperflo or the Tristar AND it is a two speed.

[GaryT]

Mark, the closest I can come to the SF-N2-3/4 (part #334111) uprated pump is the Superflo 3/4hp (part #340037) a standard efficiency motor.
Would this be a better choce than the Hayward Tristar 1/2 hp?

I like the fact that theabove Pentairs are ported for 1 1/2 inch plumbing.
Who might ship a SF-N2-3/4 to Canada?

Thanks, Gary

[GaryT]

I CAN source the Pentaire SF-N1-3/4FE It appears to be the single speed version of the one you recommended Mark.
1 1/2 in plumbing & high efficiency, but not 2 speed. Could I run it for 8 hours per day and get most of the benefits?
Would this be your "second" choice for me?

[PoolDoc]

I don't have answers, but I do have a question: can US suppliers not ship equipment across the border?

(I knew about problems with chemicals and testkits, but I hadn't considered gear.)

[GaryT]

Some will. Brokerage fees can kill. Often 20% extra.
Sometimes I drive across boarder for bigger items.

[mas985]

If you can't find someone to ship to Canada, then my second choice would be the 1 HP version SF-N2-1A (340042) which should be similar to your current pump. If that worked fine for you, then the 1 HP should be fine as well although it is probably a little bigger than required.

But this place has the 3/4 HP I just don't know if they ship over the boarder but I think most online places will:

http://www.tcpoolequipment.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=134_246_249_1140&products_id=2240&zenid=9b3dafd5d4c4977e6e61c1f0f921c379

Also, the Sta-Rite SuperMax is exactly the same pump (PHK2RAY6D-101L):

http://www.backyardpoolsuperstore.com/Sta-Rite-SuperMax-75HP-2-Speed-Energy-Efficient_p_3993.html

This company looks like it ships worldwide:

http://www.hxworldwide.com/component/content/article/37/427

Here is the 1 HP version:

http://www.inyopools.com/Products3/03501145035273.htm

One additional consideration is the line voltage. The 3/4 HP is 115v and the 1 HP is 230v so that may override any other consideration if it would be difficult to change.

[GaryT]

Mark, I just installed the Whisperflo 1/2hp WFE-2 because it was the only reasonable choice I could get in time to replace the 1 hp Sta Rite I sold.
As it was I was pumpless" for 48 hours.

The Whisperflo seems to run a lot cooler and pump about the same volume. Pressure dropped to 15.5 from 17 psi.
Since the SF on the 1HP Sta Rite was 1.25 would you have any idea how much I might save with the new WhisperFlow running 8 h per day.
Cost of electricity is $0.20/kwh

Thanks for your help, Gary

ps. I am in the habit of backwashing into a 55 gal drum. The old pump took 62 seconds to fill it. I will be able to compare pump volume easily when I back wash with the new pump.
BTW I gravity feed the back wash water back into the pool after it settles and clears. Essentially I use only a gal to back wash my pool

[PoolDoc]

I am in the habit of backwashing into a 55 gal drum. The old pump took 62 seconds to fill it. I will be able to compare pump volume easily when I back wash with the new pump. I gravity feed the back wash water back into the pool after it settles and clears. Essentially I use only a gal to back wash my pool

Interesting. I'll have to try that sometime.

[mas985]

The Whisperflo seems to run a lot cooler and pump about the same volume. Pressure dropped to 15.5 from 17 psi.
Since the SF on the 1HP Sta Rite was 1.25 would you have any idea how much I might save with the new WhisperFlow running 8 h per day.
Cost of electricity is $0.20/kwh
Depends on your plumbing and which pump you got (WF vs WFE) but as a rough estimate, your old pump probably used around 1400 watts while your new pump uses around 1300 watts. So you are probably saving 100 watts per hour of operation or $0.02/hour.





ps. I am in the habit of backwashing into a 55 gal drum. The old pump took 62 seconds to fill it. I will be able to compare pump volume easily when I back wash with the new pump.
BTW I gravity feed the back wash water back into the pool after it settles and clears. Essentially I use only a gal to back wash my pool
Sounds more or less like a homemade separation tank.

[GaryT]

It is the HALF HP WFE-2 Mark.
Would it really use the same KWs asatheist 1 HP.
Thanks.

[mas985]

The WFE-2 is a little better at 1200 watts. The Whisperflo series are very large pumps. The WFE-2 has the same power/flow of some full rated 3/4 HP and 1 HP uprated pumps which is what you had. Downsizing a pump based solely on label HP alone may not always give you better energy performance. This is the primary reason I suggested going with a two speed pump in the Superflo series.

[GaryT]

Thanks Mark. I prefer the 2 speed you recommended also.
Horner said they would ship to Canada. I could order it, install it and THEN sell this Whisperflow if you think the savings would be worthwhile.
If you have time could you compare the cost of running this WFE-2 to the Superflow 2 speed.
BTW, this 1/2hp Whisperflow took 64 sec to fill the 55gal drum on backwash, The StaRite did it in 62 sec.

[mas985]

BTW, this 1/2hp Whisperflow took 64 sec to fill the 55gal drum on backwash, The StaRite did it in 62 sec.
Energy use is linearly proportional to flow rate so this is one reason that the WFE-2 uses close to the same energy as your current pump. However, the WFE-2 should have slightly better efficiency so it should use less watts.

Payback for a new pump could take quite awhile since you have already invested a lot of money in the WFE-2. There are a lot of factors when determining cost but the energy use for the Superflo should be about the same as the Whisperflo on high speed. However, on low speed, the flow rate goes down by a factor of 2 and the energy use goes down by a factor of 4 so in effect energy efficiency (GPM/Watt) doubles on low speed which is why a low speed pump saves quite a bit on energy use. Your savings will depend on the cost of your energy, the amount of time on high vs low speed and the plumbing system losses. Without all of this information, I couldn't tell you exactly how much you would save but a rough estimate would be about 25%.

Another option would be to simply replace the motor but at this point, I am not sure that would be worth it either unless you can sell the old motor for close to the cost of the new motor.

[GaryT]

Thanks again Mark.
You have been very helpful.

I am currently out of pocket $155 between the sale of my 17 yo Sta Rite (with 1 yo motor) and the purchase of the new WFE-2
Still a solid upgrade I guess, but I was shooting for energy savings - just could not find the 2 speed quickly enough.
I will monitor the electrical bills and see if another few hundred $'s is in order.

Gary