View Full Version : If you run a variable-speed pump at half-speed, does the turnover rate double?
famousdavis
07-24-2012, 03:34 PM
On my pool's CAD drawing, it shows that my pool's design can turnover the 16,700 gallons in 1.78 hours. I presume that means running the variable-speed, 1.5 HP pump at full speed.
I'm currently running my pump at 1800rpms after months of running it at 2000rpms with good results. 1800rpms is very close to running the pump at half-speed.
Question: If my pump is running at half-speed, does that mean the turnover rate doubles -- in my case, from 1.8 hours to 3.6 hours?
famousdavis
07-24-2012, 03:59 PM
<<moved to the correct thread!>>
mas985
07-24-2012, 07:53 PM
They are referencing the maximum flow rate of the JEP 1.5 which is 150 GPM at run out but that is not achievable on typical pool plumbing. With a typical 2" plumbing setup, the JEP 1.5 HP on high speed will produce about 90 GPM or about a 3 hour turnover. And yes at half speed, the flow rate is about 1/2 and power usage about 1/6.
famousdavis
07-25-2012, 12:22 PM
Thanks for the reply. In looking over my CAD drawing, it looks like they use 4" pipes for both the spa and pool main drains (1.5" for vacuum and skimmer), and the returns are 3" to the pool, 2" to the spa return (drain), and 3" to the spa jets. My typical setup is 50/50 between the pool main drain and the skimmer, and 50/50 between the spa return and pool returns.
But the essential question I had you answered -- half-speed pump = double the time it takes to turnover the water. Given all that you said and all that I see in the CAD drawing, I'll assume that the water is being turned over at least once a day when I'm running it at 1800rpms. Thanks again!