Heat Pump Questions

[jmihalko]

I have a 15'x30'x48" above ground pool. I recently bought a Hayward HP21104T HeatPro 110k BTU heat pump (I know, overkill, but we may be getting a different pool in the future). I was assured there would be no issues hooking it up to my system. All existing piping is 1.5" and the new heat pump has 2" connections. I just wanted to verify with someone else that putting 1.5"x2" adapters at the entry/exit to the heat pump to connect to my existing system would not cause any issues.

Also, the new heat pump specs list a minimum ampacity of 35a and a max fuse size of 60a. It seems that a lot of people I have read info from are putting these on 60a breakers, but I don't see the need for more than a 40a breaker (running 8 gauge copper). Am I missing something?

Any help would be appreciated.

Additional info:

location - Upstate NY
Hayward single stage 1hp pump
Hayward sand filter
inline chlorinator

- John

[Watermom]

Hi, John. I'm going to let someone else answer your questions about heat pumps. Just wanted to say hello and welcome you to the Pool Forum! Hope you find it helpful!

[PoolDoc]

Call Hayward to be sure, but a 40A circuit would be fine . . . IF you don't have a long run. Actually, what Hayward may be pushing you toward is a 40A breaker, with #6 wire. Wire length from the mains to pool equipment tends to be long, and voltage drops can cause problems. Larger wires avoid the problem.

[BigTallGuy]

I would not put anything bigger than a 40 amp breaker on a circuit with 8 gauge wire.

Specific wire sizes mandate breaker size.

Is this circuit a dedicated circuit meaning the Heat Pump is the only thing on the circuit, or do you have other items running off of it like your pool pump etc.?

How long is the actual circuit from the Service Panel to the unit?

If you have a long run, do like Ben said and go with a #6 wire and a 50 amp breaker.

[PoolDoc]

Sorry -- updated your membership, but didn't move your thread. You have posting access again.

[jmihalko]

Thanks for the info. It is a dedicated run just under 60' which is why I was thinking the 40a/8ga setup would be fine, but I wanted to double check here to make sure I wasn't missing something obvious (or maybe not so obvious :-) ).

Also, does anyone see any issues with the 1.5"x2" adapter on the inlet/outlet for the heat pump? The heat pump has a min/max gpm rating of 35/75 and my current pump is rated @ 90 gpm, but that is an unrestricted rating. By the time the water flows through the hoses and the sand filter to the heat pump it is within the 75 gpm rating and I don't believe running it through the 2" piping in the heat pump should cause it to drop enough to take it below the minimum. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[BigTallGuy]

IMHO I think you're fine. The reducers from 2" to 1 1/2" shouldn't really do anything to harm the Heat Pump, you May slightly reduce the flow and there by reduce the efficency SLIGHTLY, but nothing to worry about. As you stated, you have plenty of overlap on your capacity ratings. The 60' dedicated circuit with 8 gauge wire along with a 40 amp breaker should be no problem.

[BigDave]

Are you planning to plumb the recommended bypass and isolation in 2"? Leave enough pipe length next to your 1.5"x2" reducers to cut them off and add new 2" piping in the future without losing the whole bypass / isolation.

[jmihalko]

Good point. I wasn't thinking of plumbing that in 2" but that would make more sense as I would have more of the system I can re-use on an upgrade. Thanks!

[psciotti]

John - I was looking at this heater myself and my local pool companies want big $$ for it. I was thinking of buying online and have my electrician hookup (I can do the plumbing). Is the electrical hookup as complicated as the wiring diagram shows or is everything prewired inside and you just have to feed it?

Thanks ~ Paul