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Thread: Solar Pool Pump

  1. #1
    mrpbjnance is offline ** No working email address ** mrpbjnance 0
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    Default Solar Pool Pump

    Does anyone have any experience with Solar Pool Pumps.

    I live in CA and my electric bills are KILLING ME ...
    I am considering switching to a Solar Pool pump that way I can run it more and not break the bank.
    I might even add solar pool heat also....


    My pool is 20x40 and I estimate its 30,000 gals.

    Thx

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Solar Pool Pump

    The economics won't work. Solar panels are so expensive and you would need so many to run a pool pump, you would never break even.

    Solar heating is a good deal with a quick payback.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Solar Pool Pump

    Quote Originally Posted by mrpbjnance
    Does anyone have any experience with Solar Pool Pumps.

    I live in CA and my electric bills are KILLING ME ...
    I am considering switching to a Solar Pool pump that way I can run it more and not break the bank.
    I might even add solar pool heat also....


    My pool is 20x40 and I estimate its 30,000 gals.

    Thx
    Well, a 1.5hp pump will draw 1.3-1.5KILOWATTS.... Running with solar, you are talking about a system of photovoltaics that will run you 15-18 THOUSAND dollars..

    I two speed pump that is quieter, and MUCH more efficient than whatever pump you have now will run you $400, and something REALLY fancy like a intelliflow will run about $1000.

    Both will allow you to run MUCH more energy efficiently than whatever likely oversized pump you are running now. I just purchased a two speed pump 1.5/0.3 hp pump that will only draw 2.5amps on low versus 12.8 amps on high, yet it will pump close to 50-60% of the flow (for 1/4 the amps)

  4. #4
    poolbuoy is offline Registered+ Thread Analyst poolbuoy 0
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    Default Re: Solar Pool Pump

    yea but doesn't Cally have some sort of a rebate program where it pretty much pays for itself, check it out on some Gov. websites. I remember reading about it when researching Mass. rebates.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Solar Pool Pump

    Quote Originally Posted by cschmelz
    Well, a 1.5hp pump will draw 1.3-1.5KILOWATTS.... Running with solar, you are talking about a system of photovoltaics that will run you 15-18 THOUSAND dollars..
    BAD BAD BAD!!! Information - Totally False!!

    CA has a great rebate program for solar, almost as good as NJ. I put a solar array on my house 18 months ago and it is a great investment. My system is a 10KW system which produces about 12,000 KWH a year, and after rebates cost me about $18K. It saves me all that money in electricity plus I sell the srecs which are the right to claim you produce solar power for another roughly $3,000 a year! System will pay for itself in under four years. Go Solar!

  6. #6
    mrpbjnance is offline ** No working email address ** mrpbjnance 0
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    Default Re: Solar Pool Pump

    My pump is a 1 hp pump...and I think fairly new but not sure..
    The strange thing is my previous house had a 2.5 hp pump but that pool was only 8x12 with a max depth of 5.5 feet.
    This house has a 20x40 pool with a mx depth of 8 feet.

    I live in CA and the electric bills are $350 and I have not even started the AC yet. So I am looking at the best way to reduce my electric bill. Can somone show me how a 2 speed motor running at low speed compares to a 1 speed at regular speed draws on electricity?
    Thx

  7. #7
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  8. #8
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    mas985 is offline Lifetime Member Whizbang Spinner mas985 3 stars mas985 3 stars mas985 3 stars
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    Default Re: Solar Pool Pump

    Quote Originally Posted by mrpbjnance
    My pump is a 1 hp pump...and I think fairly new but not sure..
    The strange thing is my previous house had a 2.5 hp pump but that pool was only 8x12 with a max depth of 5.5 feet.
    This house has a 20x40 pool with a mx depth of 8 feet.

    I live in CA and the electric bills are $350 and I have not even started the AC yet. So I am looking at the best way to reduce my electric bill. Can somone show me how a 2 speed motor running at low speed compares to a 1 speed at regular speed draws on electricity?
    Thx
    $350 ?? Is that all for the pump? I am also in California, have a 1 HP Northstar pump and run 4-6 hours per day and my electric bill is $100 and less than half is for the pump.

    Are you running 24/7 and if so, why?

    As for the two speed pump, on low speed your GPM will halve but the power consumed will typically be reduced by 60%. So since you have to run it twice as long for the same turnover, you end up saving about 30%.
    Mark
    Hydraulics 101; Pump Ed 101; Pump/Pool Spreadsheets; Pump Run Time Study; DIY Acid Dosing; DIY Cover Roller
    18'x36' 20k plaster, MaxFlo SP2303VSP, Aqualogic PS8 SWCG, 420 sq-ft Cartridge, Solar, 6 jet spa, 1 HP jet pump, 400k BTU NG Heater

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Solar Pool Pump

    Quote Originally Posted by mrpbjnance
    My pump is a 1 hp pump...and I think fairly new but not sure..
    The strange thing is my previous house had a 2.5 hp pump but that pool was only 8x12 with a max depth of 5.5 feet.
    This house has a 20x40 pool with a mx depth of 8 feet.

    I live in CA and the electric bills are $350 and I have not even started the AC yet. So I am looking at the best way to reduce my electric bill. Can somone show me how a 2 speed motor running at low speed compares to a 1 speed at regular speed draws on electricity?
    Thx
    If your electrical bill is $350 you don't need a solar pump, you need to invest in lots of conservation efforts (insulation, high efficiency windows, high efficiency CF lighting, 2 speed pump, etc.) not solar....

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