Started installation of Pool Pilot Digital with a low pressure pump

[arnolddeleon]

I have an Ikeric high efficiency pool pump and so my system is setup to operate at very low pressures most of the time for maximum energy efficiency.

With my pool pump set to "normal" (low), the pressure gauge usually rests at 0 psi (pressure is less than 1). When I installed the Autopilot manifold my pressure reading went to about 1 psi.

Are the parts that make up the manifold (the unions, sensor assembly, bypass valve and the filter housing) available as separate pieces. The current design adds 4 hard 90 degree turns. For typical setups it makes sense to minimize the amount of straight pipe needed. My installers gave be a nice clean long run of straight piping so I have room for something a little gentler. I'm thinking about building my own manifold that uses a a couple of Y's instead of the Ts and a couple of 45s instead of the 90 degree elbows. This would result in the cell being either at 45 angle or horizontal position with hopefully 1/2 the flow resistance. Don't know if it would be worth the trouble but I'm wondering if it's even possible.

arnold

[Poolsean]

I'm not sure how 1 psi would make a tremendous amount of difference in the whole sche,e of things. Would it be worth it to decrease 1/2 psi? I don't know of an Ikeric pump, or the benefits of a design with such a low pressure.

To answer your question, you can design your own manifold assembly as the components are available through your AutoPilot dealer as a special order.
So it is possible. But worth it? In my opinion, most likely not.

[salinda]

I now have an Ikeric with an swg installed. The installer also replaced almost all of the hard bends in the piping above the equipment pad. What they left for the swg was the clearwater with a little bypass below it since the Clearwater is 1 1/2" piping and the rest of my system is 2". The elbows on this manifold appear to be regular sweeps.

[Poolsean]

Can you send photos of the Ikeric pump scheme so we can get a idea of what this low pressure system is?

[arnolddeleon]

I don't have pictures yet but I'll describe a little bit of the installation. I'm guessing that Salinda's system was installed by the same folks that installed my system.

First, Ikeric (www.ikeric.com) makes a variable speed pump that can be adjusted to an almost infinite number of settings. The basic idea is be able to use the lowest possible setting that can move the required amount of water. Everyone is familiar with the concept of using a lower HP pump and running longer to get save energy (pumping at high pressure is less efficient so even though you have to pump longer the improved efficiency makes up for it, it also to be able to pump during off peak if you have time of use metering). The Ikeric pump takes this to the extreme, the adjustability allows the pump to be "tuned" to lowest speed that works. For example at "low" speed my pump is consuming less than 260 watts. The Auto pilot may become the biggest power consumer in my pool. If the situation requires it the pump can be called upon to go to a higher speed for things like solar hot water heater or cleaner (I'm starting to sound like salesman).

The local distributor (Pool Power) likes to minimize the amount of resistance in the piping so they plan the piping carefully to avoid hard bends. They use sweep turns instead of hard 90's (my understanding is that sweeps with a large enough radius is the equivalent of straight pipe). Even when the situation requires a more compact turn they will try to use an elbow with a larger radius that your standard hard 90. On the pool pad, instead of the pipe being all tightly packed together the equipment is laid out to allow for these sweeps. They use 2" pipe as much as possible and in my case we added a new suction and return line. We also got rid of pressure side cleaner and booster pump and put in suction side cleaner that works well with the lower pressure.

I will post pictures once I have time and light to take them and figure out how to post them.

arnold