Timer question

[CanuckPool]

I have a 1 hp pump running an IG20 SWG24/7 (no timer), I am just wondering if I could just turn off the system late at night... say 11:00 and turn it back on at 8am.. manually, until I get a timer installed, does that sound dumb? Would that be off for too long of a time? How often does everyone run their pumps during a 24 hour period.

Right now the water is perfect, probably becuase its running all the time but it sure hurts the wallet on electricity.

[tenax]

you can do it that way..pretty common is 2 -6 hour cycles per day for efficient turnover..i have a 1 hp pump with an 18 x 30 pool and never have a problem with my pool being clean. i set mine for 8am to 2pm and 8pm to 2am. (using an intermatic timer with 2 sets of lugs) works great.

[CanuckPool]

I guess I should have an electrician install it, my SWG and pump are hooked into a pony panel.

[tenax]

sorry..not familiar with that term, but i am familiar with needing an electrician..originally i had my pool pump only wired to my intermatic. i then wanted to add my new heater and swg to a timer operated system. he put in a subpanel with relays that is slave to my timer.

swg and pump..and my ngas heater if needed go on at the same time..at shutoff on the timer, the ngas heater is shutoff..swg and pump operate for another 12 minutes for cooldown set by an adjustable relay in the sub panel that can go from 0 to 12 minutes..i could have had a longer relay but 12 minutes is working fine. the heater control circuits are wired to 120 volt on a shared breaker with my shed lights and plug in outlet..the swg and pool pump are wired to 240..he did it this way as he wanted to use a 15 amp 240 (8.3 at startup and 1.5 for the swg so say 10 amps draw and he wanted a good overhead available and to save me a bit of money over a 20 amp 240) with the heater, it would have drawn up to <5 amps so it would have been right on the edge.

the system is working great all around!

[dawndenise]

After the initial 2-week breakin period, I lowered my pump time from 24/7 to 12 hours per day and will be adjusting it downward as the temps cool. My SWCG was never on a 24/7 schedule (except for its own breakin) as it came online when I was at 12 hours pump time. I have an uprated 2HP pump , so I can sympathize with your electric bill concerns.

Current schedule is to run 10 hours overnight and 2 hours during the day but that will likely change as air temps cool. Over the summer, when daytime air temps went well over 100 degrees, I wanted to run the pump overnight (and waterfall on same pump) to lower the pool water temps. Also wanted to add chlorine when it would be most effective without UV degradation.

Now that the daytime temps have fallen into the 80's and 90's , I actually want to bring my pool water temps up so I'd rather run the pump (and waterfall) when it's warmest outside. Haven't quite decided on how to manage that desire with putting chlorine in after the sun is off the pool .

[Phillbo]

I run my pump from 12pm to 7am. It's on a timer but you could simply turn it on before you go to sleep and turn it off when you wake up ..

I run my pump at night due to lower electricity cost during that timeframe.

[CanuckPool]

Hmmm interesting, is it better to run your pump at night or during the day if you were on a 12 hour cycle? what is the optium Chlorine production /electricty/heat time? do you load up over night with chlorine and turn it off during the day? or is it best to run your heater during the day?

[tenax]

well, there's a lot of factors to consider including:

a) is your electricity cheaper at night to "purchase"?
b) when do you like to do your maintenance (adding chemicals..you'll want your pump circulating whatever you add and circulating long enough to cycle them through.)
c) if you're using a heater, when is your swim time?

in our case, i use a 8pm to 2am and 8am to 2pm cycle.

i get home from work about 3:30 as do the kids so i might flip the pump on and in turn the heater this time of year, go do my treadmilling and the pool is gaining 1-2 degrees still being in the sun and with the help of the heater. go for my swim, shut the system off about 5pm.

i do any chemical adjustments post 8pm before i go to bed so i have a good cycle. i go to work 5-5:30am so it's not feasible for me to be around for the 8am pump startup.

i have a solar cover so i do want a good cycle during the day to keep the chlorine circulated..it can get pretty warm underneath the cover and i could be concerned about algae growth with a still pool under a solar cover especially during the hot summer days.

[sailork]

I just got back in from changing to my "winter" setting on the pump. I didn't have the pool last year so I'll have to cross my fingers.

Summer: I run two cycles. The pump's evening cycle starts well after sunset and I have it run for two or three hours. I figure this lets me knock down any algae that may have started to bloom in the sun, and I can add bleach in the evening. The second cycle is from about 7am to noon. My pool doesn't get direct sun until noon. Keeping the pump off all day until well after dark kept my pool from ever really breaking 90.

Winter: I set the timer to come on at noon and run until five. I put a second "off" tripper at midnight so that I can go out, turn the pump on and add bleach in the evening and let it turn itself off. Wish me luck, my pool has already reached a bitter frigid 85 degrees!