Trying to keep up w/ Chem Geek

[ShelleyAnn]

I've been reading Chem Geek's thread on pump efficiency. I see his lips moving, but can't understand what he's saying being only a mortal.

I installed and AG 15 x 30 last spring. I was unsure the size of pump/filter after reading the posts here that pumps are too large so I called the manufacturer (Waterford) to confirm what size I needed. I told them I was to receive a 1.5hp pump and a 21" high rate sand filter and their response was that those two units were designed to work together. Okay, good enough for me. Heck I even called the manufacturer and they said that was what works...right?

After being on this fabulous web site for a year now, I'm getting that ole feeling again that I am way overboard on the pump. I don't understand head, curve or any of the other terms regarding pumps, but I've just received a new 4 x 20 solar panel and planned to add it to my 2 4 x 10s I used last year. I plan to go from flexable hose to a more permanent pvc rig and even make a rack to angle them toward the sun. Am I going to cause a shift in the quantum flux and cause havoc for the world and all it's inhabitants with this pump? What I really mean is am I going to blow the lid off of all my stuff?

Shelley

[CarlD]

Chem_Geek loves to get technical and has been a WONDERFUL contributer to all our knowledge. Sometimes we have to filter it down to practical usage rules for the non-tech pool owner. But, even when I can't follow it, I value his input enormously. When I can, I sometimes even can add an intelligent comment!

But that's OK. As posters we have some limits on what we can say, but analysis of the chemistry and physics of pools is pretty open. The REALLY high-level stuff goes into the China Shop.

The SIMPLEST solution I can offer to your solar panel question is really simple--just have an adjustable valve to control the water flow to the solar panels and valve it down so the pump doesn't over-stress them and cause them to fail. That's ALL you need to do.

[Poconos]

I think Carl just left out the solar panel bypass line. You really don't want to restrict the total flow so the easiest way is to add valves so you can divert only part of the total flow to the solar panels. That's what I do. I basically split the filter output 3 ways. Straight to the returns and one each to the two solar collectors with ball valves in each line. The solar collectors just dump into the deep end from a couple of hoses under the diving board but you could just as well plumb them back into the return line.
Al

[CarlD]

Of course, Al is right. I was simply saying that the pipe to the panels you restrict with the valve. I didn't mean the flow to the returns--you do NOT want to mess with that!

[ShelleyAnn]

So that post was not the really high level stuff huh? I guess I'm glad I can swim!

Last year I had ALL the water going thru the 3x9s tandem. Was I just lucky they didn't leak? It did seem like a LOT of pressure going thru, but this was the way the pool guy set them up. They worked like a charm in the noon time sun.

Don't tell me...is this Waterford pump going to last 25 years with proper maintenance? I'm already wanting a different refrigerator with our 10-year old one is working just fine. I don't want to push the husband over the edge asking for a new pump too.

[CarlD]

So that post was not the really high level stuff huh? I guess I'm glad I can swim!

Last year I had ALL the water going thru the 3x9s tandem. Was I just lucky they didn't leak? It did seem like a LOT of pressure going thru, but this was the way the pool guy set them up. They worked like a charm in the noon time sun.

Most pool guys have no idea how to set up solar panels.

The EASIEST way is to have a Y in the return line. One branch of the Y goes to the return(s) with nothing in between. The other goes to the solar and you can have 1 valve or 2 or 18, depending on your setup. I have 3 valves. The first is just an on/off cuttoff for all the solar panels, then there's ANOTHER Y off of that one that each has a valve for each set of panels (I have 2 sets of solar panels).

Can't get you a picture of it right now, though.