thepoolcleaner pressure side cleaner... so far so good...

[leejp]

I recently got a thepoolcleaner pressure side cleaner and installed it a couple of days back.

http://www.thepoolcleaner.com/

This is the cleaner that doesn't require a booster pump. My pool is a a 26KGal IG with 1 skimmer, bottom drain, 2 returns and a dedicated cleaner return that was never hooked up. I bought a Hayward 1HP Superpump + Pro Grid 4800 DE filter this year (replaced a 3/4HP and a EX65A Perflex DE filter) as I wanted enough flow for the cleaner.

I went with this cleaner because I didn't want the cost ($150 initial for the pump + ~$75/season in electricity) of a booster pump. I considered a Polaris 360 or a Letro Legend II but after speaking with customer service for all three companies, I came to the conclusion that thepoolcleaner required less pressure/flow than the other models. Customer service at thepoolcleaner was awesome (speak to a really helpful person in SoCal right away). They explained that flow (not pressure) is what's required for the cleaner to operate and actually overnighted me a coupling and a length of hose to measure the flow out of the cleaner return with a 5 gallon bucket (25~30gal/min desired)... How's that for service! I hooked the hose up, found the flow within range and ordered the cleaner.

I plumbed the new filter pump so I can divert the water from the filter either to the returns or the cleaner return. I used 2x2 way valves instead of a 3 way since I wanted to isolate the chlorinator output to the returns only (so the chlorinated water does not flow throught the thepoolcleaner).

Installing the cleaner was simple. It took less than an hour to unpack, assemble and install. With both the valves open 100% (1/2 to returns, 1/2 to cleaner). I get 12 RPMs on the wheels which is on the low end of the recommended range (11-14RPMs), I went ahead and ran the cleaner this way and while the climbing is less effective (get 1~2 feet up the walls), the cleaner still did an awesome job. I got my pump running 3x3hr cycles and the cleaner is pretty much getting around the whole pool per each cycle.

I'll experiment with diverting more flow to the cleaner but after speaking with customer service and looking at the results as is. It's no big deal if the cleaner doesn't climb the walls high. I think I might leave well enough alone.

I've owned an Aquabot Turbo (nothing but headaches) and a Pool Rover Plus (Awesome). There are the good and bad with each type of cleaner. I have a fairly leafy pool and I like the fact that thepoolcleaner "lives" in the pool and cleans 3x/day so the pool is always ready to go. The robotics were better for deep cleaning 1~2x/week. My problem with the pool rover plus was that my wife (petite woman) could not easily lift it out of the pool. To empty the bag on thepoolcleaner is simple.

So far so good!