Total Dynamic Head TDH

[gordonhyde]

The resistance is measured in "feet of head". The best way is to approximate the resistance is as follows:

1. Measure the vacuum pressure at the pump and multiply by 1.13.

A reading of 12 inches mercury times 1.13 equals 13.5 feet of head.

2. Measure the clean filter pressure and multiply by 2.31

A reading of 22 times 2.31 equals 51 feet of head.

3. Add the two together to get total friction loss in feet of head.

13.5 plus 51 equals roughly 64 feet of head

I don't see how using this info can help me in pre build planning.

Mark:
Is the 50feet an average number? How can you tell that is close?

[Waterworks]

The method listed on poolplaza is the only way to accurately figure your TDH. You can only do it once everything is up and running though. Trying to do it before hand based on the number of elbows, feet of pipe etc is too difficult and will probably not provide the right answer anyway. Most in ground pools have a TDH of 50-60'. Just use that number and you will be close enough.

Brad
Waterworks Pools

[mas985]

I don't see how using this info can help me in pre build planning.

Mark:
Is the 50feet an average number? How can you tell that is close?

First, the quote above was for existing pools so you cannot use that to determine head if your pool has not been built.

The pool plaza link was to familiarize you with head loss and method of determining the optimum pump size. At the bottom of the pool plaze page is a link to calculate head:

http://www.poolplaza.com/pump-head.shtml

Again, those are only approximations but they may get you closer. The proper way is very involved and requires some knowledge of hydraulics engineering so I generally don't recommend that.

Most swimming pools will have a head loss of between 45 and 65 feet of head based on experience so given your 2" plumbing it is likely that you will be well below 65 feet of head if you choose a low HP pump. Head loss depends on a lot of things, pipe diameter, number of bends, equipment, pump size and few other things. So for a given set of plumbing, a higher HP pump will see higher head loss than a lower HP pump.

A 1 HP Northstar will supply 80 GPM for an 8 hr turnover with 60 feet of head so that is a safe bet. You will likely have less than 60 ft so your flow will be higher which is OK.

To compare, I have a 1 HP Northstar 2 1/2" suction pipe, 2 skimmers, 2 mains, 2" return pipe, 4 returns and about 50 feet to the pool. My head loss is about 55 ft with a flow of 90 GPM. So you can use that as another data point.

With 2" on the suction side as well, I did a quick calculation and my head loss would bump up to 60 feet with a flow of 86 GPM which would still be ok for you.

So I would recommend not going above a 1 HP pump unless you plan on using the same pump for a Spa or additional water features. Also, I run my vacuum on the 1 HP so I don't think that would be a problem.