Pentair SuperFlo Bench Test (120V/2")
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Pool owners spend a lot of time looking for information about pool pump efficiency and cost to run, especially variable speed pumps as there is a lot of buzz around the potential for savings by using one, along with spring 2021 Department of Energy standards requiring filtration pumps to meet efficiency standards that mostly variable speed pumps can achieve. Single speed pumps that are smaller in size might still meet the new energy efficiency standards however most of the pool market will be looking at a variable speed pump next time they are shopping for a filtration pump. This article looks at a common installation style and for a variable speed pool pump and then breaks down the motor RPM, flow rate and electrical consumption for comparison.
This test is using a Pentair Superflo variable speed pump installed with a 120 volt electrical service. With this particular pump that means the maximum RPM is capped at 3000 and while you can increase the digital display to 3450 the motor is digitally restricted to a maximum speed of 3000. This is due to the amperage draw of the pump being too large at this lower voltage supply as current and voltage are inversely proportional so having a lower voltage option means the current is higher than with 240 volt installations. This means the maximum flow rate and maximum electrical draw will both be lower than when 240 volts is used to supply the pump.
Pentair SuperFlo Bench test 1.5" pipes / 240 Volt
Pentair SuperFlo bench test 1.5" pipes / 120 Volt
Pentair SuperFlo Bench test 2" pipes / 120 Volt
Pentair SuperFlo Bench test 2" pipes / 240 Volt
Pentair SuperFlo Full Flow 2" test (with filter) / 240 Volt
Pentair SuperFlo Variable Speed Test
Voltage - 120 Volts
Suction Line - Single 2"
Return Line - Single 2"
750 RPM
Flow Rate - 22 GPM
Current Draw - 0.94 Amps
Power Consumption - 95 Watts
1000 RPM
Flow Rate - 27 GPM
Current Draw - 1.21 Amps
Power Consumption - 135 Watts
1250 RPM
Flow Rate - 32 GPM
Current Draw - 1.67 Amps
Power Consumption - 189 Watts
1500 RPM
Flow Rate - 37 GPM
Current Draw - 2.25 Amps
Power Consumption - 263 Watts
1750 RPM
Flow Rate - 45 GPM
Current Draw - 3.15 Amps
Power Consumption - 370 Watts
2000 RPM
Flow Rate - 54 GPM
Current Draw - 4.44 Amps
Power Consumption - 520 Watts
2250 RPM
Flow Rate - 62 GPM
Current Draw - 5.97 Amps
Power Consumption - 705 Watts
2500 RPM
Flow Rate - 71 GPM
Current Draw - 8.09 Amps
Power Consumption - 932 Watts
2750 RPM
Flow Rate - 76 GPM
Current Draw - 10.6 Amps
Power Consumption - 1230 Watts
3000 RPM
Flow Rate - 81 GPM
Current Draw - 13.1 Amps
Power Consumption - 1515 Watts
3250 RPM
Flow Rate - N/A
Current Draw - N/A
Power Consumption - N/A
3450 RPM
Flow Rate - N/A
Current Draw - N/A
Power Consumption - N/A
From this test we can see what we should already know which is that larger 2" pipes are more efficient for moving water than the smaller 1.5" pipes on what is otherwise an identical system. Look at the results for the 1.5" pipe test that was also with the pump at 120 volts. What you notice is that the 2" pipe test moves substantially more water, and for slightly less power consumption than with 1.5" pipes. This is especially noteworthy at the lower RPM ranges where the discrepency in flow rates is the largest. This is just futher proof about the importance of pipe size for pools affecting overall filtration system efficiency.
More than anything from these bench tests you can clearly see a lot of potential for flow from pool systems at low RPM values. Much higher flow values than most people would guess for scant speed ranges like 750 or 1000 RPM. In this test even 750 RPM would be enough to close the flow switch on almost any salt water cell, and even most gas fired heaters! That is pretty impressive for only 750 RPM where you are literally consuming less power than a 100 Watt lightbulb!
Be sure to subscribe to the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel to see if changing the size of the suction and return pipes, or changing the number of pipes used, has a measurable result on the electrical consumption and flow rates.
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Swimming Pool Steve is an award winning, second generation swimming pool and spa specialist from Ontario Canada. With over 10,000,000 views on the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel, winner of the 2018 Pool & Spa Industry Leadership award and author of hundreds of pool and spa articles both online and in print Steve is committed to helping pool and spa owners as well as pool and spa industry workers learn more about the technical side of building, renovating, repairing and maintaining all types of swimming pools and spas. Follow Swimming Pool Steve on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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