Pentair SuperFlo Bench Test (240V / 1.5" pipe)
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Every swimming pool system is unique. This means that the exact flow rates and electrical consumption that you experience for your variable speed pool pump can, and will, be different than the numbers that you see in this bench test of a Pentair SuperFlo VS pump. The amount of pipe that was used and distance of the pump from the pool will affect the flow rates and electrical consumption for your pump. Similarly the choice of plumbing fittings used, the size and type of pool filter, and any additional peripheral items like a heater will all change how much flow rate your pool filtration system actually generates for a given RPM or amount of power consumption.
While the numbers for your unique pool system will be different than this test, they will be similar enough for you to determine some basic information about how motor RPM affects both flow rate as well as electrical consumption with a variable speed pump. This is important as the vast majority of residential pool plumbing systems do not have a flow meter, or any other way to determine what the actual flow rate of the system is at any given time. Without a flow meter in place to monitor the rate of water flow you will need to guess as to how much water your system moves at different RPM values. This article and attached video will give you an idea of how much flow a Pentair SuperFlo variable speed pump will generate when operated on a single 1.5" suction and return line, utilizing a 240 Volt electrical supply. For more information about the importance of flow you can read this article about swimming pool flow meters.
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
It is important to understand that while the high rate flow meter used here is calibrated to be accurate to within 2% of actual flow, there is also the fact that I am reading and interpreting this analogue measurement...something that surely introduces a tolerance of error into the reading. Instead of the exact flow rates, you should be instead looking at the general trends of flow rates versus electrical consumption such that you can get a better picture of how flow rates change and power is consumed.
Most specifically it is important to note that flow rates at the higher RPM values only change a small amount versus rather large increases in electrical consumption. This is due to the flow restriction of using 1.5" pipe, and perpetuated in this bench test as only a single suction and return pipe were used which further reduces the potential for flow. Above 35 GPM or so the flow in 1.5" pipe starts to experience a sharp increase in efficiency losses, friction and turbulence. This results in rather small changes in flow rate despite large increases in power consumption at these higher RPM values. Further extrapolating on this we can see that at lower RPM values the total electrical consumption is very small, and even minor increases in RPM and electrical consumption at these lower speeds can have a significant increase in flow rates.
Pentair SuperFlo Variable Speed Test
Voltage - 240 Volts
Suction Line - Single 1.5"
Return Line - Single 1.5"
1000 RPM
Flow Rate - 8 GPM
Current Draw - 1.04 Amps
Power Consumption - 138 Watts
1200 RPM
Flow Rate - 12 GPM
Current Draw - 1.15 Amps
Power Consumption - 179 Watts
1500 RPM
Flow Rate - 17 GPM
Current Draw - 1.42 Amps
Power Consumption - 265 Watts
1750 RPM
Flow Rate - 26 GPM
Current Draw - 1.81 Amps
Power Consumption - 370 Watts
2000 RPM
Flow Rate - 45 GPM
Current Draw - 2.36 Amps
Power Consumption - 507 Watts
2250 RPM
Flow Rate - 48 GPM
Current Draw - 3.10 Amps
Power Consumption - 688 Watts
2500 RPM
Flow Rate - 63 GPM
Current Draw - 4.03 Amps
Power Consumption - 903 Watts
2750 RPM
Flow Rate - 68 GPM
Current Draw - 5.12 Amps
Power Consumption - 1170 Watts
3000 RPM
Flow Rate - 70 GPM
Current Draw - 6.48 Amps
Power Consumption - 1480 Watts
3250 RPM
Flow Rate - 77 GPM
Current Draw - 8.00 Amps
Power Consumption - 1840 Watts
3450 RPM
Flow Rate - 82 GPM
Current Draw - 9.65 Amps
Power Consumption - 2220 Watts
Also worth noting on the initial bench test in the video above is that the maximum volume of water we were able to move through a single 1.5" suction and return pipe was 82 gallons per minute.
This video is an updated version of the bench test video above. To see an example of how systems may vary with the addition of different plumbing components, there has been a 150 sf cartridge filter installed to increase the resistance of flow and more closely mimic a real life swimming pool filtration system. The flow rate is also being monitored with both a digital flow meter as well as an analog flow meter. As mentioned above, each component of the plumbing system and any peripheral items such as salt water chlorinators or pool heaters increase the resistance to flow and can affect the flow rates and power consumption values.
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 specialist from Ontario Canada and one of the most trusted voices in the swimming pool industry. With over 20,000,000 views on the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel, winner of the Pleatco 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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