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#1
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
I have a 1hp pump for an in-ground pool. I don't know how old it is - we
bought the house almost 3 years ago. I have 2 questions: 1) At the end of last season and again this spring, when I turn the pump on it often just sits there and hums for a few seconds, then the breaker trips. I have to go reset it and repeat a few times before finally the pump starts to go. Then it works fine. It's just starting that is a problem. Does this mean I need a new pump? Or just a new motor? Or is there something else wrong? 2) I'd like to have a timer hooked up to the pump, so it automatically starts and runs overnight. Hopefully this will save on some energy cost from leaving it run longer than it really needs to. How expensive are there, and how difficult are they to hook up? My pump is attached to the a switch mounted on the wall behind it so its accessible. Thanks! -- Matt Kruse http://www.JavascriptToolbox.com http://www.AjaxToolbox.com |
#2
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
Most of them are rebuildable, new bearings, new capacitor, clean the
start contacts. Some pool supply places do it as a service for about half the cost of a new pump motor. Any decent motor shop could do the same. |
#3
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
"Matt Kruse" writes:
I have a 1hp pump for an in-ground pool. I don't know how old it is - we bought the house almost 3 years ago. I have 2 questions: 1) At the end of last season and again this spring, when I turn the pump on it often just sits there and hums for a few seconds, then the breaker trips. I have to go reset it and repeat a few times before finally the pump starts to go. Then it works fine. It's just starting that is a problem. Does this mean I need a new pump? Or just a new motor? Or is there something else wrong? Can be rebuilt or replaced. 2) I'd like to have a timer hooked up to the pump, so it automatically starts and runs overnight. Hopefully this will save on some energy cost from leaving it run longer than it really needs to. How expensive are there, and how difficult are they to hook up? My pump is attached to the a switch mounted on the wall behind it so its accessible. You want it to run during the day, off at night. They make timers specifically for this purpose. |
#4
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
that it runs and then shuts off after setting idle for a period of
time , tells me that it loses prime. Ckeck out the check valve that it is not leaking. If motor runs why replace it? Adding in the timer shouldn't be any problem. Jack |
#5
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
wrote: that it runs and then shuts off after setting idle for a period of time , tells me that it loses prime. Ckeck out the check valve that it is not leaking. If motor runs why replace it? Because it's doesn't start up correctly. He said it just hums and trips the breaker several times before starting. That isn't a prime problem, it's a bad motor, which can be either rebuilt or replaced. Adding in the timer shouldn't be any problem. Jack |
#6
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
Dan Espen wrote:
You want it to run during the day, off at night. Why? I thought I'd like to swim during the day, with the pump off. Then at night it can cycle through the filter and hopefully clean as much as possible so in the morning the water is filtered. Is there some advantage to running the pump during the day rather than at night? -- Matt Kruse http://www.JavascriptToolbox.com http://www.AjaxToolbox.com |
#7
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
Matt Kruse wrote: I have a 1hp pump for an in-ground pool. I don't know how old it is - we bought the house almost 3 years ago. I have 2 questions: 1) At the end of last season and again this spring, when I turn the pump on it often just sits there and hums for a few seconds, then the breaker trips. I have to go reset it and repeat a few times before finally the pump starts to go. Then it works fine. It's just starting that is a problem. Does this mean I need a new pump? Or just a new motor? Or is there something else wrong? 2) I'd like to have a timer hooked up to the pump, so it automatically starts and runs overnight. Hopefully this will save on some energy cost from leaving it run longer than it really needs to. How expensive are there, and how difficult are they to hook up? My pump is attached to the a switch mounted on the wall behind it so its accessible. Thanks! -- Matt Kruse http://www.JavascriptToolbox.com http://www.AjaxToolbox.com Matt- The pump impeller or shart seal might be "frozen". Usually there is an exposed shaft coupler between the motor & the pump; if there is is you can grip it with a pair of channel loc pliers or vise-grips. Grip the coupler & give the shaft as much turn as you can in both directions. The shaft should turn freely, if it does not (at first) then the pump was the problem. If it was free then the motor is the problem. Give it a try & see if this fixes the problem. In the old days pumps & motors were rebuilt but now they're usually replaced but they can still be repaired. If you live in or near a reasonably sized metro area there will be a motor repair shop. You can wire in a timer is series with your current switch Timer (clock) turns power to switch on & off; having the swith in the circuit as well allows you manually control pump as well. Intermatic is one of the major control mfrs http://www.intermatic.com/ here is my best guess of the unit you need http://www.intermatic.com/?action=prod&pid=8818 but checkout the specs, it will control a single 220v load (just the pump) if you have a heater to control as well you'll need a two cirucit timer http://www.intermatic.com/?action=subcat&sid=174 where to buy http://www.intermatic.com/locator.asp (no I don't work for Intermatic but have used their timers for years) cheers Bob |
#8
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
"Matt Kruse" writes:
Dan Espen wrote: You want it to run during the day, off at night. Why? I thought I'd like to swim during the day, with the pump off. Then at night it can cycle through the filter and hopefully clean as much as possible so in the morning the water is filtered. Is there some advantage to running the pump during the day rather than at night? You can do whatever works for you. Here are some reasons to run it during the day: The pump runs water thru the skimmer removing leaves, etc. from the pool. Unless you want to swim with that, run it during the day. Most people want it quiet at night. |
#9
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
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#10
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
Matt,
Have the "start capacitor" replaced. If you have a "Leslie's Pool Supply" store nearby, they will usually do this for a reasonable charge. They can also advise you on a timer however, you can most likely beat their price at HD or W W Grainger. Now, as far as day / night pump use, I suspect most of the respondents here don't even own a pool. In the Atlanta area, in the early part of the swim season, I run my pump during the day. This circulates the water warmed by the sun. Later in the summer, the pool temp. can actually be too warm. Then I run the pump at night to help cool it. Finally, if you need even further cooling, you might consider buying a small fountain that can be attached to the water "return" in the pool and operate it at night. This will definitely lower the temp. wrote in message oups.com... Most of them are rebuildable, new bearings, new capacitor, clean the start contacts. Some pool supply places do it as a service for about half the cost of a new pump motor. Any decent motor shop could do the same. |
#11
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
"Craven Morehead" writes:
Matt, Now, as far as day / night pump use, I suspect most of the respondents here don't even own a pool. In the Atlanta area, in the early part of the swim season, I run my pump during the day. This circulates the water warmed by the sun. Later in the summer, the pool temp. can actually be too warm. Then I run the pump at night to help cool it. Finally, if you need even I'm not sure why you think it necessary to imply other posters don't even own pools. I keep mine covered at night to reduce heat loss. Not running the pump at night helps too. |
#12
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
"Dan Espen" wrote in message ... "Craven Morehead" writes: Matt, Now, as far as day / night pump use, I suspect most of the respondents here don't even own a pool. In the Atlanta area, in the early part of the swim season, I run my pump during the day. This circulates the water warmed by the sun. Later in the summer, the pool temp. can actually be too warm. Then I run the pump at night to help cool it. Finally, if you need even I'm not sure why you think it necessary to imply other posters don't even own pools. Read their posts... I keep mine covered at night to reduce heat loss. Not running the pump at night helps too. |
#13
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
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#14
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
On Thu, 04 May 2006 13:35:34 -0400, Dan Espen
wrote: I'm not sure why you think it necessary to imply other posters don't even own pools. Different techniques for different parts of the country, I suspect... I keep mine covered at night to reduce heat loss. Not running the pump at night helps too. You must live up north... I'm in the Houston area and a few years ago, I had a house that had a pool... During the latter part of the summer, the water temperature gets into the 90Fs... More like jumping into lukewarm bath water than a refreshing cool dip in the pool on a hot day... Even using a sprayer to expose the pool water to more of the night air didn't make an appreciable difference... There were no trees shading the pool, so it got full sun exposure a good part of the day... I considered building some sort of very large shade arbor over the entire pool to cut down on the solar energy being received by the pool... Something like in the following link, but considerably larger... http://www.deckandgazebodesign.com/h...s/IM000334.JPG When you live in a very hot climate, if you want a cool pool, you either have to remove the heat from it or prevent the heat from getting into it... Although it would be possible to create some sort of refrigeration unit to reduce the temperature, I suspect the electricity costs would be unreasonable... Reducing the solar input into the system would definitely be cheaper... |
#15
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
scott moore wrote: wrote: wrote: that it runs and then shuts off after setting idle for a period of time , tells me that it loses prime. Ckeck out the check valve that it is not leaking. If motor runs why replace it? Because it's doesn't start up correctly. He said it just hums and trips the breaker several times before starting. That isn't a prime problem, it's a bad motor, which can be either rebuilt or replaced. Adding in the timer shouldn't be any problem. Jack Because "just hums" also fits the description of it runs, but is not moving water. Oh, really? And I suppose that explains the breaker tripping when it tries to start? Geez! Old pumps lose their ability to generate enough vacuum to prime. That should be checked before motor replacement. And its a much more likely circumstance. |
#16
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
Grumman-581 writes:
On Thu, 04 May 2006 13:35:34 -0400, Dan Espen wrote: I'm not sure why you think it necessary to imply other posters don't even own pools. Different techniques for different parts of the country, I suspect... I keep mine covered at night to reduce heat loss. Not running the pump at night helps too. You must live up north... I'm in the Houston area and a few years ago, I had a house that had a pool... During the latter part of the summer, the water temperature gets into the 90Fs... Yep, I'm in NJ. I've been to Houston, the climate was great but I found the flat terrain a bit unnerving. I suppose you get used to it. Our pool is in partial shade. It can reach 90F, when I run the heater. Without that, a peak temperature in most years is 82F. |
#18
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
On Sat, 06 May 2006 09:21:00 -0400, Dan Espen
wrote: Yep, I'm in NJ. I've been to Houston, the climate was great but I found the flat terrain a bit unnerving. I suppose you get used to it. All the terrain you could ever want... Concrete and billboards, interspersed with highway overpasses... grin Our pool is in partial shade. It can reach 90F, when I run the heater. Without that, a peak temperature in most years is 82F. 82F sounds refreshing... Nothing quite like a cool pool on a hot day... Of course, in Houston, it ended up being a hot pool on a hot day... Not quite the same... |
#19
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
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#20
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
PMFBI, but I have a very similar problem: Jacuzzi pump w/ 1.5 HP
Magnetek motor. The pump housing overheated once and malformed inside, distorting the diffuser vanes inside and binding the impeller. Applied power to motor and it hummed and smoked a little. Disassembled, reheated and reshaped diffuser vanes so they clear the impeller. Shaft turns freely, but motor will hum loudly before it starts. Once it starts it seems to run and pump just fine. But on every startup it hums and vibrates quite loudly for about 1 second and seems to be drawing a helluva lot of current. Before I disassemble it (again) to check the motor's start contacts (which I suspect are probably welded shut due to excessive current), in case I reach a point where I'd like to completely separate the motor from the pump: how do you get the impeller off of the motor shaft of these suckers? Thanks. |
#21
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
But on every startup it
hums and vibrates quite loudly for about 1 second and seems to be drawing a helluva lot of current. Sounds like a partly failed start capacitor, if you have one. |
#22
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
Thanks!
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#23
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Swimming Pool Pump - 2 Questions
Alas, no capacitor in this one, just a second set of starting windings
which are probably mostly shorted together now. Thanks. |
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