In fact, I just finished talking to him. I mainly just asked him about the Hybrid pump with just a couple of questions about the VF versus X2. John stated that there is no pump on the market that can move close to the same amount of water for the same energy consumed. For 2 inch pipe with a Sta-rite system3 DE filter, he estimates that at their default 1500 rpm filtering speed, the Hybrid pump would move 60 to 80 GPM using 1.8 amps. This equates to 230V X 1.8 amps = 414 watts. I searched TFP and found chemgeek listed a slew of speeds and wattage readings from his VF (60 GPM, 2710 rpm = 1305 watts). That's a little below what John estimated the VF would consume with my setup. If I drop the rpm to 1000 on the Hybrid, the amps would drop to 0.5 = 115 watts. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask him the GPM estimate. But it's obvious that he believes the hybrid to be the most efficient variable on the market. Using the 1.8 amps for 1500 rpm moving 60 GPM (low end of his estimate for GPM), to turnover 32K gallons 1 time would consume 3.68kwh in 8.9 hours. According to your spreadsheet using Curve A, the VF at 1000 rpm would take 3.15 kwh running for 24.24 hours. Getting the VF to turnover in 8.98 hours requires 10.4kwh (using chem geek's numbers, it would be 11.6 kwh). Unfortunately, no CEC data to perform apples to apples comparison via the spreadsheet. But given that another X2 user on the forum reports using 2.2 amps using solar and running his waterfall, the efficiency could be close to what John states. Replacement cost is another consideration I asked John about. Since the drive is the most expensive aspect of the VF with its custom application, the availability of an off the shelf driver for the Hybrid that they customize the programming on makes the cost much more reasonable - in the $300 range. The pump motor is custom made to their specs and they have not had a single failure in 3 years. John stated that the drive's job is to keep the motor safe so it won't allow it to run outside of pre-set parameters or it will shut it down. I also found out that I won't need an automation system to run the X2. The drive has an internal timer which will allow me to run X time at vacuum speed and the rest at filter speed. My intermatic clock would control on/off like it currently does for the single speed. Hybrid also has a 2 year warranty on everything. The only question left is longevity of the company itself. Can they sell enough and get PBs to start using their product to stay in business? I'm really impressed after running the numbers.

My 2005 16000 gal pool (pool only - no extras) is plumbed with two seperate 1.5's from the skimmer and the main drain. It had only one 1.5 returning to the two jets but I am changing that to one 1.5 to each jet (tunneling under concrete - using existing waste line). I called pentair tech support, they recommended bring 3" from my 2 1.5's to the pump. Is there a 3" diverter valve? If not, how do I plumb it? What size pipe should I run from the pump to the filter and to the heater?

The Eco-Star is a relatively new model so it's MTBF period is a big question mark. Past experience with Hayward brand products is not the greatest but they usually fix the product in a reasonable amount of time, for a manufacturer that is. Your description of the existing automation is quite accurate. Calling it antique hits the nail on the head. It hasn't been made for years and thus, no one would even think to do any developmental work on it or for it. What needs to be determined for the use of the Intelliflo or a two speed pump is the number of open and available relays and/or valve actuator ports. The two speed pump can be of any of the major manufacturers as they, by and large, use the same technologies and that has been available for a long time. There is a high speed coil and a low speed coil. Each gets it's own set of connections. Only one is turned on at a time. I am pretty sure your system can operate a two speed but not 100% positive. If I had the time, I would go looking for the most recent docs to find out. If it has either/and/or a free relays and valve actuator ports, each available one can represent a speed to the Intelliflo pump. The Intellicom II, used to interface between the pump and the automation system, can talk to both types of interfaces though the physical connection sometimes requires the tech be astute, electronically speaking as well as electrically. IMHO, Leslie's not sending someone is problematic. They have no idea if your existing gear can accommodate where you want to be. Add that you have no idea either and you have a blind leading the blind situation. Can the Intelliflo's internal timers be used to ramp up/down at specific times? Absolutely. If using the spa, would you need to manually change the speed on the pump? Yes you would. You would need to connect the power going to the relay that normally sends power to your pump directly to the pump for the timer to work properly. The pump's timer can have up to 8 events. A ramp up would be one even. Ramping back down would be a second event. If the caveats I have mentioned are ones you are willing to live with, you should be OK. If not, then expect to need to buy and install a new automation controller. That will cost you though. Scott

First thing first. Larger filter = less operating pressure on the same flow rate. Second thing. In the absence of a visible leak in your equipment pad which will cause the filter to drain back, you have a classic gravity feed. This can happen simply by design of the system. More often when the equipment pad is slightly elevated above the pool line. On the other post, yes, you don't program gpm into the filter mode of an IntelliFlo directly. It is a calculated number based of the cycle, volume and hours. You'll need to install a full flow check valve in the line between the pump and filter. Use a Pentair of Jandy model, 2.5 x 2.0 CPVC. Now the issue. You put flex line there and that is going to cause problems. The weight of that valve may overwhelm the pipe. This line should be rigid pvc and you will certainly develop a leak later if it is glued into the backwash valve. On the other post. Yes, you don't program gpm on an IntelliFlo filter mode. It is a calculated number based on cycle, volume and hours. Those numbers are not known until you have your desired gpm and the final operating flow is + - a gpm or 2. The FEATURES do account for total daily volume but not 1 or 2.