Pump FAQS

Pumps and Swimming Pools Don't Mix

3600 rpm operation

Power Consumption

Self Priming and Flooded Suction In-line Pumps

Pump Extension "UV Light and Pressure Filters"

 

• a) A Pump like any appliance is alergic to dirt, leaves, twigs and scum.
• a2)Pumps need the liquid being pumped to cool them.
• a3)Pumps operate off of 115 VAC and some units run on 12 VAC not to be confused with 12 VDC. 115 volts listing is the same as 110 volts ac and 120 volts ac. Pumps that run on 12VAC use a transformer. It is easy to confuse 12 volt ac low voltage lighting as 12 VDC. They are not the same. 12VAC is alternating current and 12 VDC is direct current. If you mix the two bad things happen. LI> a4) There are motors that run on higher voltage namely 230 VAC single phase used mainly in Europe and industrial USA. Also there is 230 VAC and 460 VAC in three Phase. The majority of the pumps sold at wholesalepumps.com run off of 115VAC single phase.
• a5) The most misused pump term is “mag-drive pumps” Most of them fall under the hysteresis style of motor. There are Capacitor start, squirrel cage, split tube , brushed and Hysteresis(mag drive, wet rotor) motors. Hysteresis(mag drive) pumps are very economical. The rotor is a magnet (two poles) and an impeller attached to it. The Magnet is standard ceramic or sometimes rare earth. The magnetic rotor rides on a ceramic shaft with Teflon holders. Split tube motor pumps are also very economical but the rotor turns magnetic under the spell of the stator. It also rides on a ceramic shaft. Both split tube and histeresis(mag drive) are lubricated by the water being pumped, no seals or steel bearings are used. Capacitor start pump motors are sealed from the liquid and require a seal and steel bearings to ride on. Capacitor start pumps are by far the most powerful. Hysteresis , split tube and capacitor start pump motors are for continuous duty. Brushed pump motors are rarely used. Mostly in diaphragm pumps and are not for continuous duty.

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  Pumps and Swimming Pools Don't Mix

  For obvious reasons never under any circumstance install a submersible pump in a swimming pool inhabited by people... All pool pumps are placed outside of the pool. You can only use in-line and self priming pumps where there is no contact with water and the electrical parts of the pump....

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  3600 rpm operation

  Pumps spin at 3600 rpm. If you spin your self 3600 rpm’s , 24\7 you won’t last very long maybe one minute. So it is critical to keep debris away from your pump. If debris gets in between the spinning rotor and shaft it is like hard sandpaper on soft wood. The ceramic shaft used on modern pumps is high tech, very hard but if improperly treated or handled will break or wear down.

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  Power Consumption

  1000 watts = 1KW Hour . It is incorrect to assume that leaving the pump on all the time is better than using the pump with a timer. Pumps use 2-3 times more power than the rated watts to start than when running but it is only for a second. So the power use at startup becomes insignificant. All pumps usually have a wattage rating which is how the power company bills you. Watts are very accurate. Horse Power ratings are useless. Amps are hard to relate to. At wholesalepumps.com we list wattage when available.

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  Self Priming and Flooded Suction In-line Pumps

  1 Bar = 14.7 PSI = 33.95 ft. = Atmospheric Pressure at Sea Level. Most pond and fountain pumps running in-line, meaning the pump is placed and operated outside of the fountain must be placed below the water level of the pond or fountain, hence the term “ flooded suction”. There are a few pumps that can be placed above the water level and they can achieve suction but with the help of a leaf basket , making the pump “self priming “. Leaf basket helps the pump suction as long as the water in the basket is above the eye of the impeller meaning you must fill the basket before starting the pump . If the pump is turned off or you lose power, a certain amount of water remains in the basket to prime , you can also use a “swing check” valve on the suction pipe so there is no priming delay. Assume all fountain and pond pumps fall under “ flooded suction” unless stated otherwise. There is no pump that can have a suction greater than 1 bar less efficiency losses. Also the higher the elevation the lesser the suction. There are special pumps called “deep well jet pumps” that can suck water from 80 feet but they use a venturi and nozzle therefore not really achieving a suction great than 1 bar.

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  UV

  Never look at the Sun or UV lights directly or you will go blind . All UV lights have a glow ring or eye that shows if the unit is working. All UV lights are rated in Watts. From 7 all the way to 40 watts. UV lights kill bacteria and algae. Do not exceed the GPH of any UV light or you will render it useless. UV lights can handle low pressure apprx. 15 psi. Pressure filters also handle about 15 psi... Pressure filters are usually made up of Three parts; two media and some sort of bio ball to promote healthy bacteria . The media is usually a course poly pad and a carbon impregnated pad. The bio balls are perforated plastic balls. Do not exceed the GPH on any filter. If your pump exceeds the rated GPH of the UV or Filter you can divert part of the water into the UV and filter. Run the rest of the water to the water feature. try