Jaguar or Kia......

Jandy is the top of the line in terms of quality but you pay for it. The system delivers a great product that has a very small learning curve for the homewoner.

quote" on a 24,000 gallon pool, is three returns enough? "quote
With a large enough eyeball (3/4") you'll get adequate return, but with 4 to 6 individual returns you'll get much better redistribution of the water into your pool.

On your controls I'd suggest Jandy. Your potential builder should be able to offer you a either a PDA PS8 or an AquaLogic PS8 for the same price. IMO, the Jandy is a superior system.
In my area (SE Texas) both Jandy and Hayward have have a great warranty network.

See ya,
Kelly

Thanks Kelly and RepairGuy. I saw a thread from a few months ago where you both discussed the relative merits of different types of pumps. It seems that if i go with the intelliflo 3.2 we should be in pretty good shape? Looking at a pool with spillover spa and the region is pennsylvania (it ain't texas weather up here right now !) Very much appreciate your help. Thanks Steve

If you plan to go with the Pentair IntelliFlo pump, why not also go with a Pentair IntelliTouch automation system? It allows complete control of your IntelliFlo pump (complete integration). You can request this to your pool builder. I think you will be happier with the end result.

Now you did it. Had to complicate things. If you are going with the IntelliFlo, you need to look into the IntelliTouch. You can use the Jandy, but you will need an IntelliCom which is another $400.00.

Repair guy is absolutely correct. The entire IntelliFlo wave has hit the country. I run into customers just about every other day asking about this pump. The pump can be utilized with Jandy or Hayward automation systems but it requires a $400 Pentair IntelliCom box. I think it makes more sense to buy a Pentair IntelliTouch control system if you are going with the IntelliFlo VF (variable flow). If you are going with a 4x160 or IntelliFlo VS (variable speed), you could go with the EasyTouch control system from Pentair.

Sounds like it makes sense to go with all Pentair products for the pool, starting with the intelliflo and intellitouch. What should be the deciding factors in determining whether to go with the VF or VS?

The variable flow unit utilizes special software that will easily save you money and give you more control. The variable flow unit also has some major safety features that are not discussed often... even one that I am not at liberty to discuss that ships with everyone that you will inadvertantly learn about by accident that we intend to make a very big deal out of in the near future. Variable speed is nice but leaves some on the table for you to figure out... VF takes it all off the table and makes a pump, which is very complex, ultra simple to understand. Coupled with a IntelliTouch it is just plain awesome.

Hey product manager.

Are you with Pentair? I have a lot of fun listening to the other reps with other companies slam this line of pumps. They dumb it down and talk about the suction blockage issues that don't conform, ie the pump turns back on, but they all are scrambling to catch up. If variale speed is not that great, they sure are throwing product out there.

In an October Jandy class, I was told that revision O would be out in the fall of 2008 and it would control IntelliFlo through the RS485. At the Aqua show last week, they said they had to speed it up and we can expect it by February. They are currently controlling an IntelliFlo with version O. I speak regularly with a couple of Pentair National trainers and in our discussion last Friday, I can't help but think this pump has a few things up its sleeve.

I'm saying that because both Hayward and Jandy are developing their "variable speed" in versions of 6 and 8 speeds respectively. Suddenly, 6 or 8 speed is variable but all it's doing is filling in holes between 3050 and 2. My thought is that the pump has been engineered to reverse engineer one way but have some aspect that is totally freakish that will cost these other companies a ton of cash in wasted development time or a poor product due to rush to market.

Repair Guy - interesting info. I find it funny that Jandy is going to all this effort to hack into the IntelliFlo interface so they can use it with their automation system. Did they ever stop to think that if Pentair changes a couple of bits due to a regular update/enhancement, or if a drive swap is ever required in the future, it will leave the Jandy customers blowin' in the wind?

I sounds like Pentair has at least 3 years of a head start on Jandy and Hayward.

I know. It seems like they found a way to control it way too easy. Pentair is the only company out there that has th ability to "flash" their IntelliTouch memory chip for an upgrade and to me that goes both ways. I'd like to see a bunch of stuff developed to counter the pump and then they publicize something that says oh by the way, everybody can get a free upgrade when you buy such and such by pressing these buttons in this sequence which will at the same time, wipe out any interface from the competitor that has their logic burned into a chip that they want 1k from me to replace. Just a thought.

I was told they have top microsoft people on the job and those types love to make things obsolete. It's good if thir on your side, bad for the other side.

*There*

You guys are funny.. and ruthless. The IntelliFlo was designed to run on several protocols, however, there are very big problems with a competitor listening on the RS485 line, learning the commands, and then use them. They can not gaurantee anyone that they will not destroy the pump. The motor is capable of far more power than we push it to today... as a matter of fact the motor can run up to 6000 rpm and draw far more than 3.2 KW... ~ 6Hp work out is possible. If you are not using the right protocol and not addressing them properly you can easily destroy the drive and motor and cause severe personal injury. It is similar to trying to take a coil pack off of a V-8 Chevrolet and use it to fire a modular Ford... you will be firing on a compression stroke and launch a valve or two into space. The protocol used is in direct relationship to the products we designed to talk to it.. and we use different ones for different things.. I am sure they will figure this out pretty quick if they have any idea what they are doing.... I would love to say more but I get such little joy in things and I sure love surprises.