What really is the GPH of your return pump?

[SMB]

How many of you have measured the return flow from your sump pump?
Do you have a flow meter?
I'm asking because I am in the process of installing a Vectron 600 UV sterilizer and I need to have some idea as to flow through the sterilizer.
I have a Hydor Seltz D 2400 return pump. Today during a WC I disconnected the return tubing and timed my pump to fill a measured 4 gal. container. Repeated the test three times. Max flow 900 gph (1 foot of head pressure), this for a pump rated at 2400 gph max flow.
I have often read that one would be surprised at the actual pump output of any brand return pump, but this seems beyond surprising.

 

[Copingwithpods]

Silly question but was the pump turned all the way up?

 

[SMB]

Silly question but was the pump turned all the way up?

Yes. It is an AC adjustable pump and was turned up to max power.

 

[Copingwithpods]

Yes. It is an AC adjustable pump and was turned up to max power.

Very odd, I remember somewhere I read the 1600 was putting out just over 1000gph at 4 feet so you should be seeing close to 2000+ at 1 foot. What size tubing did you use for the test?

 

[ca1ore]

I’ve generally been disappointed by the output on the DC pumps that I have used. Highly affected by even modest friction and head pressures. Traditional external AC pumps are much closer to rated flow ... though won’t work in some applications.

 

[SMB]

Very odd, I remember somewhere I read the 1600 was putting out just over 1000gph at 4 feet so you should be seeing close to 2000+ at 1 foot. What size tubing did you use for the test?

5/8 inch.
I’m going to repeat it with 1 inch when I get the tubing.

 

[SMB]

I’ve generally been disappointed by the output on the DC pumps that I have used. Highly affected by even modest friction and head pressures. Traditional external AC pumps are much closer to rated flow ... though won’t work in some applications.

This is an AC adjustable pump.

 

[Copingwithpods]

5/8 inch.
I’m going to repeat it with 1 inch when I get the tubing.

That may have been the issue. I'd be surprised if you get a low number again using 1in line. If you do you might have a faulty pump or a faulty controller.

 

[ca1ore]

This is an AC adjustable pump.

Yes, quite right .... still appears designed for flow not pressure though so friction may still kill it.

 

[DaneGer21]

I run a Jabeo dct12000, 3100+gph @100%. I use 1inch pipe to get me upstairs, then 2-90s and 1-tee, from there it drops to dual 3/4” pipe , each return has 2-45s, 1-90, snd 1-1” flow meter. Then 3/4” locline inside the tank.

Overall there is roughly 8’ of head pressure.

I run my pump @100%, I get roughly 360gph according to my apex.

Puts things into perspective and how hard it is to “judge” flow.

 

[Futuretotm]

Here’s a jebao 15000
Supposedly 3900gph without anything on it
Wish I had an apex to measure flow

 

[Cwentz758]

I would just buy a pump rated close to the GPH you want going through your UV and plump their own closed loop. I know most say taking dump water into UV then putting it back into sump reduces effectiveness because you’re not turning over as much DT water as you would if you had a pump in the tank or a closed loop.

 

[bob salzlein]

Yes. It is an AC adjustable pump and was turned up to max power.

Here is the problem...you are starting out with too small of a hose. The output on the pump is about 11/4 inches....that is what you need to go with and reduce down the line. Right now you are keeping all the power in the pump. Ideally you would run a separate line to the U.V. using a manifold system.

 

[ksed]

I run a Jabeo dct12000, 3100+gph @100%. I use 1inch pipe to get me upstairs, then 2-90s and 1-tee, from there it drops to dual 3/4” pipe , each return has 2-45s, 1-90, snd 1-1” flow meter. Then 3/4” locline inside the tank.

Overall there is roughly 8’ of head pressure.

I run my pump @100%, I get roughly 360gph according to my apex.

Puts things into perspective and how hard it is to “judge” flow.

That pump requires 1 1/2 inch output.
As soon as you reduce output on any pump you will reduce output by a large margin.

 

[DaneGer21]

That pump requires 1 1/2 inch output.
As soon as you reduce output on any pump you will reduce output by a large margin.

Yeah...I was just posting to make the point of flow loss; and to answer the OP.

Thanks though!

 

[92Miata]

5/8 inch.
I’m going to repeat it with 1 inch when I get the tubing.

Pump calculations are a big multivariate differential equation thing that's a pain - but there are a lot of calculators out there that will give you a basic idea of how much pressure moving a given amount of water through a pipe takes - and that should give you an idea of how much friction losses you're getting.

Moving 2400gph through 5/8 pipe 3 feet long with no rise takes almost 20 psi/induces about 40 feet of head pressure. (Now, as pressure/friction increases, flow slows down, which decreases friction and you hit an equilibrium, so its not really that bad)

Sizing to 1" pipe takes 1.5 psi, and 1.5" pipe takes almost none.

To the guy with the Jebao, you've got 8 feet of rise, but probably close to 15 feet of head pressure because of that 1" pipe.

 

[SMB]

Thanks all.
If possible I would like to keep the UV in line as there is not a lot of space around the sump and the 25 watt UV barely fits.
Clarification for this model is about 1000-1200 gph and Level I about 800 gph.
Will run the flow test with 1inch tubing. If the flow is much better I then have the option to dial back the pump.

 

[bob salzlein]

Thanks all.
If possible I would like to keep the UV in line as there is not a lot of space around the sump and the 25 watt UV barely fits.
Clarification for this model is about 1000-1200 gph and Level I about 800 gph.
Will run the flow test with 1inch tubing. If the flow is much better I then have the option to dial back the pump.

Your still going to get more flow starting out larger (max) and then going to inch

 

[DaddyFish]

How many of you have measured the return flow from your sump pump?
Do you have a flow meter?
I'm asking because I am in the process of installing a Vectron 600 UV sterilizer and I need to have some idea as to flow through the sterilizer.
I have a Hydor Seltz D 2400 return pump. Today during a WC I disconnected the return tubing and timed my pump to fill a measured 4 gal. container. Repeated the test three times. Max flow 900 gph (1 foot of head pressure), this for a pump rated at 2400 gph max flow.
I have often read that one would be surprised at the actual pump output of any brand return pump, but this seems beyond surprising.

I built an inline flow meter using a hall-effect water flow sensor, couple barb fittings, 9v battery and measured it with the Frequency (Hz) function on my el-cheapo digital meter. Works great for flow rates up to about 400gph, but you would need a larger and much more expensive sensor to go above that range.

Anyway, my findings across multiple canister filters and stand-alone centrifugal impeller pumps has been that you can expect 1/3 the rated flow at every 1.0-meter (39") of rise. That would also apply for every 10-meters of piping. Every elbow represents roughly an additional 40% reduction in flow. All my tests were done with (relatively) clean tank water at 78F and s.g. 1.023.

 

[SMB]

I built an inline flow meter using a hall-effect water flow sensor, couple barb fittings, 9v battery and measured it with the Frequency (Hz) function on my el-cheapo digital meter. Works great for flow rates up to about 400gph, but you would need a larger and much more expensive sensor to go above that range.

Anyway, my findings across multiple canister filters and stand-alone centrifugal impeller pumps has been that you can expect 1/3 the rated flow at every 1.0-meter (39") of rise. That would also apply for every 10-meters of piping. Every elbow represents roughly an additional 40% reduction in flow. All my tests were done with (relatively) clean tank water at 78F and s.g. 1.023.

I guess I'll have to stick to the 5 gal bucket and stopwatch!