Hayward Variable-Speed Pool Pump

*** Updated 5/7/18: I originally gave this pump 5 stars. However, I have had to replace the $500 drive twice in barely over 1 year on the one pump. Hayward offered to cover the cost of parts this last time if I paid for labor from a local certified dealer, but the dealer was a no show and would've most definitely charged as much for labor as the replacement drive cost on Amazon. Overall, nice pump when it works but rate of drive failures noted in these reviews is absurd! *** I have a vanishing edge pool with a pump dedicated to the overflow edge and another main pump that is used for general circulation, vacuuming and running my salt water chlorine generator. For years, I've put up with a noisy energy hog of a pump near the vanishing edge. The whirl of the motor always broke the tranquility of my backyard, but when it was off the visual effect of water seemingly flowing into the lagoon behind the pool was lost. I really needed a small pump 95% of the time but needed a larger pump when the waterfall came on or there were swimmers in the pool. Other reviews have already extolled the virtues of this pump, so I'm going to spend some time detailing my set-up as my big question prior to purchase was wether I could make it work with my system. This pump is perfect for my situation. Most of the time, I run the vanishing edge pump at 1400 rpm which is enough to keep water flowing over the edge. At this speed, the water flows well over the edge and I cannot hear the pump at all until I walk around to its perch behind the waterfall. I am using the relay mode to change speeds and so when the waterfall valve automatically opens, it ramps up the pump speed. I also put a mechanical 4 hour timer (like those used for shower fans) in a waterproof box behind a rock near the waterfall so that when I get in the pool, I can turn up the pump speed and not worry about forgetting to turn it back down. The relays all work with only 12 volts (this pump has the low voltage source built in whereas the Max-Flo and some others do not) so it's safe to use the relays near the water. I also use a switched outlet near the pump to run a separate relay to ramp up the pump speed from the inside. I could also use an extra relay on my Jandy controller to control pump speeds, or could use relays on X-10 or Insteon controlled outlets to change speeds. The best part is that all speeds can be adjusted in 25 rpm increments so that I can get the perfect flow for any situation. Because it is much quieter than my old pump, I was able to mount it in a somewhat elevated position to hopefully avoid any more hurricane tidal surge flooding. I also run it about 14 hours per day so the vanishing edge effect is always present, and my energy costs are much less that my old pump running just 6 hours per day. My second pump is my main pump which sits next to the house; the old pump noise was mildly annoying. The new pump now runs longer for a fraction of the cost (200 watts at low speed vs 1500 watts previously). My salt water chlorine generator now can produce chlorine longer and the water is clearer. For this pump, I hooked a relay into the low voltage output of my Jandy controller for the heat pump so that the pumps speeds up automatically whenever I turn on the heater. I also put a waterproof switch next to the vacuum valve, so that whenever I turn the valve to vacuum, I also increase the pump speed even higher. I can also increase the speed via an extra relay on my Jandy controller. I mounted the pump display/ controller on a nearby wall so I wouldn't have to bend over while looking at it. Both pumps turn off and on via the electronic timer in my Jandy controller just like the old pumps did. Set-Up Notes: Before installing this I had asked my pool guy to install a Pentair IntelliFlo variable speed pump. The Pentair should be controllable digitally by my Jandy controller (with the latest software and chip that comes with Jandy PDA) but Pentair doesn't document this well, I would have needed to run cable to the pump from the house and the pool guy just gave up. Next I had the local HayWard "expert" come out to the house. He said for double the price of what I eventually paid on Amazon, he would install the pump but could not interface it at all with my current controller. He wanted me to install the Ecostar using its built-in timers and use my Jandy timers to control the waterfall, etc. (or buy a new home automation controller). It was only after I downloaded the Ecostar Technical Guide (made for the installers and has clear instructions with many pictures) from Hayward that I realized how simple it would be. The pump can run in either stand-alone mode using built in timers and multiple programmable speeds, or in relay mode which is what I use. In relay mode, you can hook 3 separate low voltage switches (either manual or an external timer or relay controlled by home automation unit) to vary the speed. By referencing a grid, you can decide what speed you want to program for up to 8 combinations of switches. I set mine up so that it defaults to the speed of the highest speed switch that is currently on. The stand-alone timers are not functional at all in relay mode (except you can disable any of the programs by setting its start and stop times to be the same). The technical guide suggests using an external timer or relay to turn the pump off and on when in relay mode (settings are retained for at least 5 years without power), whereas in stand-alone mode you would leave the pump powered constantly and use built-in timers to turn it off and on. Initially I was frustrated that I couldn't combine the built-in timers with relays but now I don't see the need. Added Features: The display panel on the top of the pump is detachable and can be mounted in a more convenient location using Cat 5 cable. The display constantly shows the pump speed and energy usage. The energy usage actually varies when opening valves so I suspect it is a true value as opposed to just a pre-loaded table based on speed. When it starts, it goes to high speed until it is primed and can auto-prime up to 10 feet above the water surface. It shuts itself off if it fails to prime or if flow is inadequate (like when the pool guy closes all the return valves!). It also monitors the internal temperature to avoid overheating and can be programmed to come on when the temperature gets near freezing. I also installed an Ecostar pump cover over both pumps to protect them somewhat from the sun and downpours. Lastly, the pump is very quiet at lower speeds but, as would be expected, does whine a bit at higher speeds (but is still quite acceptable). You do get an additional 2 years of warranty if you have it professionally installed (versus just one year for do-it-yourselfers), but this wasn't worth it for me. I also looked at less powerful variable speed pumps, but then it would have to run at higher speeds which would be noisier yet no more efficient. Overall, I can run both EcoStar pumps longer (with clearer water), with less noise and much less cost. Even though I run the pumps longer than before, I should still recoup my initial costs due to decreased energy usage in about 18 months. Definitely worthwhile!