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Author Topic: Smaller pump to save electricity  (Read 2721 times)

duramax

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Smaller pump to save electricity
« on: December 02, 2017, 08:33:03 AM »

I have a Central Boiler E 1450. I have a 10' or so rise to the house and it is 20' from the house so call it a 50 ft run to go to a heat exchanger in the basement.  I have a taco 009 f5 pump at the boiler pushing into ThermoPex with 1" pex in the house. I am wondering if I could get a smaller pump to save on electricity. I had tried to use the wood boiler  pump to circulate in the whole house system but with a walk out basement and a 2 story house that was really 3 floors to pump up to. It worked unless the boiler ran out of wood and then the CB thermostatic valve the water would not circulate and air would get  in and then no heat upstairs.  So I put in a heat exchanger to separate the Owb from the house hydronic set up and it's been fine. But I hat to see the electric bill every winter, it jumps up by 90 kw due to the circulating pump on 24/7.  What are the options?
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wreckit87

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Re: Smaller pump to save electricity
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2017, 11:42:03 AM »

If my calculations are correct, with the short run of pipe you have you should be okay with almost any pump. I ran the numbers on a Grundfos Alpha, and you should be able to maintain 6-7 GPM through that run with an amp draw of less than half your 009. They can be a bit pricey, but so can electricity. I put one in yesterday on a radiant floor system and with both zone valves open it was only pulling around 65 watts
« Last Edit: December 02, 2017, 06:27:50 PM by wreckit87 »
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E Yoder

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Re: Smaller pump to save electricity
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2017, 05:32:19 PM »

I would agree^^^ on the Alpha being a good one so you can adjust flow as needed and an ecm circulator is low amp anyway.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2017, 06:11:42 PM by E Yoder »
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RSI

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Re: Smaller pump to save electricity
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2017, 09:18:26 PM »

Isn't 45 watts the maximum wattage that an alpha will draw?

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schoppy

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Re: Smaller pump to save electricity
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2017, 09:35:05 PM »

Yes, that is what their specs say.
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wreckit87

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Re: Smaller pump to save electricity
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2017, 10:30:35 PM »

It would appear that way wouldn't it? I sure thought that's what it said on high, with 20-25 on the single loop in 2nd gear. Must've been dreaming lol. Disregard my previous statement!
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duramax

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Re: Smaller pump to save electricity
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2017, 03:21:49 PM »

I was looking at a Taco 007 and it draws .7 amps and a 009 draws 1.4 amps. Wreckit87 you are right about the pump cost outweighing  changing it. Besides As my Father would have said " If it works leave it be. With my luck I would be opening a can of worms.  But I will look at  Grundfos Alpha. I take it thats a premium pump?
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wreckit87

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Re: Smaller pump to save electricity
« Reply #7 on: December 03, 2017, 04:47:09 PM »

I was looking at a Taco 007 and it draws .7 amps and a 009 draws 1.4 amps. Wreckit87 you are right about the pump cost outweighing  changing it. Besides As my Father would have said " If it works leave it be. With my luck I would be opening a can of worms.  But I will look at  Grundfos Alpha. I take it thats a premium pump?

I'm not sure what you mean by premium... It uses an ECM motor that operates on pressure delta and only runs as fast as it needs to, preserving power. Also the 3 speed 007 cost more than the Alpha 1 last time I looked, but it's been many years since I bought a Taco so they may have gone down.
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schoppy

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Re: Smaller pump to save electricity
« Reply #8 on: December 05, 2017, 10:38:28 PM »

The Alpha has the capability to run on 7 different settings. Standard 1-2-3 speed pump or 1-2-3 constant pressure settings or Auto adapt setting. I just use mine on the standard speed settings and have performed well. 
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