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Automatic Cleaners
The automatic pool cleaner is a device
that leapt right into the hearts of pool owners and service technicians alike. In a
genesis similar to that of human air flight, engineers and inventors have produced gadgets
of fancy in the hopes of finding one that will fly. Several have achieved wide-spread use
and acceptance by consumers and the service industry. These are described below and are
broken into three categories; suction side cleaners, pressure side cleaners and robots.
Suction Side Cleaners: All Pool Types
These are cleaners that attach to the suction side of your plumbing. The suction
side refers to the pipes and fittings that bring water out of the pool to be filtered;
that water which is being "sucked" out of the pool by the
filter
pump.
These cleaners include the Hayward
PoolVac Ultra,
Navigator,
Aquabug,
Kreepy Krauly
E-Z Vac,
Kreepy Krauly,
Baracuda
Ranger,
Zippy,
Pacer,
G3,
G4, Polaris
150, and
ATV. Please visit our Swimming pool
cleaners page for a complete list of
suction side cleaners.
These cleaners attach to one of the suction ports at the pool. Usually, this port
is the skimmer, or your pool may have a separate vacuum port
where the cleaner's hose can attach. With the hose attached and the filter pump running,
suction is created on the underside of the cleaner. The cleaner moves randomly, or
automatically around the pool with motion created by a device that gives a stop/start
pulsing of water. As the unit travels, debris is sucked up through the neck and then the
hose, past the suction port, through the pipe, and stops at the filter pump strainer
basket, while smaller debris passes through to the
filter.
Adjustments on the hose, the unit itself, and flow volume will create different cleaning
patterns, so as to maximize pool coverage.
Cleaner moving slow?
Start by checking the pump basket
for debris and making sure the filter is clean and water is flowing properly. Then I would
check out the throat of the cleaner for any obstructions. Obstructions can also be found
where the hose attaches to the suction line. Check hose for splits, obstructions or holes.
If your pool has lots of leaves (trees), you'll want to have an
in-line leaf trap to use
with your suction cleaner.
Cleaner not cleaning the entire pool?
This can be caused by
any number of reasons. The hoses could be too short. Another real common cause is the
cleaner could be following the flow pattern of the water in the pool, in other words,
strong flow from wall return jets will push the cleaner into a pattern. To fix this;
adjust the return port wall fittings, or add wall fittings to the return ports. It helps
to point the fittings down or at a downward angle. If you pool doesn't have wall fittings
at the return ports there are alternative wall fittings made by the manufactures to divert
the flow.
Always rotate the wearable parts
on the cleaners and replace those wearable parts when needed. These parts will prevent the
need to replace more expensive components.
Personally, I don't care much for
the suction side cleaners. If you have only one skimmer, most skimming action is lost
while your cleaner is hooked up. Secondly, unless the cleaner has an in-line strainer
basket somewhere on its hose, the filter pump basket can get clogged up rather quickly.
That, or if the strainer basket becomes full, reduces filtration and puts more front
pressure on the system by restricting the flow into the filter. My opinion is that having
a suction side cleaner would be much better than having none at all, but less than what is
possible. On the bright side, suction side cleaners are available for half the cost
of pressure side cleaners.
Kreepy
Krauly Troubleshooting Guide
Pressure Side
Cleaners: Inground Pools
These cleaners are those that attach to the pressure side (return) of your
circulation system. The water that is being pumped or "pushed" back to the pool
powers these units which have their own hydraulic power plant inside. Being on the
pressure side, these units have distinct advantages. They are helpful in distributing
clean, filtered water around the pool and having their own debris bag means that they
don't compromise the filter system. Even with the bag full, a pressure cleaner still
operates, stirring debris up. It just won't suck up any more debris until the bag is
emptied.
These
cleaners attach to one of the existing
return ports and are powered by the pool
pump (Polaris
360,
Letro Legend II, Jandy Ray-Vac, etc.), or to a dedicated
cleaner line and an additional Booster
Pump (Polaris 180,
280,
380 and
Letro
Legend).
For a complete list of swimming pool
pressure cleaners, please visit our
cleaners page. The water that flows into the unit
splits into three directions; the
sweeper tail, the thrust jet and the
venturi.
The sweeper tail is
a little stirrer-upper as I call it, which helps
to get fine debris off the walls and floor and
into the suspension where it can then head
towards the filter. The thrust jet is a series
of ports and gears which motor the unit around
the pool in a random pattern. The venturi is the
port where leaves are sucked up into a bag (that
you empty when full) as the unit rolls over
debris. An in-line back-up valve reverses the
flow every few minutes to change its pattern and
removes it from possible obstacles. And this is
how it works.
The Polaris 180,
280, and 380 and the Letro Legend require a
booster pump to power the unit. These cleaners
need about 30 PSI to operate effectively, and
most filter systems just don't run that high of
pressure. The return pipe is cut after the
filter and feed water is directed to the booster
pump which then pumps water through a dedicated
line midway down the pool wall. This line can be
run under the deck and through the pool wall, or
over the deck for a cheaper installation.
Without the booster pump, these units would
crawl along slowly, picking up very little
debris.
Polaris 360
model operates at only 15 - 17 PSI, and
thus is not intended for use with a booster
pump. Letro followed suit and introduced the
LEGEND II. These two cleaners I call "low
pressure side cleaners." This has given these
manufacturers a whole new market share by
reducing the cost of installing one of their
cleaners. The 360 & Letro operate in a very
similar fashion to the booster pump cleaners and
connects to one of the existing return ports. A
test is made at that return
port to determine if the circulation system can deliver the proper amount of pressure to
operate the unit.
The 360 will not
work well for pools with floor returns or "slit"
returns of crushed.....
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