In Pond Pump vs. Out of Pond Pump

[Cypress Point Pond]

I am seeking information regarding which pumps are most energy efficient, in-pond underwater or out of pond pumps.  My pond is has an estimated capacity of about 2200 gallons.

Your help, opinions, product suggestions and replies will certainly be appreciated.

Cypress Point

By the way, my current pump is a Beckett W3500.

W3500 specifications
Underwater use only
Continuous operation
115V, 60Hz, 300 watts, 2.5 A
Wet Rotor/Wet Bearing
3560 gallons/hour @ 1" lift
23.1 ft
2” MNPT, 1.5” FNPT
1” and 1.5” O.D. BARB

[-Greg-]

At the recommendation of others I purchased and have installed a WLim 1/15 3000gph @ 3.4' head  1.3 amps external pump on my 2000 gal. pond. So far, so good!

Greg

[spanishleprachaun]

way to go on the External !!!
I tend to sway to externals when getting near the 3000gph or above.

Energy consumption if far less when you go externals.
I'm always looking at the amps... never like to exceed the 2.5 rating ever when hooking in pumps 3500gph or less.

*** what's your setup for the intake leading into the external ?  Do you have a leaf basket pot hooked in before it ?
Is it above or below pond water level ?

Let's see some pics !!         

[spanishleprachaun]

FYI ::   Here are some conversions to figure out consumption :

amps X 115 X 8760 (hours in a year)--------divide that number by 1000 ---- then multiple that by what it costs you per kilowatt hour  =   operating cost per year

or----

watts x 744(hours in a 31day month)----- divide that 1000 ---then multiple that by what it costs you per kilowatt hour  = operating cost per month

c

[-Greg-]

Carlos, I will post my construction pictures over in the construction thread so as not to hijack Cypress point's thread!

Greg

[Rocmon]

Just look at the specifications of the leading external pumps—Artesian, W.Lim, Sequence...



For example a W.Lim Wave 1 1/8th — 3960 gph @ 215 watts that's at 3.47' of head.
That's nearly 1/3rd less electric and maybe 1/3 more water for the external. Beckett 1" of head vs 41.5" head.
Go external if at all possible. They will cost a little more at the onset, but will probably outlast the submersible as well.

                                                                                                  

[Johns]

My recommendation:

Submerged pumps: You can't beat Danner
External pumps: My choice is Sequence.

Carlos is right regarding pool size and pump choice, but for pools where either would suffice,
the main advantage of external pumps is not having to pull the pump and strainer from the pond for maintenance.
When installing external pumps, Pipe unions and intake valves are a must, as you will have to remove the pump to clean the impeller.

[karen J]

My recommendation:

Submerged pumps: You can't beat Danner
External pumps: My choice is Sequence.

That is interesting. I was just looking at the Pondmaster Pro Hy Drive 3200XP. I'm pretty impressed- 3200gph using 180 watts is not bad at all for a submersible.
http://www.aquaticpondsupplies.com/pumps.htm

However, when I ran the numbers through Carlos's equation I got this:
180 watts X 115 X 8760/1000 X .07149 (my energy cost) = 12963.42468

129.63?

If I use Gene's formula:

Amps x Volts = Watts

Watts x 744 and divide by 1000 = kWh per month

KWH per month X Cost per KWH

I get 114.88/yr

Carlos, You are multiplying amps times volts in your first two numbers. Amps times volts is Watts.
Your second equation is correct.

I use the Sequence pumps too, and I do like them. The 3600SEQ12 that I'm using now uses 160 watts.

I'm helping a friend design a pondless waterfall/stream and she is leaning heavily towards a submersible because she doesn't want the added expense & labor of plumbing up an external.

[Johns]

Karen,
Gene's formula is correct.

[models916]

I switched to this in skimmer/sump pump last year. 3 year warranty, extremely low power consumption, Home Depot availability, continous run ability. I use one in my basement sump and one in the pond. Both 1/2 HP and can run both during power failure with my 1000w generator. Check it out.


http://www.basementwatchdog.com/sump_pump.htm

[Rocmon]

2.7 amps is not an efficient pump, unless it's moving a great deal of water. The fine print:The three year warranty is for intermittent use.

The W.Lim I mentioned above uses about 90 watts less power, is designed to run 24/7/365, and pumps more water. But yes it will cost more money to buy the pump in the first place...

Bulldog specs: 4000gph@ 0' head, and 2200gph@10'

The Wave exceeds both of these, for 90 less watts

[Cypress Point Pond]

I would appreciate your power analysis of my Beckett Model W3500 in-pond pump. 

W3500 specifications
Underwater use only
Continuous operation
115V, 60Hz, 300 watts, 2.5 A
Wet Rotor/Wet Bearing
3560 gallons/hour @ 1" lift

Thanks

[Rocmon]

Your Becket pump does the job... "3560 gallons/hour @ 1" lift 300 watts, 2.5 A"
 
Can you get a more efficient pump? Yes

From Posts above;

"WLim 1/15 3000gph @ 3.4' head  1.3 amps"     115volts x 1.3 ~ 150 watts

"The 3600SEQ12 that I'm using now uses 160 watts." 3600 GPH Max Flow -2800 GPH @ 4ft. - 1800 GPH @ 8ft.

"W.Lim Wave 1 1/8th — 3960 gph @ 215 watts that's at 3.47' of head."

Your quibble room is 150 watts or there abouts. Replace 2 – 100 watt incandescent bulbs in your house that are on most all the time and replace them with compact florescents. That's the power savings we're talking about...