DIY Rimless Starphire and Stainless Kiddy Pool (PICS!)

This thread is incredible with all the ingenuity! A huge thumbsup on what you've accomplished so far.

So the pump and its parts cost almost $1000, but only uses 80w of power at best? Looks like if it will last for years, you'll get your savings in energy consumption. That is a massive step in the right direction.

How your lights pivot is really nice, but I think I liked your closed loop intake screen the best. :D

I was worried about your stand until I saw the inner stand that supported the plywood top. I thought downward pressure would easily overcome those 60 screws. You did a great job designing this system. And your IR camera shots make me want one now. Thanks for that. :rolleyes:

:thumbsup:
 
I am really interested in how this project came out from the perspective of budgeted $ to actual $ spent. Did you make your $5K goal?
 
Incredible job, Luke! Just incredible!



Hey Ilham, Pick me up when you're heading out to Tacoma.:D
The PSAS tank tour needs to make a stop at Luke's house.

T-odd
 
Haha I can see the baldor tag in your IR pic :D . The yakasawa are reliable drives IME have 40 in one building and all I've ever had to do is replace fans every once in awhile. Would suggest you replace fan every 6-8 months in that enviroment though.

Motors you can use are a 56J, 56JP, or a 56 JM depending on manufacturer, all mean the same thing jet, jet pump, or jet motor.

Unfortunatately a 56 is a fractional HP motor and therefore will not have a standard motor terminology like a larger NEMA motor will.

Really nice build, well thought and and easily servicable. Neighbour is a welding engineer, you in the same trade?
 
Thanks for the added info on the other 56 Frame common designations.

I have found some fractional hp 3-phase 48 frame motors as well.
 
I'm really digging the VFD and pump. Seems like a good way to go. I'll definitely go this way if I upgrade to a large tank. :)

Did you get any vibration from the pump? Plumbing doesn't hum?

Keep up the good work!

Jason
 
BCT182 -

[welcome]

You joined RC 3 years ago and this is your very first post! It's all about post count from this day forward. ;)
 
Not understanding how you are controlling the drive to cycles frequency up and down.

Are you using a 0-10V analog signal to control the drive?

Or are you somehow using a time-delay relay ?
 
an amazing build. i love the low wide tank. cheaper lighting and cheaper power on the pump. I too wonder if you managed to stay within your budget. if you did, then it was twice the accomplishment!
 
Awesome build.....but

What about the 5k budget number? Did you make it, or is silence a code for "don't make me add it all up?"

One other question. In the picture with the sofa near the tank. Is it really that close, or is it an optical illusion? Seems like you could run the magnet cleaner whilst reclined!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10559797#post10559797 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JCTewks
I believe that the VFD has a built in programmer for you to control the cycles.

IME vfd's are not that smart. You have to have some sort of external control.
 
kysard it depends on the VFD. Some have nothing more than a dial to regulate the output. Some are very sophisticated with soft start and programmable freq ranges and timers.

The drive in question can be setup with stored acceleration and deceleration times, along with a maximum operating speed or torque.

These "ramps" can be triggered by simple outside dry contacts or logic and can also include maximum speeds for each of 8 triggers. (3 bits). Hell it even does dynamic braking (DC braking) if you want it to.

So no, there is no "timer" built in, but the acceleration and deceleration logic are built in and can be customized along with 8 custom speed points. All triggered by 3 bits (switches) that can be set via relay or whatever.

You can of course skip that type of logic and use 0-10V to directly control the shaft speed via a preset ratio.

So yes VFDS are that smart if buy the right one.
 
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simplest way I could think of is a $15 cycle timer and use the built in ramp up ramp down. set it to a cyclic 8 second with a 6 second ramp up and a 2 second ramp down. Just an example but there are plenty of other ways to do it.
 
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