Oo.Ok should i call the niner on the website?
Should I talk to someone specific who have some context or I call and explain from the beginning?
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Vectra L1 performance and test
- Thread starter ohashimz
- Start date
Oo.Ok should i call the niner on the website?
Should I talk to someone specific who have some context or I call and explain from the beginning?
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EcoTech Marine
.Registered Member
Ok should i call the niner on the website?
Should I talk to someone specific who have some context or I call and explain from the beginning?
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
ironically, they actually just stepped out for a team building happy hour event (lucky them haha). But they will be back Monday morning and I'll have all of them aware of the situation. Ask for Alex and if he's not available ask for Mike.
Thank you and have a great weekend!
EcoTech Marine
.Registered Member
No need. I think this thread has run its course and if you don't mind would like to let it go. I'm confident that my team will keep you satisfied and apologize again for the incorrect email that we provided you when you wrote in.
Agreed, I meant update everyone here about the vectra after removing calibration.
thank you so much
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tkeracer619
New member
I completely understand how it can be frustrating to spend good coin for a product but when you install it, it doesn't perform how you expected. That can really tarnish how you feel about the product, though, the vectra L1 is a great pump so I don't think you have much to worry about. If you do run into an issue you can rest assured Ecotech will take care of you. They want you to be a customer for life.
The early L1 pumps had a part that on the rare occasion would fail, they have since updated the pump. I would be surprised if you have this version if you're just posting about it now. I'm running one of the early L1 and it's been flawless. I too was concerned about it but was told by CS that it really was not a common issue and I have yet to experience an issue with mine. I have complete faith in it. The flow is great, I have mine running at about 70% max. I'm not sure what my actual gph is but it is moving more than I need. I was skeptical of the dc pumps until my L1. They do generally have lower head pressure capabilities than older style pumps but that's one way they get their efficiency and low heat input. I have mine plumbed with 1.5" pvc. 1" is small for this size pump so that will surely reduce efficiency though with your requirements it shouldn't be an issue. Also, those flow sensors definitely restrict flow, I've been using them well before apex rebadged them, you really should be using the 2" sensor.
I think you should give what Tim said a try and not worry about any negative posts or warranty issues regarding an older version. It's not often the president of a company trolls forums looking for customers who may have fallen through the cracks. They're a large company so it's expected that once in a while something gets missed and they have a history of taking care of those who do have extraordinary experiences.
L1 is an awesome pump and ecotech has great support. I think you'll be happy once you reset the pump.
The early L1 pumps had a part that on the rare occasion would fail, they have since updated the pump. I would be surprised if you have this version if you're just posting about it now. I'm running one of the early L1 and it's been flawless. I too was concerned about it but was told by CS that it really was not a common issue and I have yet to experience an issue with mine. I have complete faith in it. The flow is great, I have mine running at about 70% max. I'm not sure what my actual gph is but it is moving more than I need. I was skeptical of the dc pumps until my L1. They do generally have lower head pressure capabilities than older style pumps but that's one way they get their efficiency and low heat input. I have mine plumbed with 1.5" pvc. 1" is small for this size pump so that will surely reduce efficiency though with your requirements it shouldn't be an issue. Also, those flow sensors definitely restrict flow, I've been using them well before apex rebadged them, you really should be using the 2" sensor.
I think you should give what Tim said a try and not worry about any negative posts or warranty issues regarding an older version. It's not often the president of a company trolls forums looking for customers who may have fallen through the cracks. They're a large company so it's expected that once in a while something gets missed and they have a history of taking care of those who do have extraordinary experiences.
L1 is an awesome pump and ecotech has great support. I think you'll be happy once you reset the pump.
Well while I agree with you general sentiment, I disagree with some of your conclusions.
1- the melting issue is not just negative reviews, this is something that is proven and admitted by ecotech, hence the "unofficial extended warranty".
2- I do not have data yet that what am dealing with is calibration, so while I am hopeful I will hold off popping up the champagne ha ha
3- there is clear data out there that vectra do not handle head pressure well. Srsly. Red dragon handle head pressure way better and that's sad for me cause I am a supporter of ecotech simce their early lights and vortechs
Mu concern here is how they handled the melting issue. The right thing should have been recall and replace honestly.
I completely agree with you ecotech have had incredible customer support and this is from experince. Just the fact that they jumped on this thread and helped me showed that.
BUT, just imagin if I did not post the thread...I would have thrown away my pump..the rep who dealt with me sent me on goose chase. First asked me to send vids and pictures, only to immediately send me a reply after he received my pictures that the issue is my plumbing fault which was clearly wrong and I called him on it immediately.
My point is, i hope that this is not an indication thay their customer support is trending down..not everyone would go post online and wait for Tim to reply..
I say that out of love not out of grudge..I really do.
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Quick update, I factory rest my vectra and tested it again. Indeed the flow improved to around 780gph at 100%.
While indeed flow improved but it's still not that good in my openion.
I basically lost 75% of the rated flow from 5 feet head pressure.....
I also tested a red dragon 100 watt (also rated 3100gph) on the same setup, the flow reads 1600 gph( data sheet say 1900gph at my head pressure, so I know now what's my plumbing limit)...big big diffrence....
So...yeh, that's the end of this.
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While indeed flow improved but it's still not that good in my openion.
I basically lost 75% of the rated flow from 5 feet head pressure.....
I also tested a red dragon 100 watt (also rated 3100gph) on the same setup, the flow reads 1600 gph( data sheet say 1900gph at my head pressure, so I know now what's my plumbing limit)...big big diffrence....
So...yeh, that's the end of this.
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Btw a question out of curiosity. When you say the flow is great, did you measure it? Just wondering how are you judging the flow..
Cause I too used to think I do not have issue with the flow until I realized that my bubble kind skimmer is not really working well, after 6 months debugging, I started suspecting maybe my turn around is not as fast and the skimmer is skimming faster than my return. Only then I hooked up a flow meter and behold...
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tkeracer619
New member
Can you explain more about how you are calculating head pressure? You keep saying 5ft of head but unless the tank is a foot above the sump you certainly have more than 5. Between the barbs you are using, the 1in id tube, the flow meter, and the amount of water you're trying to force through a tiny pipe and flow meter you're probably closer to 10ft head or more. So it doesn't surprise me at all you are getting what your flow meter says.
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Sorry you answered my question with a question
. I would still like to know how do you define good flow...did you measure or based on eye evaluation?Basically have you quantified what is the good flow you are seeing from your vectra?
As for your questions:
My setup details were in the original thread btw.
Total height from pump to the return hose end is around 5ft with some give and take(there is some more plumbing length from the loc line hoes inside the overflow box) but not much.
Not sure I understand what u mean and why do you think 5ft is too short that tank should be 1 foot above the pump.
My stand is custom and is 3feet, my tank is 2 feet height.
My plumbing is straight from pump to the tank...straight no elbows or anything.
So, my head pressure is around 5~6 feets of 1" plumbing...
Hope that helped
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Here is a pic of my return. As you see no matter what I put on the line, it will has to be 3feet total length between pump and tank bulkhead since my stand is 3 feet)
You can see the straight line that is part silicon tubing 1" goes straight from pump to tank...
So I state again, head pressure is 5 to 5.5 feet.
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)You can see the straight line that is part silicon tubing 1" goes straight from pump to tank...
So I state again, head pressure is 5 to 5.5 feet.
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slief
RC Sponsor
Here is a pic of my return. As you see no matter what I put on the line, it will has to be 3feet total length between pump and tank bulkhead since my stand is 3 feet
You can see the straight line that is part silicon tubing 1" goes straight from pump to tank...
So I state again, head pressure is 5 to 5.5 feet.
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How many elbows including those that go into the tank? Is it 1” going into the tank or is it reduced down and if it’s reduced down, is it reduced down at the bottom of the tank? Are the return outlets actually 3’ above the return pump or higher? If higher, What is the total height between the return pump and return outlets? The flow sensor: Is that a 1” flow sensor or a larger one? The 1” flow sensor adds a fair amount of friction loss to 1” plumbing. It’s like reducing it down to 3/4”. It’s always best to increase the flow sensor size to reduce friction loss. In the end, I am betting your actual head loss including friction loss is higher than you think.
As I said and as the pictures show...there is no elbow.
Its straight 1" line from pump yo tank bulkhead then to the loc line hoes.
Also keep in mind i tested the same setup with RD3 and the flow read 1600gph, which means this plumbing can handle up to 1600gph.
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slief
RC Sponsor
But there has to be an elbow in the overflow where the return connects to the Lockline and the Lockline is 3/4" too so you have an elbow at the lockline that goes into the lockline and you are reducing down to 3/4" at the bottom of the tank where it connects to the bulkhead. And I am assuming that the lockline is 3/4" and not 1/2" lockline.
This isn't a question of whether the plumbing can handle 1600 GPH. This is more a question of the actual head pressure (head height + friction loss) and the pumps power curve when it comes to actual head pressure and I think you have much higher head pressure than you think. That is why I asked those questions. If you provide those answers, I can tell you pretty darn close to what your actual head loss is.
Yup totally I get it. Again all these details were included in my original post.
Straight 1" line from pump to bulkhead.
Then bulkhead, to Y 3/4" loc line fitting, to 2 loc line return hose inside the overflow box.
I do not use any elbow. If you are referring to inside the overflow box, I avoided using elbows so I do not creat bottle neck where I need a 3/4" elbow which means inside diameter is even smaller than 3/4". So I cascaded loc line hoses from the y fitting at the bulkhead up to the overflow box return opening...does that make sense?
Hope I did not confuse you more ha ha
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slief
RC Sponsor
And if your outlet is 4' above the pump, with a 1" flow sensor, a union, a bulkhead, the reduction at the bottom of the tank to 3/4", an elbow at the locline and the lockline output, your actual head pressure with friction loss is more like 10' of head pressure with that pump. Possibly more depending on the reducers and other fittings in and out of the bulkhead.
slief
RC Sponsor
So no elbows but the locline creates a lot of friction as well so while you did not use an elbow, the joints in the locline add friction too so you are still going to have over 10' of head pressure (with friction loss) and not 5 - 5.5' assuming you are at 48" of height between the return pump and outlets
Lol.
Man why would union add head pressure? Its 1" union.
Ince again there is no elbow on the setup, there y fitting which present a much smoother transition from the pvc to the loc line.
Agree with you on the 3/4" impact.
This setup is the simplest possible plumbing for a tank overflow, absolutely the simplest.
No elbows, not unnecessary transitions, all vertical. Have one reduction which is the 3/4" which again every overflow would need to do
).Anyway, I think things are clear now and data showed us couppe of things....
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Ha ha, I think you are guesstimsting way too much..ha ha.
Maybe..
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