Nice cheap pump
- Thread starter Sparky
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- Jan 24, 2019
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FWIW, I bought some very inexpensive pumps called Eco Plus from a local hydroponics store for temporary tanks while I rebuild my pond. They are both so QUIET - Im impressed. Some of those Ive had in the past in the winter basement tanks were so loud you could hear them upstairs - Im sure the vibration is not good for fish.
Energy audits can be exhausting but very revealing. Kudos for you for the effort as so many “read the box” and that’s it. You buy a car that says it gets X mpg yet we still check for real world results. That’s what I’m after here. To be honest when I bought said pump, I purchased full well thinking I’d be replacing the first or second season with something better. Power usage was not in my scope of thought at the time. Don’t get me wrong though. I’m all about upgrading and maxing efficiency. I finally upgraded my air system to a single pump in my fishroom. Once it’s insulated and sealed correctly I’m eliminating all heaters and keeping room temp tropical zone. I’ve converted 100% to LED lighting (even my beloved MH reef light is gone). Anyway I was asking for real world data simply as an electrician who has seen many a claims on “official” nameplate ratings of which little or none of these pond pumps have. So we have our SIMPLE DELUXE (gotta love that name) 1056gph. The “numbers” 120V 64W (who the heck said 270?!). Real world data 119V 54W at 2.2A under load. At the price and reliability so far? Doing ok. Yep there’s better. Wait, who said 270W? Oh, Amazon.
So, 120 * 2.2 gives 264 VA (volt-amps).. My guess is, someone confused the two.
So, if the pump is only pulling 64W, but 2.2A, that means it has a garbage power factor - it's pulling a ton of current, but the current isn't in sync with the voltage, so it's not true power. It's effectively taking a bunch of extra power, but then reflecting it back into the line instead of using it.
You're going to pay slightly more per watt for the heat you're dumping into the wiring in your house to circulate that extra current, but realistically it'll cost very little. If you were an industrial or commercial customer, the electric company would bill you extra for that, because you're increasing the delivery cost.
A better pump would almost certainly have a better power factor.