Intelliflo vs Whisperflo

[PoolDoc]

And, finally, there's a problem with the entire concept of the P1353ME.

With the T10406R, it's a little tricky to wire, but once it's in, it's done for the next 20 years. You can mis-set it, so the pump doesn't run when it's supposed to. You can mis-set it so it might not prime properly. But realistically, once you get it set properly, if you tighten the mechanical trippers down, it's SET for the next 20 years as well.

Pretty much the worst that can happen is that the clocks get off, and so the pumps come on at midnight, instead of 8am.

That is NOT the case with the Intermatic P1353ME. If you have wired for "Mode 7" (P-HI, P-LO, AUX) and accidentally leave it in "Mode 6" (AUX1, AUX2, AUX3), there is the possibility of powering the high speed winding and the low speed winding AT THE SAME time.

It gets worse. There are (3) different versions of the instructions for the P1353ME (as of May 2012). One shows 5 modes, one shows 6 modes, and one shows 7 modes:

FIVE MODES -http://www.poolandspacontrols.com/~/media/Files/PoolAndSpaControls/Products/Instructions/P1353ME.ashx
SIX MODES - http://www.poolandspacontrols.com/~/...PE45343RC.ashx
SEVEN MODES - http://www.intermatic.com/~/media/In...20Catalog.ashx

That pretty much tells you that there's trouble in customer support land.

Bottom line: I would recommend calling Intermatic (815-675-2321 or 815-675-7000 --www.poolandspacontrols.com) and asking them

1. Where is the P1353ME is manufactured?
2. Why the manuals for the unit show 5, 6, or 7 modes?
3. Where you can find UP-TO-DATE manuals?
4. Whether a T10604R or a P1353ME would be more reliable in a lightning prone area, like North Carolina.

[wendellb]

This is what I wanted to know. I hate to pay somebody to do something I can do myself. The T10406R is the way I'm going. I like the sound of the 20 yr part too. Speaking of lightening, our power was knocked out for 14 hrs just two days ago and a huge poplar got blown apart just a few hundred feet away.

Anyway, I'll digest all this info and do some parts searches. It looks like you've got me on the right path.

Many thanks!

[PoolDoc]

Good deal.

Once you have the timer and pump, running your wiring plan past Mark or me, before you hook it up --- unless you are an experienced controls electrician (in which case, you can help us!).

[wendellb]

Will do.