Low pressure in filter?

[JohnT]

You'd have to have a high-head filter to get anything close to 50psi. Mine only goes to 36psi with the returns plugged. Don't ask how I know that. I bet you have gauge problems.

[Poconos]

John is right. Way too high and probably impossible to reach with a regular impeller type pump. My 1 HP superpump can only hit around 30 with blocked flow. At least with the Hayward sand filter tanks, they are only rated to 50 psi. Really sounds like a messed up gauge for starters.
Al

[mkelley]

Well, it's a 2 1/2 HP pump, and the pool guy which set it up seemed to think the pressure was okay but even assuming for a minute the gauge itself is inaccurate it wouldn't negate the fact that it suddenly read about half of what it read previous.

I haven't checked the basket yet (will tomorrow morning -- was too busy tonight) but otherwise I'm not sure what could be going on. Everything else (infloor cleaning, skimmer, spa) seems to be working fine.

[Poconos]

If the pool guy thinks 40 psi is OK then I'd change pool guys. The system isn't sized properly. Could be small piping, small filter, way oversized pump, or anything in the return side that is limiting the flow. I don't know anything about DE filters other than what I've learned from this forum but if we assume the filter is the restriction causing high pressure what if a grid broke and you're just bypassing the filter media? Also, what about the pressure during backwash. Did that change?
Al

[mkelley]

This system is *exactly* the same as three others in this development (including initial pressure readings) so for the moment I'll assume it was set up properly and either folks here don't have experience with this kind of system (and therefore can't help me) or just don't get it.

Since nothing else is working incorrectly except for the gauge pressure drop I guess I'm not going to worry about this further. But thanks for the replies.