Jandy Stealth Pool pumps vs Pentair Intelliflo Pool Pumps..  
By Joe Mehaffey
Revised August 2010

I have owned a Pentair Intelliflo 4x160 pool pump for two years.  It failed and I replaced it with a Jandy Stealth SHPF 1.5-2.  BOTH pumps are HIGH EFFICIENCY  rated pumps.  The major difference is that the Pentair Intelliflo 4x150 pump has continuously variable speed control whereas, the Jandy Stealth model has two fixed speeds.  I liked the continuously adjustable speed of the Intelliflo model, but the two speeds on the Jandy Stealth provide about 22psi to my pool equipment in HIGH mode and about 10psi in LOW mode.  This is almost precisely where I had set the two speeds I used on the Pentair and on the GE pump before that.  Click HERE for the data sheet for Jandy Stealth Pumps.  For the data sheet for the Pentair Intelliflo Pumps, Click HERE.  It is worth noting that the two pumps ARE both high efficiency pumps.  But the Jandy Stealth 1.5-2 model is slightly more efficient in electrical usage in my pump application than the Pentair Intelliflo 4x160 was at the same flow and lift.    Note:  The Intelliflo's adjustable speed over a wide HP range gives it great flexibility.  You can make a mistake in what pump you need and the 4x160 can compensate.  On the other hand, for the Jandy Stealth, you need to properly select the right pump by looking at your needed flow rate and lift and then pick the model with the horsepower you need.  If you can pick the right model for your needs, the proper Jandy model will likely cost you less than the Intelliflo model.  Note:  Jandy has an equivalent to the Intelliflo model in their Jandy ePump models.  Despite Jandy Tech Support telling me initially that a customer  COULD buy their ePump Motor Drive Controller as a spare part in case of failure,  this appears NOT to be the case as with Pentair.  Jandy's eMail  to Dave Anderson follows:

From: joseph.turney@zmp-zodiac.com [mailto:joseph.turney@zmp-zodiac.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 5:50 PM
To: David Anderson
Subject: RE: Jandy variable flow ePump
Part number R0474900 is the part number for a replacement  motor speed drive for the ePump. It is currently unavailable for purchase separately.
Thank you for your feedback.
Regards,

Joseph Turney
Technical Support Representative
Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc
Barracuda, Jandy, Nature2 and Polaris Pool Products



Features of the two pumps are as follows:

Feature --------------------------------------------------------Pentair 4x160 ---------------==---------Jandy Stealth SHPF 1.5-2
HP Rating                                                                   3HP                                                   1.5HP
Speeds                                                                        Continuously Variable                      2 speeds (stealth models with -2 suffix)
Water Flow at 22psi total head in my system          100gpm                                              100gpm   
Electric usage at 22psi total head and ~100gpm     1840 watts                                          1725 watts 
Pump HP ratings available in the Line                     adjustable, up to ~3HP                      .75HP, 1HP, 1.5HP, 2HP, 3HP   
Filter Basket with Quick Release Caps                  ~ 1 gallon size                                      ~2 gallon size (bigger is better)
Price for the pump unit not installed                        Approx $940  for 4x160 model           Approx $650 for 1.5HP, 2 speed model
Pipe Connections                                                      Threaded 2" FPT on 4x160                Built in 2" slip PVC unions on inlet and outlet
Electrical Connections                                              1/2" FPT threaded                              1/2" FPT threaded connection
Remote Speed Control Method                               Requires $300+ accessory                 Feed Com + HIGH for high speed/ Com+ LOW for low speed.
Built in Speed controls                                              Push button panel on motor               None built in.  Requires an external SPDT 10A rated switch or relay
Motor speed can be changed motor running           YES                                                      YES
Motor Rated for Outdoor Use                               Yes, but ** See note 1                          YES
Reliability Outlook                                                 Not Good.  See HERE                          Too Early to comment.. I like that you can get all parts for repair.

**Note 1:  I have seen two Intelliflo 4x160 motors fail in outdoor pool pump service.  One failed when the temperature got down to the range of 12F.  This one failed by stopping  when the temperature got down to below about 12F and going into "alarm" but it would manually restart.  It had to be replaced as it caused considerable filter system damage in Winter 2009/ when the Atlanta area had a big freeze and the pump stopped running.  Freeze protection IS rather important.    The second motor drive controller failed completely in the summer of 2010 and the pump had to be replaced. This failure, same as in the first pump unit, involved a failure in the Motor Drive Module atop the motor. Pentair still  refuses to supply replacement Motor Drive Modules for Intelliflo 4x160 pumps as of Summer 2010.   Thus, complete pump system replacement was the only option.   Similarly, Jandy does NOT offer replacement motors drive controllers  for their ePump models.  The Jandy Stealth  pump motors are manufactured in the USA by A O Smith Company.  Intelliflo Motors are said to be manufactured in Denmark and the manufacturer is not published by Pentair and Pentair will not divulge.the name of the motor vendor.

**Note 2:  NEVER ASSUME that just because a particular item is in the Pentair  or Jandy Parts Breakdown or Parts List, that you will be able to actually BUY such a part!  Let the buyer beware!  If Pentair or Jandy changes this policy, please let me know and my opinion of these vendors will be different!

**Note 3:  I suggest that any electronically controlled pump be routinely equipped with Lightning Surge Suppressors.  These motors can be sensitive to surges and since they cannot be economically repaired extra care in this regard is prudent.
 
My Opinion as of Summer 2010 is as follows:                
I have had the Jandy Stealth pump only a few weeks now.  My first impressions are that it is a well built pump.  The motor in the Jandy Stealth pump IS replaceable at a reasonable price if it ever fails unlike the completely unrepairable motor system on the Pentair Intelliflo  and Jandy ePump models.   The efficiency of the Jandy Stealth pump appears to be slightly better than the Intelliflo pump in my particular application.  

Of the Pentair Intelliflo 4x160 pumps, I can only say that  the pump seems well designed and is quiet and efficient.  But its reliability has proved poor.  Worse,  the most prone to fail component in my own experience, the motor drive controller, is not offered as a spare part by Pentair.  Any electric motor or motor drive controller failure outside the one year warranty requires that you purchase and install a completely new pump of one kind or another.  It is as if your automobile had an unreliable engine but no parts were available and you had to buy a new car if your car's motor ever failed out of warranty.  No..  It makes no sense to me either!  Maybe someday, someone at Pentair and/or Jandy will change this policy.  Until then,  my advice is to NOT buy a Jandy ePump or Pentair Intelliflo pump..

Comments?  Suggestions?  eMail Joe