In the Adam Sandler movie “Big Daddy” Rob Schneider’s character states, “They go together like lamb chops and peanut butter.” Well… This is obviously not a great pairing. But too often in the world of pumps that’s the pairing we use.
Generic controls are purchased and installed with pumps. The control options are plentiful, at times overwhelming. Many of these options are only available at time of purchase and the ability to add them after the panel has been built and installed is nearly impossible, short of rebuilding the entire panel.
In most cases there is little guidance available to navigate this minefield of options. There are nuances about controls that installers may not be aware of. There are likely specifics about pumps (and their installation and operation) that panel suppliers may not know about and ultimately it falls to the contractor to deliver an operable system.
For many pump manufacturers the controls they offer are OEM units manufactured by “partner” companies. The sales and support teams from the pump manufacturer sometimes have little or no specific competence relating to the “out sourced” controls and issues encountered by contractors in the field are handed off to others to solve.
In some cases pump manufacturers may simply decline to offer the control package as it is outside of their scope, leaving the supplier and installer on their own to provide a solution. This scenario is not uncommon and certainly does not come from devious place. It has simply been the evolution of the pump industry.
Finally, though, there is a growing number of pump companies that are finally offering in house control and panel solutions. These manufacturers clearly understand both the pump operation and pump control side of the equation and are sensitive to installation challenges as well.
They can directly offer product selection expertise, anticipate issues or conflicts that the installer and even specifying engineers may not be able to foresee and can pro-actively create application and installation specific solutions.
They can offer expandability options based on their specific pump knowledge and integrate features that allow future upgrades, such as energy monitoring, remote control, etc.
Perhaps most beneficial is that pump manufacturers who offer in house control and panel solutions are a one stop warranty for the contractor and end user. The contractor and supplier will not get shuffled around as the pump manufacturers and control suppliers fight a turf war as to where warranty responsibility lies.
Certainly there are many quality pump manufacturers in our industry today, and likewise for control and panel manufacturers. But, finding those manufacturers that can provide the contractor with one stop shopping and expanded expertise for both can be crucial for a trouble free installation and start up.