New Guardian® Motors Available with Integrated Safety Vacuum Release System
Tipp City, Ohio—A. O. Smith Electrical Products Company is introducing an enhanced version of its eMod® pool and spa motor technology under the Guardian® brand name that is Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS) compliant for suction lift applications.
In addition to delivering all of the features and benefits of the original line of A. O. Smith and Century® eMod pool and spa motors, the Guardian design reacts faster to full-body suction entrapments and is less prone to nuisance trips. The new Guardian motors are ETL listed to the ASME A112.19.17 SVRS standard and also comply with requirements for Safety Vacuum Release Systems in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act of 2007.
"This advancement is significant because the North American pool and spa industry has been searching for an SVRS that is economical, easy to install, maintenance free, and passes the ASME standard," Warren Doney, market manager of A. O. Smith Electrical Products Company, observed. "Our engineers have been working diligently to improve the response time of the original eMod system, and they have developed an improved product that meets the new standards.”
Unlike a conventional SVRS, which is typically an add-on device, Guardian load-sensing electronics are fully integrated into the pool and spa motors.
"We think that the industry and the consumer will embrace this technology because a pool owner can upgrade their in-ground system simply by replacing their existing pump or motor with one equipped with Guardian technology," Doney pointed out.
As with the original eMod technology, the new Guardian automatically calibrates to the specific hydraulic and filtration characteristics of the pool at initial start-up. The electronics constantly monitor the input power of the motor and detect any changes in the operating conditions of the pool such as clogged drain, jammed pump or locked rotor, drops in input power (that can cause "dry running" of the pump), or suction entrapment. Any time the electronics detect these conditions, the motor and pump shut off automatically, avoiding damage to the pump, motor, or pool system itself.
"The motor is designed to fail in the "off" position," Doney explained, "meaning if the electronics are defeated or tampered with, the motor shuts off." The load-sensing circuitry is protected by an impact-resistant, high-density plastic housing. The protective compartment is attached directly to the motor and resists weathering, ultra-violet light, and is tamper-proof.
"While A. O. Smith Guardian motors equipped with load-sensing technology are an important part of a safe pool environment, they do not solve the total entrapment issue by themselves," Doney cautioned. For the full guidelines on entrapment refer to the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals web site, www.apsp.com or the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov
A. O. Smith Electrical Product Company based in Tipp City, Ohio, manufactures a comprehensive line of fractional horsepower A/C and D/C, hermetic, and integral horsepower electric motors used in a wide array of consumer, commercial, and industrial products.