Head Test
The first test we did was to measure the head. As you know, head is the ability of the pump to elevate water above a certain elevation. To do this, we measured the water level reached inside a rubber hose.
As you can see in the previous photo, we secure the pipe to the balcony. Then we turn on the pumps we need to measure, and after waiting 10 minutes for them to stabilize, we measure their head. We repeat this for each power step. In the video you can see an excerpt of this working methodology. We then present the table that we extrapolated from the data we measured.
The head starts from 111 cm to 430 cm. The trend is rather low and linear until the 5th step, where it starts to increase. The last 2 steps increase the head considerably. The maximum stated head is 420 cm, so the two values are practically coincident. Nothing to add, and in this case bravo Amtra.
Flow Test
Measuring the flow rate was easy thanks to the flow meter DigiSavant DIGIFLOW 6710M. First, we proceeded to connect our connecting tubes to our flow meter. In the video we explained our procedure in detail.
We tried to make the meter fit snugly against the pump outlet. The measurement is expressed in liters per minute. Then simply multiply the result by 60 to get the liters per hour.
Of course, we point out that the measurement is valid within the conditions under which we made the measurements. The connecting pipe so designed may have induced leakage in the system.
The system thus designed gave us the following values:
Numbers that translated into liters now lead us to the following table:
The maximum flow rate was 3,690 l/h (or 61.5 l/m*60), just below the 4,000 l/h declared. The pump thus achieved 92.3% of the declared value, under the test conditions. An excellent result, the best ever measured in the DaniReef LAB for a centrifugal pump with variable flow rate. Indeed, consider 66% of the Ecotech Marine Vectra M1, 67% of the Waveline DC6000, 70% of the Hydor Seltz D6000, 86% of the Rossmont RX 3200, 82.6 percent of the Rossmont RX 5000, and 82.3 percent of the ASF NewJet NJ2000, just to name a few of the pumps we’ve been testing lately. And remember that we have also had the opportunity to try pumps with flow rates less than 50 percent of the stated… On page 3 we will show the comparisons with all the return pumps we have measured.
When you have to employ a return pump pay attention to the following aspects that can lower, even drastically, its flow rate. Use the biggest hose nozzle that comes with it. Always use a pipe that is wide enough. The pipe should be as short as possible and make as few 90-degree turn as possible. Otherwise, the expected flow rate will decrease even more dramatically.
Energy Consumption Test
The detection of instantaneous consumption was made possible through the use of the convenient tool RCE PM600 which is also capable of measuring Cos(fi) (or phasing). The result is given directly in watts.
The following graph descends from the measurements.
The stated maximum consumption of the Amtra Stream Sump 4000 is 43 watts, according to our measurements we are at a maximum of 44 watts, practically a 2.3% more than the stated value. Again we can say that the value is practically coincident.
Considering a consumption of 44 watts, and an energy cost of 0.27 euro per kwh, we could employ this pump continuously for a full year at its maximum performance with a consumption of about 402 kwh, from which comes a cost of 109 euro per year, or 9 euro per month. A totally negligible cost.
Given the size of the pump and especially given its flow rate, it was not possible to conduct our usual noise test. But in our video you can appreciate the almost total silence of the pump.
To decrease noise, 4 small soft rubber feet are given that fit into the slide, which in turn fits under the pump body. With the dual purpose of decreasing vibration and noise.
On page three you will find our final evaluations of the pump and comparisons with all of the return pumps we have measured to date.
