Sta-Rite EQ Installation Manual

EQ Series® Strainer Pot Owner's Manual

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Table of Contents

SECTION I. GENERAL INFORMATION .............................................................................................................. 2

SECTION II. MECHANICAL INSTALLATION AND PRESSURE TESTING ........................................................... 2

SECTION III. INITIAL OPERATION ...................................................................................................................... 6

SECTION IV. CLEANING THE STRAINER BASKET ............................................................................................ 6

SECTION V. REPLACEMENT PARTS ................................................................................................................ 8

SECTION VI. STRAINER POT ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL DATA ....................................................................... 9-10

TECHNICAL SUPPORT ................................................................................................................ 11

WARNING

Read and follow all warning notices and instructions accompanying this product before installing.
Failure to follow safety warnings and instructions can result in severe injury, death, or property damage.
Call [phone] (US) for additional free copies of these instructions.

Important Notice

Attention Installer.

This manual contains important information about the installation, operation and safe use of this
product. This information should be given to the owner/operator of this equipment.

CE marking only applies to 50 Hz models:
EQK300, EQK500, EQK750, and EQK1000.

Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.

1620 Hawkins Ave., Sanford, NC 27330 • [phone]
10951 West Los Angeles Ave., Moorpark, CA 93021 • [phone]

www.pentairpool.com and starite.com

Rev. E 02-12-07 1 P/N 350062

SECTION I. GENERAL INFORMATION

This product is intended for use in swimming pool applications only. It may be mounted directly to a Pentair Pool Products
EQ Series pump. This will provide filtration of debris that could damage the pump and will allow the pump to be self-priming
in installations up to 10 feet. The exact height at which a pump can prime depends on many installation and environmental
factors.

The EQ Strainer Pot Assembly may also be mounted as a separate unit in the suction line of a circulation system.

CAUTION

If this product is to be attached to an EQ Series Pump you also must read and follow all warning notices and
instructions in the pump manual.

SECTION II. MECHANICAL INSTALLATION AND PRESSURE TESTING

A. MECHANICAL INSTALLATION

1. Carefully remove the strainer pot assembly from its shipping package.

2. Determine the installation location of the strainer pot assembly. Ensure that adequate space and lighting is
provided for routine maintenance.

3. It is good practice to install a valve on the suction line before this unit and on the return line after the pump so
that both items can be isolated for routine maintenance.

CAUTION

The strainer pot assembly is shipped with the correct screws and O-Ring for attaching the strainer pot assembly to the
Pentair Pool Products EQ Series pump. These screws and the O-Ring should be discarded and different hardware
should be obtained if this unit is to be installed as a separate stand-alone strainer. See the diagram below for installing
the strainer pot assembly as a separate stand-alone unit. (Please note that if stainless steel screws and nuts are
obtained to make the pipe flange connection that galling may occur making proper tightening of the flange connection

impossible. Galling of threads can be resolved by using stainless steel screws and brass nuts.)

It will be necessary to obtain the following to connect the strainer pot flange to a 15.24 cm (6") Pipe. Double the
quantities shown below if the unit is to be installed as a stand-alone unit and two flange connections must be made.

Some local codes may require the use of ¾ in. fasteners instead of 5/8 in.

8 Hex Head Cap Screws 5/8 in.-11 X 3-1/4 in. Long

16 Washers Nominal ID 5/8 OD 1-5/16 or larger

8 Hex Nuts
1 Gasket 3.2 mm (1/8") Thick EPDM or Nitrile Full Face (with holes) For Class 125/150 Flange
1 Flange 15.24 cm (6") ANSI Class 150

4. Plan carefully the layout of adjacent plumbing including cutting pipe to the exact length and ensuring that flange
will be aligned and square with the strainer pot assembly. Note that the strainer must be installed so that water
flow travels into the upper flange and out the bottom flange. Note: It is good practice to install a straight section
of pipe (free of valves or fittings) that is at least 76 cm (30") long on the inlet side of the strainer. If the strainer
pot assembly is installed as a stand alone unit, another straight piece of pipe at least 76 cm (30") long should be
installed to connect the strainer assembly to the pump housing. Glue plumbing in place once you are certain that
fit ups are correct.

P/N 350062 2 Rev. E 02-12-07

5. Ensure that the flange gasket is properly
positioned between the strainer pot
flange and the top flange connection.
Use only high quality, full diameter,

3.2 mm (1/8") thick gaskets with holes

70 DURO NITRILE OR EPDM
1/8" THICK GASKET

5/8" ID X 1-5/16 MIN. OD
FLAT WASHER

HEX HEAD CAP SCREW
5/8-11 X 3-1/4"

for the bolts to pass through. It may be
necessary to hold the gasket in place with
either silicone or two or three drops of
cyanoacrylate (super glue). Do not use
any other grease or glue as they may
contain chemicals that could attack the
plastic material.

HEX NUT 5/8-11

5/8 ID X 1-5/16 MIN. OD

FLAT WASHER

6" ANSI CLASS 150 FLANGE

6. Install the flange screws, washers and
nuts hand tight on the first flange

Figure 1.

connection as shown in the diagram.

7. Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 for the lower flange connection unless the strainer is directly attached to a Pentair Pool
Products EQ Series pump.

8. Inspect both flange connection(s) to ensure that the flanges of the strainer pot and the connection flanges are in
line and that the faces are parallel. Take any corrective action to properly align flanges before tightening the
flange screws to the required torque.

CAUTION

Use large diameter flat washers (at least 1-5/16 in. outer diameter) between the hex nut and the strainer pot assembly
flanges to properly distribute the clamping forces on the flanges. Tighten the flange bolts to 27.1 newton meter (20 ft-lb)
unless otherwise specified by the flange manufacturer. If it is not possible to use a torque wrench then care should be
taken not to over tighten the flange bolts. Failure to follow the above instructions can result in damaging the strainer pot

flanges.

CAUTION

Suction and discharge piping must be supported by an appropriate system of supports or hangers. Inadequately
supported pipe can cause excessive loads to be transmitted to the strainer pot assembly resulting in a structural failure

that could result in flooding and property damage.

B. PRESSURE TESTING

Certain local codes require that the circulation system be pressure tested with a proof pressure before being
commissioned into service or before allowing construction to progress to the next stage.

WARNING

This product is intended to operate on the suction side of the pump and must not be installed on the pressure side of a
circulation system. Extreme caution should be taken when applying pressure to this product during a system pressure
test as this product has a lower pressure rating than other components in the system. Exceeding the pressure or
temperature rating during the pressure test can result in a structural failure. A structural failure of the strainer pot
assembly can cause the instantaneous release of energy causing failed components to be accelerated to high velocities
and to travel distances of 30.5 m (100 feet) or more. These components could cause severe personal injury or death if

they were to strike a person.

Rev. E 02-12-07 3 P/N 350062

WARNING

CORRECT
FULLY
OVERLAP
TAB OF
LOCKING
RING
AND POT

INCORRECT
TAB OF
LOCKING RING
AND POT IS
NOT FULLY
OVERLAPPED.

CORRECT NO!

It is important that the four tabs on the locking ring be fully overlapped with the four tabs on the strainer pot before
performing a pressure test. If the locking ring is under tightened or over tightened so that the tabs do not fully overlap

with tabs on the pot a structural failure can occur. A structural failure can cause severe personal injury or death.

CAUTION

This product is shipped with a pressure relief valve. This device must be installed into the 0.6 cm (¼") NPT
drain opening before the strainer pot assembly is pressure tested if an installer's pressure test is required.
This pressure relief device is not intended to replace a pressure regulator and cannot relieve the system of
pressure if the installer over pressurizes the system rapidly during the pressure test process. The device
is intended to function as a low volume pressure relief should a gradual increase in pressure occur due to
changes in temperature or atmospheric pressure once the test pressure is established.

WARNING

Improperly pressure testing a circulation system can involve significant risk of property damage or severe personal
injury or death. Circulation systems store energy when pressure tested due to the elastic nature of the materials used in
construction and due to the compressibility of air that may be contained in the system. The instructions below should be
considered a guide only. Each installation should be considered a unique situation that should be carefully investigated
for risk.

WARNING

Never test this equipment with air pressure even if specified by the local code. Even low levels of air pressure result in
tremendous storage of energy that can instantaneously be released if a system failure occurs. This instantaneous
release of energy can cause failed components to be accelerated to high velocities and to travel distances of 30.5 m
(100 feet) or more. These components could cause severe personal injury or death if they were to strike a person.

1. Understand the local code. The intent of the code may be to ensure that the piping system with its many bonded
joints is leak free. Piping systems typically have a higher pressure capability than the other system components
such as the pump or filter. Do not pressure test this product unless the code specifically requires this.

2. Verify that each component in the system is designed to meet the local code test pressure. Most components
should be marked with a maximum operating pressure. If a component is not marked consult the Owner’s
Instructions that came with the
component or consult the manufacturer.

3. Verify that the pressure test will be
conducted within the operating
temperature listed on the components
that make up the circulation system.
If no maximum operating temperature is
listed then it may be necessary to review
the owner’s manual or contact the
manufacturer for this information.
It is common practice for plastic
components to be pressure rated at
22° C (72° F). and then derated for
temperatures greater than this.

Figure 2.

P/N 350062 4 Rev. E 02-12-07