For homeowners looking to cut pool operating costs, your pool pump motor is the best place to start. By upgrading to a variable speed pool pump, you’ll gain efficiency, durability, versatility, and monetarily.
What is the VGreen EVO?
The Century VGreen EVO variable speed motor is the manufacturing giant’s new replacement variable speed replacement motor. Century motors have designed the VGreen EVO to replace their original variable speed ECM VGreen series. The EVO uses the same durable and super-efficient variable speed motor platform as the ECM Series and couples it with its new easy one-button programming interface.
One of the downsides of the old ECM motors was the fragility of their mounted control. The ECM’s LCD screen was susceptible to malfunctions; the intricate button display did not hold up well to the elements. In addition, a timer malfunction caused most warranty claims for the ECM series. Century’s goal with the EVO V-Green re-design was to make a mounted control as durable as their motors.
The VGreen Evo is backed by an 18-month manufacturer warranty.
What’s new about the VGreen EVO?
The Evo’s key features make it the best Variable speed motor on the market.
- One-Button Programming
- Horsepower Range
- Dual Voltage
The VGreen Evo’s one-button user interface is the most significant improvement over its predecessors. The user can schedule, set RPM speed, and override or pause set pump schedules with a button press. The simple menu navigation guide in the image shows you how to access each section; once you’ve adjusted the desired settings, press and hold the button for 3 seconds to return to the main menu.
One-Button Programming
The VGreen Evo is equipped with eight pre-programmed schedule settings. First, select the schedule mode by pressing and holding the Operating Mode Button for 3 seconds, then pressing the same button 1-8 times to select the desired schedule.
Override Mode sets the motor to 3450 RPM (high speed) for 24 hours or until the user exits Override Mode. Press and hold the operating mode button for 3 seconds to exit Override mode.
Use Pause Mode to halt the motor’s run schedule. Engage pause Mode by pressing and holding the Operating Mode Button 2 times; to exit Pause mode and return to the regular filter schedule, press and hold the Operating Mode Button for 3 seconds.
Horsepower Range
The VGreen Evo offers a versatile horsepower range. Its 1.30 HP, 1.65 HP, and 2.2HP options make them more energy efficient on pumps of 1 horsepower or below. The original ECM variable speed motors only offered 1.65 and 2.7 HP motor options, which meant a 1 HP pump would have the output of a 1 HP model but the energy consumption of a 1.5 HP model.
The EVO is available in the round flange and square flange configurations. The round flange motors are used on common pool pumps models like the Hayward Super Pump, Hayward Super II, Jacuzzi Magnum, and the Jandy Stealth Original JHP & JHPU. The square flange VGreen Evo motors are commonly used on the Pentair WhisperFlo, Pentair Challenger, Pentair SuperFlo, Sta-Rite Dura-Glas, Sta-Rite Max-E-Pro, and Jandy Stealth SHPF & SHPM.
Dual Voltage
The Evo variable speed motors offer dual voltage service; they can be operated on 115V or 230V. Other dual-speed or variable-speed pool pump motors are only compatible with one of the other voltages; most dual and variable-speed pump motors can only accept 230V.
The top speed output of the 1.65HP and 2.25 HP motor models is restricted to 1.65 total horsepower when using 115V.
| Total Horsepower (THP) | RPM | Volts | Amps | Service Factor | Flange | VGreen EVO™ Motor P/N |
| 1.30 | 600-3450 | 230/ 115 | 8.6/ 15.6 | 1.0 | Square | EVQ130 |
| 1.65* | 600-3450 | 230/ 115 | 10.5/ 17.7 | 1.0 | Square | EVQ165 |
| 2.25* | 600-3450 | 230/ 115 | 13.5/ 17.4 | 1.0 | Square | EVQ225 |
| 1.30 | 600-3450 | 230/ 115 | 8.6/ 15.6 | 1.0 | Round | EVC130 |
| 1.65* | 600-3450 | 230/ 115 | 10.5/ 17.7 | 1.0 | Round | EVC165 |
| 2.25* | 600-3450 | 230/ 115 | 13.5/ 17.4 | 1.0 | Round | EVC225 |
Pool Automation Compatibility
As of the writing of this article, The Century VGreen Evo is only basic on/off functionality with most pool automation systems like the Pentair EasyTouch, Intellitouch, Hayward AquaLogic, ProLogic, and Intermatic Control Panels with Timers.
Century is planning a timer board upgrade to allow more pool automation functionality. In addition, the upgraded board will be available for aftermarket upgrades of the original motors.
We’ll update this article when board updates are available; we’ll complete a tutorial on How to Install the Upgraded Vgreen Evo VS Motor PC Board.
Variable Speed Pool Pump Motor Conversion Kits
With our Variable Speed Pool Conversion Kits, Inyo Pools has made it even easier to switch your old single or dual-speed pump to a variable speed. The upgrade kits include your choice of the VGReen Evo Motor (1.65 HP or 2.25HP), pump model-specific saltwater-friendly seal kit, and any hardware like impeller or diffuser to get the max performance out of your new variable speed motor.
Find the correct kit for your pump model using our pool pump kit compatibility chart listed by manufacturer:
- Hayward Pool Pump Variable Speed Motor Upgrade Kits
- Pentair Pool Pump Variable Speed Motor Upgrade Kits
- Sta-Rite Pool Pump Variable Speed Motor Upgrade Kits
- Pureline Pool Pump Variable Speed Upgrade Kit Compatibility Chart
Need Help Finding Your Hayward Pool Pump Replacement Motor? Send our pool and spa experts pictures of your pump motor label and pool pump housing, and we’ll find the pool pump parts you need.
I’ll never buy one of these again unless a miracle occurs and this company will finally stand behind its product. For the third time (shame on me), I almost certainly have a perfectly fine motor with an absurdly non-replaceable timer that’s apparently gone bad. I turned the motor off, cleaned my chlorinator, then it never turned back on again. How ridiculous that turning it off can ruin a pump motor. At first, there were no lights lit at all. Then I had green, but nothing happened. Then the red started flashing. I turned off the breaker and after 39 seconds the red went solid to match the green. Then they both went out. It’s not locked up. I can turn the impeller by hand.
Is the timer board upgrade available yet for those of us that purchased this before century connect was included? Thanks
I’ve not heard of a conversion kit to switch the old ECM to the EVO, unfortunately.
I don’t think it was for the ECM. The concern is one that I have as well. I purchased an EVC225 some time ago, and it didn’t support RS485. Now it does with no change in SKU or any other product differentiation other than “Century Connect”
Can we get a status update directly from Century on getting this updated board they’ve promised?
The original motor would have been bought (in most cases, at least) with the knowledge that the ECM did not contain that functionality at that time. From the literature I’ve browsed over the years, I’ve not seen any that state Century would upgrade the older units with the updated boards.
Think of it in terms of a car. If you buy a Ford Focus one year that came standard with manual window controls, then the electronic windows were made the standard the next year, and the older units are not updated to the new standard. It still has the same make and model, but the features have changed due to the evolution of the design.
If the motor fails within its warranty period, you will most likely get a replacement motor with up-to-date features.
What is the noise level of the VGreen EVO motor in decibels
The pump housing design also influences the decibel levels of the pump. But as you can see from the chart below, they all range from 40 to 80 decibels depending on the RPM.
The high pitch whine from this motor is awful at higher rpm, which I need to use for the suction powered pool cleaner. Do NOT buy If you need to use it at higher rpm.