Are All Motors Created Equal?

If you are one of the lucky ones who can still read your motor label, you’re already one step ahead of the game. Searching for your replacement pool motor can seem rather daunting at first. Take your model number, type it into the search field on our site, and VOILA your motor pops up. However, after clicking on the motor you notice one major difference – the horsepower. You are absolutely certain the motor in your hand has a 1.5 horsepower motor, but the one listed on the website is a 1.0 horsepower. Thinking you must have typed in the wrong number, you re-enter the model number again. Same result.

So, is the 1.0 horsepower the same as a 1.5 horsepower?

Maybe.

Because this is a loaded question, we first must understand the dynamics between the specs on your motor label.

First thing first…

Before we are able to conclude whether the 1.5 horsepower is the same as the 1.0 horsepower, you must first analyze the other specs on your motor.

The essential piece of information you need to look for is called the Service Factor (SF). Sometimes the manufacturer does not lay out this information clearly, so you may need to search for it. The SF measures the overload capacity built in a motor.

You don’t necessarily need to know what the SF means to the operation of the motor, as much as what it actually does. The SF serves as a multiplier to your horsepower which indicates the amount of additional load your motor can handle.

Calculating Your Total Horsepower

By keeping in mind what the service factor does, you realize the horsepower listed on the label is not the actual horsepower of your motor. To calculate your total horsepower, multiply your horsepower by your service factor. That number will give you your total or true horsepower.

HORSEPOWER (HP) X SERVICE FACTOR (SF) = TOTAL HORSEPOWER (THP)

Full rated vs. Uprated

The differences between a full rated motor and an uprated motor is the gray area which a lot of pool owners have questions about. In short, an uprated motor is taking a smaller horsepower and changing the rating on the service factor to create the impression that the motor has more power than it actually does.

For example, on a 1.0 horsepower full rated motor, the service factor is 1.65, making it’s total horsepower 1.65. But, on a 1.0 horsepower up rated motor, the service factor is only 1.13, making the total horsepower 1.13. This is actually equivalent to a .75 horsepower full rated motor. The chart above shows the typical service factor rating for each horsepower in both full and uprated motors.

Therefore, a 1.0 horsepower full rated and a 1.0 horsepower up rated motor are not the same. You cannot replace a 1.0 full rated motor with a 1.0 uprated motor.

However, you can replace your 1.0 Full rated motor with a 1.5 HP uprated motor. This is because they both will have the same total horsepower.

Don’t fret if your motor is not labeled uprated or full rated. In many cases, it may not be labeled at all. What really matters is whether your total horsepowers are equivalent. Always check your service factor and horsepower to figure out the total horsepower.

Is a 1.0 horsepower motor the same as a 1.5 horsepower motor? Maybe and sometimes. The answer all depends upon the all-important service factor number. The sure way to determine is to calculate the total horsepower by multiplying your horsepower by your service factor and to compare.

The most important thing to remember when replacing a motor is that the replacement motor’s horsepower times its service factor must be equal to or greater than the original motor’s horsepower times its service factor.

If you are ever stuck or cannot find the exact model or part number to your motor, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 877-372-6038 and we’d be more than happy to help find the correct motor.