Century A.O. Smith - B2983 Square Flange 1.5/0.19HP Dual Speed Full Rated 56Y Motor

I purchased this motor to replace a failed single speed A.O.Smith B854 (which now seems to be sold as B2854). This motor has the same frame, shaft, and other dimensions so it was a drop-in replacement.

If you happen to have a Jandy Aqualink power center and are also upgrading from a single speed then you probably also need to purchase the Zodiac 6796 2-Speed Motor Relay. That new relay comes with decent instructions: you simply attach the new relay to the aux2 connector, run one of the hot wires through it, and flip the DIP2 switch to the ON position. The DIP switch enables two speed controls in Aqualink. Be sure to change the programmable button label back to aux2 before you flip the DIP switch if you were previously using it for something else, especially if you had it set to a timed aux function such as air blower or else the low speed will revert back to high speed after 30 minutes of run time!

Despite the energy-efficient labels on this pump motor it actually takes more power at high speed than the B854/B2854 (10 amps v. 8 amps at 230V on the single speed motor). Therefore only purchase the two speed if you plan on using the low speed a majority of the time. The low speed draws a little less than 2 amps but spins the impeller at half the speed. You probably won't be running a pressure-side cleaner with the low speed but the Intellichlor IC40 seems happy at the reduced flow rate (the flow light stays on). A good strategy for me is to run the pump on high with the cleaner booster pump for a couple hours a day, then set the other schedules to the low speed.

Although both the old pump motor and the new are rated at the same 3450 rpm, this motor is clearly moving water more quickly (my spa fountain is shooting water noticeably higher). I'm also seeing about 16 psi on the pressure gauge of a clean sand filter whereas the old motor was only at around 13 psi. I have to assume that the old motor was just not up to the task of spinning the impeller that fast anymore, otherwise I would not expect any difference. The low speed pushes at about 4 psi in my setup.

This motor gets rather warm when operating at high speed. I'm measuring 168 F on the motor body on a 92 F day in the shade. Maybe that is typical and motors are designed to operate at these temperatures. The motor is rated for 122 F ambient operating temperature, higher than I would ever expect to see in Texas.

The best part about this motor (compared to my old one at least) is how quiet it is. The high speed is just a gentle hum, and the low speed is nearly inaudible unless you put your ear near the motor. You can easily hear the sound of flowing water through the pipes over the motor noise.

Overall I'm pretty satisfied with this motor. I expect to get many years of good service out of it. If it lasts as long as the last A.O.Smith it will be a bargain.