Owner's Manual and Quick Installation Instructions AUTOMATIC INGROUND POOL CLEANER
THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING THE ALPHA 3™. YOUR ALPHA 3 HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED TO BE EASILY INSTALLED AND TO PROVIDE YEARS OF LOW MAINTENANCE OPERATION. PRIOR TO INSTALLING YOUR NEW ALPHA 3, PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING: 1) Complete and return the warranty card. 2) Record your purchase information on the spaces provided below. 3) Attach your invoice (or a copy) to this page. These actions will insure prompt warranty service, should it be required.
TABLE OF CONTENTS General Pool Schematic ...................................................................................... 4 Disc Installation .................................................................................................. 5 Pool Preparation .................................................................................................. 5 Assembly............................................................................................................. 7 Installation.............
GENERAL POOL SCHEMATIC To help you better understand how your new Alpha 3 ™ will work, please read the following overview: The pump is the heart of your swimming pool. It pulls water and pushes water, creating a circulation pattern. The pump is supplied water from the main drain and the skimmer. Large debris is removed at the skimmer basket and the pump strainer basket. Valves located in front of the strainer basket control the flow of water coming from the main drain and skimmer.
DISC INSTALLATION Slide the finned disc over the footpad. Be sure it fits properly in the grooves provided. The fins on the disc face upward. POOL PREPARATION For your Baracuda Alpha 3™ to operate properly your pool filtration system must be operating at maximum water flow.
POOL PREPARATION For your Baracuda Alpha 3™ to work properly, all return inlets must be pointed downward and towards each other so that you do not see a circular water flow or ripples on the surface. BEFORE ADJUSTMENT TOP VIEW SIDE VIEW AFTER ADJUSTMENT TOP VIEW SIDE VIEW To adjust the return inlet: loosen the lock ring and redirect the eyeball downward, then retighten the lock ring. If the eyeball is difficult to adjust, insert a screwdriver inside the eyeball and gently adjust downward.
HOSE ASSEMBLY FOR CORNER OR END INSTALLATIONS If your skimmer or wall vacuum fitting is located at the corner or end of your pool, use enough hose sections to reach the farthest point in the pool, plus one (1) section. SKIMMER / WALL VACUUM FITTING SKIMMER / WALL VACUUM FITTING FOR CENTER INSTALLATIONS If your skimmer or wall vacuum fitting is located at the center of your pool, use enough hose sections to reach the farthest point in the pool, plus two (2) sections.
INSTALLATION The next steps vary based on whether your pool has one skimmer, two skimmers or a wall vacuum fitting. Please follow the appropriate instructions for your type of pool. FOR POOLS WITH ONE SKIMMER ❑ Turn the filtration system off. ❑ Using the parts shown below, choose the fitting combination best suited for your skimmer. You may have parts leftover. DO NOT INSTALL IN THE SKIMMER AT THIS TIME.
INSTALLATION FOR ALL INSTALLATIONS Turn on the filtration system. Fill the hose with water by placing the end over a return inlet. Submerge the Alpha 3™ pool cleaner head. When bubbles stop coming from the extension pipe, attach the cleaner head to the female end of the hose.
INSTALLATION FOR POOLS WITH ONE SKIMMER HOSE PROTECTOR 4 1/2" CONNECTOR FLOWKEEPER™ VALVE UNIVERSAL VALVE CUFF SKIMMER Remove the skimmer basket, attach the regulator valve combination to the hose and install into the skimmer. Your installation is now complete. 10 FOR POOLS WITH WALL VACUUM FITTINGS FOR POOLS WITH TWO SKIMMERS Insert the cuffed hose end into the wall vacuum fitting. The 45° elbow should be angled toward the surface. Remove the skimmer basket from the deep end skimmer.
FLOW ADJUSTMENT FOR POOLS WITH WALL VACUUM FITTINGS AND FOR POOLS WITH TWO SKIMMERS Remove the cleaner head. Attach the Pool Pulse™ to the end of the hose. You MUST keep the Pool Pulse™ and hose under water. • For pools with a wall vacuum fitting, leave the wall vacuum fitting fully open and slowly close the skimmer valve until the blue indicator of the Pool Pulse™ falls into the ideal range (when viewed from the side).
POOL PULSE™ The Pool Pulse™ is a flow meter that measures the volume of water flowing through your Alpha 3™ cleaner. It must be used to properly set the flow on two skimmer or wall vacuum installations and can be used as a diagnostic tool to check the flow on any installation. Always use the Pool Pulse™ with the proper hose length for your pool. Keep the end of the hose underwater, remove the cleaner head, submerge the Pool Pulse™ and attach it to the end of the hose.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE However good an automatic pool cleaner is, remember that it was developed to assist you with the maintenance of your swimming pool. To maintain quality performance and increase the lifespan of your Baracuda Alpha 3™, please do the following: ❑ The skimmer basket, pump strainer basket and pool filter should be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis to ensure optimum pool cleaner efficiency. Always disconnect the hose from the skimmer before backwashing.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE EASY ACCESS SYSTEM Large foreign objects, such as children’s toys, tree branches and rocks, should be removed manually from your pool prior to operating an automatic pool cleaner. In the event a blockage occurs, please follow these instructions: To remove the diaphragm, loosen the outer extension pipe 2 turns (fig. 1). From the bottom of the cleaner, grip the tab of the diaphragm and pull it out (fig. 2).
ADJUSTMENTS BALANCE Even with the proper flow, a hose weight (part number 43260) may be necessary to balance the Alpha 3 cleaner head. If the Alpha 3 will not balance correctly in the deep end of the pool, (as shown below), turn off the pump and add the hose weight approximately 4 to 7 feet, or 1 1/2 to 2 hose sections away from the cleaner head. If your pool is 8 feet deep or greater, you may need to purchase a heavier hose weight (part number 43317) from your Baracuda dealer.
TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEM Alpha 3™ patterns or doesn’t cover majority of pool. SOLUTION Use Pool Pulse™ to confirm proper flow (see pg 12). Divert all return inlets (see pg 6). Confirm proper hose length (see pg 7). Check hose for memory (see pg 13). Add hose weight 4' to 7' from cleaner head (see pg 15). Use 45º elbow on wall vacuum installations (see pg 10). Coverage will be limited with the use of a solar blanket.
ACCESSORIES PART ILLUSTRATION PART NO. DESCRIPTION 1. 24000 Ladder Guard Always use on stainless steel in-pool ladders 2. 24100 Return Line Diverter Use when no other return inlet directional fittings exist. (see page 6). 3A. 90153 (for 2" return inlet) Retrofit Eyeball Return Line Diverter Use to replace standard directional inlet eyeballs (see page 6). 4. 26705 The 1 2 (for 11/2" return inlet) 3A 3B 3B. 90155 with 4 1/2" Hose Connector Use when heavy debris or leaf situations exist.
PARTS DIAGRAM 3 1 2 19 4 20 21 5 6 22 23 7 26 8 9 24 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 16 25 10 12 17 11 13 18 14 15 18 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. PART# 75050 52810 80525 54198 70450 DESCRIPTION Alpha 3 Outer Extension Pipe w/handnut Alpha 3 Outer Body Top Alpha 3 Float Alpha 3 Outer Body Bottom Alpha 3 Bumper Fin Complete QTY.
LET US HELP! If you are having a coverage problem you cannot solve, mail or fax us the following information along with a sketch of your pool shape indicating the location of all skimmers, vacuum lines, inlets, stairs, ladders, swimouts, spas, waterfalls, filter systems or other significant features and a brief description of the problem. MAIL TO: ZODIAC POOL CARE, INC.
ZODIAC POOL CARE, INC. 2028 NW 25th Avenue Pompano Beach, Florida 33069 1-888-786-7797 http://www.baracuda.
