The science of flow
German turbine engineering, built for the water — not against it. Every component, every specification, every design decision has a reason. Here is ours — and every number on this page is sourced from BINDER's own product documentation.
The turbine advantage
Most counter-current systems drive a high-pressure pump through a narrow nozzle. The output is a concentrated jet — fast, noisy, and exhausting to swim against. A turbine works differently. A wide axial impeller rotates slowly and moves an enormous column of water in a broad, even flow, the same hydrodynamic principle used in hydroelectric plants and river weirs. The result is a current, not a jet. You swim in it, not against it.
A river, not a hose.
The turbine produces a wide, smooth current that feels like an open-water swim. That is not a marketing line — it is what the physics actually does.
At the upper end of the HydroStar range
Turbine versus pump-jet
The difference is not incremental — it is physical. Understanding why turbine swimming feels natural explains why pump-jet swimming feels forced.
BINDER turbine
- ✓Wide, column-shaped current — no targeting required
- ✓Smooth flow that supports correct swimming technique
- ✓Stepless speed, 1.0–3.2 m/s
- ✓230 V standard household supply — no high-voltage connection
- ✓Up to 80 % less electricity than pump-jets for comparable flow
- ✓Low-noise underwater operation
- ✓Optional RGB LED lighting integrated into the installation shaft
- ✓BINDER24 app with user-defined training programs
Conventional pump-jet
- ✗Narrow high-pressure stream — precise positioning required
- ✗Turbulent, uneven flow that fights technique
- ✗Limited, often stepped speeds
- ✗Frequently requires a three-phase high-voltage supply
- ✗Significantly higher running cost
- ✗Audible pump noise and vibration
- ✗Lighting is a separate accessory
- ✗Basic on/off control
Why the physics wins
An axial turbine rotates in the direction you swim. Nearly all of its rotational energy becomes linear flow. A pump-jet has to accelerate water through a constriction and redirect it through a 90° elbow — every bend is wasted energy, dissipated as heat and turbulence.
The HydroStar range
HydroStar is BINDER's built-in line, installed during new pool construction or major renovation. Eight models cover everything from a starter family pool to a professional training facility. Every model uses the same turbine principle — the difference is flow volume, not philosophy. All BGA models share a 230 V single-phase supply, a 24 V DC brushless motor, a water temperature range of 5 °C to 40 °C, and compliance with DIN VDE 0100-702 for pool electrical safety.
Rated specifications per model — BINDER technical data
| Model | Flow m³/h | Rated power | Motors | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGA 160 (S) | 50 – 160 | 1.35 kW | 1 | Basic training, family, compact pools |
| BGA 215 (S/M) | 50 – 215 | 1.5 kW | 1 | General fitness, most private pools |
| BGA 275 (M) | 80 – 275 | 1.7 kW | 1 | Enhanced fitness, larger private pools |
| BGA 320 (L) | 100 – 320 | 2.7 kW | 2 | Advanced training, twin-turbine |
| BGA 430 (L) | 100 – 430 | 3.0 kW | 2 | Advanced to competitive training |
| BGA 550 (L) | 160 – 550 | 3.4 kW | 2 | Competitive training, high-demand pools |
| BGA 600 | 160 – 600 | 3.4 kW | 1 | Professional single large turbine |
| BGA 1200 | 160 – 1200 | 6.8 kW | 2 | Standard counter-current system with a flow rate of 1,200 m³/h |
BGA 160 (S)
Flow m³/h
50 – 160
Rated power
1.35 kW
Motors
1
Best fit
Basic training, family, compact pools
BGA 215 (S/M)
Flow m³/h
50 – 215
Rated power
1.5 kW
Motors
1
Best fit
General fitness, most private pools
BGA 275 (M)
Flow m³/h
80 – 275
Rated power
1.7 kW
Motors
1
Best fit
Enhanced fitness, larger private pools
BGA 320 (L)
Flow m³/h
100 – 320
Rated power
2.7 kW
Motors
2
Best fit
Advanced training, twin-turbine
BGA 430 (L)
Flow m³/h
100 – 430
Rated power
3.0 kW
Motors
2
Best fit
Advanced to competitive training
BGA 550 (L)
Flow m³/h
160 – 550
Rated power
3.4 kW
Motors
2
Best fit
Competitive training, high-demand pools
BGA 600
Flow m³/h
160 – 600
Rated power
3.4 kW
Motors
1
Best fit
Professional single large turbine
BGA 1200
Flow m³/h
160 – 1200
Rated power
6.8 kW
Motors
2
Best fit
Standard counter-current system with a flow rate of 1,200 m³/h
Current speed across the range: 1.0–3.2 m/s. Rated current draw 6–32 A depending on model. Every value above is taken from BINDER's published HydroStar technical data sheet.
Materials and construction
BINDER uses V4A stainless steel (316 Ti / 316 L grade) and high-grade plastics throughout. There is no galvanic coating to fail, no sacrificial anode to replace. The motor itself is the quiet centrepiece of the design.
What each component is made of
Installation shaft and cover plate
V4A stainless steel (316 Ti / 316 L), or high-grade plastic variant
Impeller housing
Marine-grade stainless or reinforced plastic, depending on model
Motor
Brushless DC, 24 V — no dynamic shaft seal, no brushes, no scheduled servicing
Bearings
Maintenance-free sliding bearings, water-lubricated
Electronics
Motor controller with current and temperature monitoring
Seal-less by design
A dynamic shaft seal is the single most common failure point in traditional pool pumps. BINDER's brushless DC motor has none. The problem was removed rather than maintained around.
Energy
Efficiency is not a feature on top of the turbine. It is what the turbine is. Move the same volume of water with less energy, and the electricity bill follows.
Compared to equivalent pump-jet systems delivering similar flow (BINDER manufacturer data).
HydroStar PRO: the worked example
A 15 kW pump-jet versus HydroStar PRO at 1.5 kW — 100 days per year, 10 hours per day, at €0.40 / kWh.
| Pump-jet system | HydroStar PRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Rated power | 15 kW | 1.5 kW |
| Operation | 100 days × 10 h / year | 100 days × 10 h / year |
| Electricity tariff | €0.40 / kWh | €0.40 / kWh |
| Annual electricity cost | €6,000 | €600 |
Rated power
Operation
Electricity tariff
Annual electricity cost
One tenth the running cost for comparable flow.
Why an axial turbine uses less power
An axial impeller rotates in the direction you swim. It pushes a wide column of water forward with almost no change of direction. A pump-jet has to accelerate a small volume of water to high speed through a nozzle and then redirect it 90°. Every restriction and every bend is wasted energy.
Installation and requirements
A HydroStar install is engineering, not construction. On a pool prepared for it, professional installation takes roughly three hours.
Pool dimensions
HydroStar — minimum length
4.5 m
HydroStar — minimum width
2.5 m
EasyStar (retrofit) — minimum length
5.0 m
Minimum swimmer distance from turbine
1.5 m
Recommended turbine centreline
0.3 – 0.5 m below waterline
LittleStarlet footprint
Ø 25 cm × 40 cm — plug & play
Electrical requirements
Supply voltage
230 V, 50 Hz
Circuit protection
16 A inert fuse, RCD ≤ 30 mA residual
Motor voltage
24 V DC (brushless)
Motor cable run
Up to 30 m total with 16 mm² finely stranded cable
Standard
DIN VDE 0100-702 pool electrical compliance
Control cabinet
The control cabinet mounts on four Ø 8 mm screws in a dry, well-ventilated room within 10 m of the pool. Cable entries on the underside; ambient operating range 0 °C to 30 °C. It does not need a dedicated plant room — any dry utility space within range qualifies.
Certified installation
Reon Living installs exclusively through technicians trained by BINDER. Warranty coverage, safety compliance, and flow geometry are only as good as the hands that fit the system.
Controls and the BINDER24 app
A turbine is a mechanical system. BINDER wraps it in a control platform that turns it into a piece of wellness infrastructure.
Ways to control a HydroStar
Radio remote (standard)
Waterproof fob supplied with every system. Effective range up to 50 m under ideal conditions.
PIEZO Tri switch (optional)
Solid-state poolside button — no moving parts, no wear.
BINDER24 app (optional)
iOS and Android. Adjust speed, build custom training programs, control LED lighting, save sessions. Requires local network.
BOB optical control panel (optional)
Dedicated LED panel for the pool edge.
External / building integration
External control devices can be wired in for integration with smart home or building management systems.
What the platform does
Stepless speed
Continuous control across the full current range — no fixed steps.
Training programs
Build sessions with interval, recovery, and cool-down phases. The system executes them.
RGB LED lighting
Optional LED illumination integrated into the installation shaft and turbine ring.
Safety shutoff
Automatic shutdown after 180 minutes of continuous operation, with immediate restart.
Operating conditions and warranty
Rated operating conditions
Water temperature
5 °C to 40 °C
Water chemistry
pH 7.0 – 7.2, free chlorine 0.3 – 2.0 mg/l
Salt concentration
≤ 0.4 % (for higher salt, contact BINDER directly)
Immersion depth
0.2 m to 1.0 m submerged — turbine centreline 0.3 – 0.5 m below waterline
Control cabinet ambient
0 °C to 30 °C
Standards
DIN VDE 0100-702 pool electrical compliance
Warranty, in writing
BINDER covers every HydroStar system with a 3-year standard warranty. That is not a marketing gesture. It is BINDER telling you in writing how long they expect their own engineering to last.
Every number on this page, sourced
Specifications and operating ranges come directly from BINDER's own product documentation: the HydroStar technical data sheet, the HydroStar installation manual, and the product flyers for HydroStar, EasyStar, and LittleStarlet. If you would like to see any source document, ask us and we will share it.