Zodiac Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 Black Max pressure-side pool cleaner — 31 ft hose, booster-pump ready for in-ground pools

The Zodiac F5B Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 Black Max is a pressure-side cleaner that vacuums, sweeps and scrubs most in-ground pools using a dedicated booster pump and included 31-foot hose.

If you own an in-ground pool and want a self-contained cleaner that tackles walls, floors and debris without altering your main filtration, the Zodiac Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 Black Max is built to run off a booster pump and maintain thorough cleaning cycles. This unit plugs into a 1.5-inch dedicated pressure cleaner line, comes with a 31-foot feed hose, and is engineered to work independently from your pool’s skimmer and filter system. It ships palletized in multiples of 16 units, though a single unit purchase is available.

How does the Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 Black Max clean the pool?

The cleaner uses pressurized water from a separate booster pump to power internal jets and a rotating sweep hose that lifts and carries debris to your pool’s filter. It cycles across the pool surface and scrubs contact areas to remove dirt and leaves. Typical cleaning runs finish in three hours or less depending on pool size and debris load.

• Operates off an independent booster pump (not included).
• Rotating sweep hose agitates and loosens debris from walls and floor.
• Vacuums and transports debris through the return line to the filtration system.
• Designed to complete a cleaning cycle within approximately three hours.

What installation and plumbing does this model require?

Installation requires a 1.5-inch dedicated pressure cleaner line; the Vac-Sweep 280 connects directly to that outlet using the supplied 31-foot feed hose. A Polaris-compatible booster pump must be installed to provide the pressurized water flow. No tools are typically needed for the hose connection, but make sure your pool plumbing layout supports a separate pressure line.

• Ready to connect to a 1.5-inch pressure cleaner line.
• Includes 31 feet of feed hose for flexible placement.
• Requires a Polaris booster pump (sold separately) for operation.
• Simple hose hookup; confirm dedicated pressure line availability first.

Which pool types and debris is this cleaner best suited for?

The Vac-Sweep 280 Black Max is intended for in-ground pools of varying shapes and surfaces. It handles common debris like leaves, grit and small twigs and is designed to reach walls and floors for a more complete clean than suction-only cleaners. Performance is optimized when paired with the recommended booster pump and when the pool has appropriate return plumbing.

• Compatible with most in-ground pools and surface materials.
• Effective on leaves, dirt, sand and common yard debris.
• Designed to scrub walls and sweep floors for comprehensive coverage.
• Best results when used with an appropriate booster pump and plumbing.

Who is this for: The Zodiac F5B Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 Black Max is a good fit for pool owners who want an automated, pressure-driven cleaning solution that operates independently from the skimmer and main pump. Choose this model if you have—or plan to install—a dedicated 1.5-inch pressure cleaner line and a compatible booster pump, need a unit that completes full cleaning cycles relatively quickly, and prefer a proven Polaris design for handling typical backyard debris.