Narrowing down my choices

[chrisexv6]

Fairly convinced Im going to go the SWCG route this year. Oddly enough, the cost of GAS is now high enough that I can save decent $$$ not having to drive my gas-guzzling pickup truck to get 5 gallon jugs of 12.5% :)

Anyway, Ive narrowed it down to the following choices (I have a 22K gallon vinyl IG pool):

CompuPool CPSC48 (or CPSC36)
AquaRite 40K
AutoPilot DIG48

You can see, there is a cheaper, mid-range and more expensive alternative.

Reasons Im considering each:

CompuPool: least expensive. Also has the largest cell option (55-60K gallon). I know oversizing is good.

AquaRite: more proven than CompuPool, but "only" a 40K gallon cell. I like the fact that Hayward parts/service is readily available

AutoPilot: I like the temperature compensation, and the fact that I can change power level to the cell. Question is, are those features worth it? Particularly changing power level to the cell, does that save electrical costs in the long run? And does it prolong the life of the cell enough to justify the cost?

Honestly Ive almost ruled out the AquaRite since the price is fairly close to the AutoPilot. But the CompuPool is still in the mix because of the larger cell and lower price.

Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

-Chris

[rcenturion]

I've used the Autopilot system for the past 8 years and have been happy with it. The cell has lasted about 4 years before I had to replace it, and the cost was about $300 for the replacement cell (this is for the SC36 cell, which may be smaller and cheaper than the system you're getting). I've never adjusted the power to the cell, so I can't comment on that.
I don't have any experience with the other 2 systems you mentioned, but I would look at what the cost of the replacement cells would be and what is the expected life span of the cell.
My experience in owning a pool has been sometimes that when you try to save money up-front, it ends up costing more in the long-run.

[BigTallGuy]

I can only speak for the Compupool. I would strongly recommend the CPSC48 IF IF IF you go with Compupool. 2-3 times larger is key. I know I can adjust the power level on my CPSC24 too.

[chrisexv6]

Yeah, thats why Im still even remotely thinking about the CompuPool: I can *really* oversize it (almost at the 3x "limit"), vs kinda oversizing it with the Hayward, AutoPilot or most other products since they seem to max out at ~40K gallons (without getting into much more expensive commercial versions)

Friend of mine has a unit by AquaComfort called ComfortChlor and he swears by it. It seems to be a rebadged American SPS NexaPure unit, but his dealer swears the AquaComfort version is at least a little different than the NexaPure. And like the others, it maxes out at 40K gallons. Seems to have some decent features so maybe it can be added to my list. Im thinking I should have started looking after the end of last season, I might have made a decision by now (so many choices!)

[Poolsean]

Be careful with a manufacturers marketing claim that talk about the maximum pool volume their cells can do. Instead, you should really look at the amount of chlorine they produce when comparing the different model.

http://nsf.org/certified/pools/Listings.asp?TradeName=&ProductType=50I&PlantState=&PlantCountry=&PlantRegion=&submit1=SEARCH

This link shows the tested outputs of systems that are NSF50 approved (independantly tested for commercial standards), and shows the actual chlorine outputs cells are capable of producing.
The CPSC48 produces 1.28 lbs/day (not 2.5 lbs/day as their brochure states), same as the AutoPilot SC-36 (RC-22/35). The SC-48 (RC-42) produces slightly more than the Aquarite large cell (1.45 lbs/day = 66 kg/day), 1.56 lbs/day.
The CPSC36 only produces 0.92 lbs/day (not 1.9 lbs/day as their brochure states).

Hope this is helpful to you.

[BigTallGuy]

I think that is exactly why we have to double and triple the size. But just for us *mathematically challenged* folks, exactly what is lbs/day in gallons or ounces? I was looking at prices for replacement cells and the Compupool website gives you milliliters/hour.

[chrisexv6]

Ive seen that testing report and yes it was pretty eye opening. But I did read somewhere that the numbers for the CompuPool were incorrect, and CompuPool manufacturer was working on getting them corrected. How true that is, however, I dont know. They are SO far off from the marketing that I have to wonder if they really are incorrect on the NSF site.

What I found interesting is that there are no numbers listed for the Hayward....thats the only unit Im looking at that wasnt on the test (American SPS makes the NexaPure Im looking at, and that is listed) EDIT: I see there is one number listed under all of the Hayward/Goldline products....again that didnt make sense to me because there is more than one size that can be purchased.

[Poolsean]

I think that is exactly why we have to double and triple the size. But just for us *mathematically challenged* folks, exactly what is lbs/day in gallons or ounces? I was looking at prices for replacement cells and the Compupool website gives you milliliters/hour.
1 lb/day from a salt system is equivalent to 1 gallon/day of 12% strength sodium hypochlorite

Hayward's cell that produces 1.45 lbs/day is the T15 cell.

[BigTallGuy]

1 lb/day from a salt system is equivalent to 1 gallon/day of 12% strength sodium hypochlorite.

Thanks Sean, that is excellent information and makes total sense. Water (and I assume liquid Chlorine) weighs about 8 lbs. per gallon. 1/8 of a gallon is approximately 1 lb and 12% strength is about 1/8 active chlorine. So each gallon of liquid chlorine contains about a pint of active ingredients, and each pound of chlorine produced by a SWCG equals about a pint.

Ya gotta Love this forum!

[chrisexv6]

Yeah, thanks for that info! It almost seems too easy but its for real.

BTW, I went with the Pool Pilot SC48 (RC42) setup. Got an excellent deal on it from an authorized deal. It should be here next weekend. Now only if the warm weather were too.......