Pool Pilot

[DONNIE]

Getting ready to install a 6000 gallon fiberglass pool. Have decided to go with the Pool Pilot Digital but am not sure which one. I keep reading to upsize my cell. the 36 says up to 20,000 and the 48 says up to 40,000 gallons. with mine only being 6000 gallons do I really need to upsize my cell?

Donnie

[PatL34]

The SC-36 cell should be adequate for your 6000 gal pool.

Pat

[Poolsean]

Donnie,

I agree with Pat that the SC-36 would be sufficient. If you go with the SC-48 or SC-60 cell, there are some adjustments on the system that will allow you to not overchlorinate your pool. Again, the benefits of oversizing is that you have longer cell life and warranty.

Thanks for supporting the Salt Chlorinator industry and for considering Pool Pilot.

[DONNIE]

Thanks guys. Like I said, this is a new pool. 1. I fill the pool 2. I get pool chemestry in line 3. I add salt 4. I turn on SWG

???? Do I bypass the SWG during the first 3 steps or do I just not turn it on? Does it have a bypass setting?

Donnie

[PatL34]

If you can disconnect the power supply to the SWCG until the salt is added, there should be no problem. I did that when I replastered the pool and had to wait a month before adding salt. Used trichlor pucks to add CYA, and then changed to bleach.

Pat.

[DONNIE]

Where do you buy your salt. I noticed Lowes has about 8 different types.

[PatL34]

You need to buy a 99.5% or better granular salt. Do not buy rock salt, as there are too many metal impurities in them.

Pat

[rollo]

I buy the Diamond Crystals from Lowe's. 99.6% and about $4.50 a 40lb. bag. Used to be about $2.50 a bag three years ago when I installed my Pool Pilot.
Think the salt manufacturers are lovin the SWG boom??

[DONNIE]

Does the PoolPilot have temperature limitations. I haven't been able to find anything on their website but I have a friend telling me they are useless below 65 degrees.

Donnie

[Poolsean]

"...they are useless below 65 degrees" Certainly not talking about Pool Pilot. The Automatic Temperature Compensation feature allow Pool Pilot to be the only system that WILL operate under cold water conditions. The reason that we can is that while normal operation is not necessary due to there being less activity for chlorine to kill, cold water operation can deplete the cell life. However, the temp compensation will reduce the output of the Pool Pilot automatically down to 1% when the water temp is approx 55 degress. As it warms up, the Purifier % will also increase, proportionally.

No more need to manually add chlorine when it is colder out and the salt system quits. Again, the Pool Pilot will continue operating.

[DONNIE]

I dont know how you can keep those things on the shelves. Between the AutoPilot website and expert advice on here i'm sold 100%. Thanks all!

Donnie

[gkosin1]

I want to install a new system and I have a 20,000 Gal inground gunite pool about 5 years old. Since 20k gal is the cutoff line do I buy the system that goes up to 40K gallons? I see a few people say to upsize. Why is that?
Thanks
Greg

[Davenj]

gkosin1, the cell runs at a lower power level, which extends the life of the cell. My pool is about the same size "vinyl". I run a 48 cell, if I replace it down the road I might go with a 60 cell. PoolSean can give you a more detailed explaination.

[Poolsean]

No need for my input, you all are correct. Larger cell means longer cell life and in some cases, longer warranty. You do have to be careful with pools less than 10,000 gallons though, as there are some systems that cannot adjust down to handle small volume pools. In which case you do not want to go with the largest cell, but going with the next size higher will benefit you.

[gkosin1]

I have found that the 60 size cell can be had for not much more than the 48 cell. With my 20K gal ig pool, would it be more beneficial to go with the 60 or is this overkill? I am also thinking of replacing my pump with a 2 speed to help with the electrical bill and I can get rebates on the pump here in Southern California and the SWG can control the 2 speed pump. In that case I could then run the pump slower but much longer and not push the SWG as hard, is this a correct assumption? I did notice that the replacement 60 cell is about 200 dollars more than the 48 so I was trying to figure that into the equation as well. Would I get a few extra years from the 60 to make up that price delta? I'm very anxious to get a Pool Pilot installed but I want to make sure I make the right choices up front. Thanks for your relies everyone.
Greg

[Poolsean]

You'll be fine with the larger cell, not overkill at all.
Replacing the pump to a two speed will allow you to reduce the Purifier % output even lower, as you will be running your pump longer. Cell life should remain the same though, so there will be no benefit to cell life by going to a two speed pump.
The price difference is even less when you google search the cell prices.

Thanks for considering a salt system for your pool.