Autopliot SWG problem after refill

[ndillon2]

Just drained/refilled 25k gal in-ground plaster pool. I have an autopilot 220 sc48 swg. After refill brought chems to 7.0 PH, 45 CYA, 200 CH, 140 TA, 3100 salt. I turned on the swg before adding chlorine. The swg was on boost for 24 hours with zero affect. I added 3 gallons of bleach. No affect on chlorine. I added four gallons chlorine, one at a time over two days. Finally FC read 3 ppm. The swg has been running at 100%, power level 3 the entire time. In the past two days the FC has dropped to 2 ppm. The swg has continued at 100%, PL3. I do not think the swg is generating anything. Am I missing something?

Also, PH is continually creeping. I have added one gallon muriatic per day (1/2 am, 1/2 pm) and aerated (spa spill plus waterfall) all day. I cannot move the TA. PH creeps up to 7.6 at the end of each day. The next morning it reads at 7.2 Any ideas?

Thanks

[PatL34]

I would add some more CYA to bring it up to 60 -80 ppm. You may have chloramines at this stage and the SWG is working its tail off trying to destroy these. If you smell chlorine near the pool, it means you are smelling the chloramines.

The extra CYA will help the Chlorine to inactive until it is needed.

Hope this helps.

Pat

[Poconos]

Just a shot in the dark since I never played with a SWCG but what if you took a sample right at a return jet at full power then another with it off and see if there is an FC difference ? I would think the Cl concentration at the jet would be high enough to see if the generator is at least working....but maybe not.
Al

[PatL34]

Bringing down the TA is a long drawn out process. (See the Sticky in Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness by Pool Doc)

I would continue adding chlorine to help the SWCG as much as possible, and carry on aerating with the pH down to 7.0 - 7.2. the pH will continue to creep upwards, because of your plaster pool and the TA, so it's PITA you have to endure until your pool chemistry settles down.

Poconos, it should be possible to check the DC amps on the DG-220 Controller, and if it is low, (<4 amps) I would check the cell for any scale build-up, and clean with 20% Muriatic acid.

Let us know how you make out.

Pat