Help: any opinions on best SWCG: Poolpilot, PentairWatermaid, Aquarite?

I did a self install of a Pentair IntelliChlor 40 in my pool in August of last year. Install was really easy. I kind of went with a cell that was way more than what I needed for the size of my pool. I figured I could run it at a lower power cycle for my pool, and the cell would last longer that way. Cost wise between the IC40 & IC20 was minimal, so I just went with the larger cell. :)

The reason I picked Pentair over the others, was because the rest of my pool's equipment is Pentair brand and I TRUST the brand.

I'm completely happy with the results and how the IC40 has kept my pool sanitized. The pool never looked or felt so good, with so little manual labor or chemicals. Pool just needs a few oz of Muratic acid every few weeks to keep the PH under check.

Since, I'm also new to the SWCG, I don't know or have experience with the other brands. But, I sure glad I went with a SWCG system. One of the best upgrades I've done to my pool.

Bells and whistles means such things as a true salt meter and not just measuring conductivity to approximate a salt reading, being able to calibrate the unit, a manifold assembly for the cell (poolpilot), variable power levels, digital readout, and so on. Different companies include different features and many of them are very useful.

People keep telling me I should get an SWG, and I am tempted ("Get Thee Behind Me!").

I am curious: I've noticed that several claim you plug your pump into them and they act as the timer.
How does this work with a 220V pump, with a twist-lock plug?
Or does it?
Is it really necessary?
Do you have to have an electrician wire it in?
If your pump is on a timer, can't you just set the SWG to go on when the pump is on?
Do they run off 110v, 220v, or both?

I've also noticed that there are some non-plumbed versions, very cheap.
Has anyone tried them?
Do they work?
For how big a pool?

I've also noticed that some of the less expensive SWGs, ($999 and under) have cells that cost fully half as much to replace--like the Hayward costs 1K and the replacement cell costs $550! Is this a normal ratio, or does it get better with the pricier units? That is, do the cells last longer, or do they cost less to replace?

These are the details of SWGs that I am totally ignorant of.

I installed (followed directions) the electrical wiring for the SWCG power unit to some of the same posts that the pool pump was wired to in the timer.

The timer turns the pump and SWCG on at the same time. The SWCG computer then runs the cell according to the Sanitizer output settings (20%,40%,60%,80%,100%) on my IntelliChlor IC40.

From Pentair IntelliChlor manual. Power Center = SWCG power unit.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9175/swcgmw1.jpg

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I am curious: I've noticed that several claim you plug your pump into them and they act as the timer.
How does this work with a 220V pump, with a twist-lock plug?
Or does it?
Is it really necessary?
Do you have to have an electrician wire it in?
If your pump is on a timer, can't you just set the SWG to go on when the pump is on?
Do they run off 110v, 720P, or both?

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Carl, I just installed a PoolPilot Digital, so here's the scoop on that one:
If you want the PoolPilot to act as a timer for a single-speed pump (more on two-speed later), you need to run the power from your breaker or disconnect switch to the PoolPilot (either 110v or 220v can be accommodated via jumper changes) and connect via screw terminals inside the control box. This connection powers the PoolPilot's electronics and salt cell AND is connected to a 30 amp relay which is used to switch the pump on/off. The pump wiring must also be connected to screw terminals in the control box; there is no built-in provision for a twist-lock plug though one could be added to an external junction box if needed. The PoolPilot's timer can then be programmed to operate the pump.

Conversely, you can continue to use an external timer to power the pump which is what I have done. In this case you need to run a power connection from the pump terminals on the external timer to the PoolPilot to supply power to the electronics (and salt cell) when the pump it running. The PoolPilot has an internal battery to keep it own clock timer running when the pump is not running.

Lastly, if you have a two-speed pump, you need to use a single external timer which supplies the "master" power to the PoolPilot. The 30 amp relay in the PoolPilot is then used to switch between high and low pump speeds based on a timer program you set up in the PoolPilot. This is a bit more complicated to manage as you have to coordinate the on/off settings on the external time with the pool pilot's high/low-speed timer settings.

Unless your local code requires, you can do the wiring yourself; it's not complicated.

I paid someone to install my Polaris SWG but after watching them, I certainly could have done it myself. Mine is a 230v unit wired into an Intermatic mechanical timer which supplies power to pump and SWG. Then I just set the SWG controller to generate a selected number of hours. My Autoclear has very few bells and whistles. Besides the adjustment for hours to generate, there is a button for running a test. The test gives volts drawn, amps drawn, and a system code of 90, 91, or 92. 90 indicates no issues found and the others indicate possible problems. Last, there is a yellow light that will flash to indicate 'low salt'. Performance has been excellent but it would be nice to have some of those other features. Bought mine new-in-box on ebay for $450 delivered. Quite happy!
:D
Hal

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Originally Posted by bbroglio

tphaggarty, nater & waterbear,

thanks for inputs on SWCG companies and models. Good to know few companies make most models and to stay with them. What are advantages of more "bells & whistles?" Usually that phrase ignites fears IMHO of more things to go wrong.

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FYI All, we went with the Autopilot dig 220. More when we're up and running.

bbroglio,

Thanks for selecting Pool Pilot. Let me know if you have any questions!

I know that if I cannot get to your question fast, others here will.

Again, thanks.