Which SaltWater Chlorinator

[fofa]

Last spring I took the plunge with a local company (it's called Nature Clear) mostly because I was having problems finding anything else. I only wish I had done it earlier. Biggest problem I have had is adding 400 pounds of salt this spring (1st time I had to do that). You must really get a self cleaning cell. I have high calcium, and the cell soon got a nice white calcium coating on it, but I was running my system 4 hours twice daily. When I changed it to 8 hours at once, it cleaned itself and has been good to go since.

[rollo]

Just my opinion, but I'd stay away from Autopilot. My Dig-60 died within 60 days of purchase and I got a refurbished power supply as a replacement. That one didn't last 30 days. Got another refurb. This one made it just past the warranty date (of a unit I bought brand new). If you bought a 1500.00 refrigerator/stove/a.c. unit and it died in 60 days, would you be happy with a refurb as a replacement? You will be if you buy an Autopilot!

[Poolsean]

Rollo,

If I were you, I wouldn't be happy either!! I recommend calling the customer service manager and retelling your story. A new unit failing within the first 30 days, or even 60days should be replaced with a new unit, IMO.

[rollo]

Sean,

Believe me, I've been through all of this with Autopilot customer service. Just got the standard "That's what our warranty states" and they were right. The warranty does in fact state:

This limited warranty is for the replacement of defective parts. Manufacturer reserves the right to replace defective parts with new or refurbished parts at its sole discretion.

So if the power supply dies in 1 day or 1 year, Autopilot can and does send out refurbs as replacements. I would have rather waited to have my BRAND NEW unit repaired than get someone else's problem. If anythig though, I've learned to read the warranty alot closer when buying a big ticket item.

[gwrace1]

We are in our 3rd pool season with the Aquarite. The pool is open year round and is about 26000 gallons. I run the unit at about 40% and it keeps the chlorine level consistently at about 2-2.5 PPM. No water problems whatsoever and the pool has always been sparkling clear.

Highly recommended.

David

[Geeper]

I have an Aqualogic PS-8 and about 3 years in got a "No Cell Power" error. After much talking with others, it is apparent that the main board is bad. Cost to fix? $500-600. This doesn't include a new salt cell, just the main PCB.

My question to Sean and others is: Since I already have the Aqua logic controller, how would I hook up a Autopilot (or other) system into this? The nice thing about the Aqualogic is that I just plug the cell in. The bad thing is one board controls everything, so if one things goes wrong, teh whole board has to be replaced.

A local pool service guy is recommending switching over to the jandy Aquapure salt system (for $1300 plus install -no thanks), got me thinking of other alternative before i fix my Aqualogic.

All functions other than salt are working fine

[Poolsean]

Answering just for the Pool Pilot, you do not want to interface the unit to communicate through the electronic control system as you will lose some of the key features of the Pool Pilot Digital. Specifically, Automatic Temperature Compensation and Salt amount display. What this means to you is that you will need to be as diligent in adjusting the Purifier % setting when temperatures change (the Pool Pilot does this for you).
The Pool Pilot too, will have to be mounted as a separate system, as you mentioned the Intellichlor would need to be.
This would be the same for anyone elses system, unless you go back with the replacment components from Goldline.