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    Default How to successfully select & operate a Salt Water Chlorine Generator system for pools

    ______________________________________

    How to successfully select & operate a Salt Water Chlorine Generator system for pools

    ______________________________________

    + Make sure your pool is compatible. Go down the checklist; you must answer "No!" to EVERY question:
    • Do you have a heat pump* or gas pool heater*?
    • Do you have metal coping?
    • Do you have an ABOVE-GROUND pool with metal rails or sides?
    • Do you expect your salt cell to last 3 years or longer?
    • Do you think your SWCG means you no longer have to worry about pool chemistry?
    • Do you think your SWCG means, 'No chlorine!'?
    • Does your pool have high calcium?
    * Unless your heater is SPECIFICALLY listed as "salt compatible" it is NOT salt compatible!

    + Oversize your unit. Too big . . . is probably just right; you can always turn them down! Units that are too small will die prematurely.

    + Get either the Hayward Goldline AQR15 or the Autopilot DIG-52. Others units should be avoided, especially the Pentair Intellichlor and ANY units made in China.

    + Watch out for copper/silver systems, like "Permasalt" that are NOT salt systems!

    + Maintain a CYA level of 70 - 90 ppm.

    + Run your pump long enough.
    When your pump is off so is the SWCG. If you get a BIG SWCG, you may be able to run for 6 hours, but many SWCGs must circulate for at least 12 hours.

    ______________________________________
    Last edited by PoolDoc; 06-17-2018 at 10:21 PM.

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    Default Re: How to successfully select & operate a Salt Water Chlorine Generator system for p

    You’ve been busy today!

    I think you meant the opposite on the line about buying a new cell every two years. To answer “No” to that goes against your point, I think.

    Btw, my last cell lasted 7 years.
    22'x40' Grecian Lazy L 20K gal IG vinyl pool; Aqua Rite SWCG T15 cell; Hayward Pro Grid 6020 DE filter; Hayward Superpump 1hp pump; 12 hrs; Taylor K-2006; city; PF:6

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    Default Re: How to successfully select & operate a Salt Water Chlorine Generator system for p

    Thanks for the proof-reading!

    7 years is amazing . . . and apparently, very atypical.

    My own experience is with Intellichlor, and they are awful. Also, I know the local wholesaler sells a TON of new AquaRite cells every spring.

    Still, I wonder if you just got lucky, or if that life is typical IF you do everything right?

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    Default Re: How to successfully select & operate a Salt Water Chlorine Generator system for p

    There’s certainly a number of SWCG users on TFP reporting getting 5+ years from their cells. The key seems to be proper pool chemistry (ie prevent scaling on cell, proper CYA level), proper sizing (rated at least 2x pool size), and only using it to maintain proper FC level.

    I don’t have any experience with SWCGs other than my Aqua Rite, but reading the forums it seems Hayward and AutoPilot are the more reliable units (as you indicated).

    It’s likely true to say my experience isn’t typical since the typical pool owner probably doesn’t use the pool care techniques taught here and just goes by what their pool store tells them.

    I’ve shared this site and TFP with some other pool owners, but they think, and the pool store tells them, that we’re just a bunch of Internet nuts who don’t know what we’re talking about.
    Last edited by JimK; 06-17-2018 at 11:02 PM.
    22'x40' Grecian Lazy L 20K gal IG vinyl pool; Aqua Rite SWCG T15 cell; Hayward Pro Grid 6020 DE filter; Hayward Superpump 1hp pump; 12 hrs; Taylor K-2006; city; PF:6

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    Default Re: How to successfully select & operate a Salt Water Chlorine Generator system for p

    Quote Originally Posted by JimK View Post
    I’ve shared this site and TFP with some other pool owners, but they think, and the pool store tells them, that we’re just a bunch of Internet nuts who don’t know what we’re talking about.
    Marketing and assumption beats rational thought almost every day of the week!

    Regarding long life for SWCG units, I've been by product support techs at two SWCG makers, that SWCG cell life is a pure function of "on-time". So a SWCG that is 2x the recommended size will normally last 2x as long. Also I've been told using the 'boost' or 'shock' function results in accelerated cell death. And, I've been told that operating the units near the minimum water temp ALSO damages the cells.

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    Default Re: How to successfully select & operate a Salt Water Chlorine Generator system for p

    Quote Originally Posted by PoolDoc View Post
    Marketing and assumption beats rational thought almost every day of the week!

    Regarding long life for SWCG units, I've been by product support techs at two SWCG makers, that SWCG cell life is a pure function of "on-time". So a SWCG that is 2x the recommended size will normally last 2x as long. Also I've been told using the 'boost' or 'shock' function results in accelerated cell death. And, I've been told that operating the units near the minimum water temp ALSO damages the cells.
    So true!

    Yep, that’s my understanding of cell life as well. Of course none of this is mentioned to customers who buy these units. They’re just told it will fix all their pool care issues and save them tons of money.
    22'x40' Grecian Lazy L 20K gal IG vinyl pool; Aqua Rite SWCG T15 cell; Hayward Pro Grid 6020 DE filter; Hayward Superpump 1hp pump; 12 hrs; Taylor K-2006; city; PF:6

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    Default Re: How to successfully select & operate a Salt Water Chlorine Generator system for p

    In your above post you recommend the Haywood ARQ15. The link take me to the page on Amazon which has 2 versions of the system. They show ARQ15 and the W3ARQ15. I have searched and searched and cannot find out what the difference is. However the W3ARQ15 is almost twice the cost of the ARQ15. Do you happen to know the difference? I am looking to purchase a salt system, so any help you can give will be appreciated.

    DerrikM
    DerrikM

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    Default Re: How to successfully select & operate a Salt Water Chlorine Generator system for p

    I'm afraid I don’t know the difference. Perhaps contact Hayward? I see this on the Hayward site, but it doesn’t explain the difference.

    https://www.hayward-pool.com/webapp/...Page%3Dcompare

    Google turned up nothing.
    22'x40' Grecian Lazy L 20K gal IG vinyl pool; Aqua Rite SWCG T15 cell; Hayward Pro Grid 6020 DE filter; Hayward Superpump 1hp pump; 12 hrs; Taylor K-2006; city; PF:6

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