Quote Originally Posted by CarlD
It's not that SWGs are "different", it's that when running properly they have two advantages over other chlorination systems:
1) They are constantly gen'ing chlorine at low levels. You don't actually need a lot of chlorine to keep your pool sanitary, but it has to be able to respond to demands on it--like people and suntan oils, etc. A residual level gives you a safe lee-way or metabolizing stuff will drop you below that sanitary level, leaving your water vulnerable to contamination. But an SWG takes over for that
2) They super-chlorinate the water that passes through them, killing everything in it.

Remember: SWGs ARE chlorine systems and follow chlorination rules. But rules of thumb may not be as applicable.
I've read the threads and the very informative PDF link on CYA....I'm trying to understand.

If SWG's constantly generate new chlorine then there should be less need for CYA not more!

They way I understand it CYA acts as a time release but the tradeoff is that the chlorine isnt as "active". I understand the value of that tradeoff if I were adding chlorine once a day but a SWG adds all day and night.

I also understand that a SWG superchlorinates at the cell and in the pipes...but high CYA has nothing to do with chlorine in the pipes, its intended for keeping chlorine in the pool longer (Protection from sunlight esp)

I'm sure SWG's opperate safely at these CYA levels...I guess I just cant get my mind around the science behind it.