AutoPilot Cubby cell replacement

[ladder]

I have an AutoPilot Cubby that is eating through cells like a teenage boy on steroids. I maintain it weekly by shooting the garden hose across the 5 blades and soaking it in a 10% muriatic acid solution for a couple of hours. I never fail to find it full of white crusty deposits on a Saturday morning. I also check to make sure the in-deck chamber isn't clogged up.

I live in Arizona and have a 18000 gallon pool. Yesterday, the pool tempped out at 86º. I keep my salt level at about 3000-3200. I am forever adding acid to keep the pH and TA up to snuff. Lately, I need to keep a bucket of chlorine tabs near the basket, just to keep the chlorine level up. I run my pump for 10 hours on "high speed" and 13 hours on "low speed" (half hour intervals between cycles). There is an inline ozone generator and the surface is enhanced plaster. I use a MagnaSweep in-floor cleaning system.

I sure would like to hear what the problem is and why I keep going through cells every year when they're supposed to last for 3-5 years. Now that I'm out of warranty, I'm starting to care.

By the way, I think I need a RC-5 replacement cell. Is that right? Where can I get the best deal on one with a 25' cord to the cubby unit. What should a replaement cell cost me?

Thanks in advance,
LADD

[KurtV]

Ladd,

Do you have afull set of test results you could post including the following?
Free Chlorine (FC)
Combined Chlorine (CC)
pH (pH)
Calcium Hardness (CH)
Total Alkalinity
Cyanuric Acid (CYA aka stabiliser)

My guess is that you have high calcium hardness and/or high alkalinity that is/are causing the scaling on the cell.

[Poolsean]

LADD,

The indeck cell is probably scaling due to high chemical levels IN THE WELL. Also, check your inlet and outlet ports for debris that may be blocking the free flow of your pool water to the well. Any blockage, especially in the bottom port, doesn't allow the water to flow freely, thus increasing the TA and pH in the well, which will lead to a scaling forming condition.
Yes, your cell should go about 3-5 years before replacement is needed.

E-mail or PM me directly if you are interested in an upgrade to Digital in line unit.

sassam@teamhorner.com