solarchlor does it work ?

[dp_vegas]

Has any one tried this ? sounds like a great Idea if it works. I just hate to spend the cash if it is junk. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. www.solarchlor.com

[nater]

I don't have one but here are some intial thoughts:

Expensive! At $550, you may find an inline unit on Ebay for equivalent cost, especially if you install it yourself.

Same issue as a floating chlorinator. If it gets stuck in one spot, you'll have a high localized CL concentration. That could be bad for ladders, liner, etc.

Circulation will be poor, so I don't buy the "Reduce Pump runtime by 50%!!!" claim.

The "Saltshock" product really destroys the credibility of the site in my opinion.
From the site:
"SaltShock is a significant part of the SolarChlor system and should be used weekly when water temperatures exceed 70 degrees. SaltShock is an oxygen-based compound specially formulated to enhance salt-water pools and is safe to use on all types of pool surfaces and water sanitizers. SaltShock enhances the efficiency of salt generators and pool equipment." -What exactly is it for $5/pound?? A 40 pound bag of salt is less than that at Lowes.

They don't specify exactly what salinity level you need for a 20K gal pool. They give a range from 3,200-6,000. You'll definately taste the salt at that higher level.

Perhaps one of our resident EE types can tell us if that kind of photovoltaic cell is capable of producing the current required for electrolysis under typical pool conditions.

It may be a truly innovative product, but the website screams "Poolstored" to me. If they'd used a little more class and some more accurate data, I'd be inclined to research it further.

I bet Chemgeek will have a ball with that "Scientific" graph they provide....

Just my $.02.

[dp_vegas]

Thanks Nater,

If it works as advertised it would be a great product. Just tie it up where it is stuck in the flow (or maybe keep it in the hot tub when not in use). Yes, that Saltshock product seemed weird to me also. The Solar panel may be capable of producing the current required based on other solar panel products I have seen.

Also they don't tell you what a replacement cell costs just allude to @$25. It sounded too good to be true but I am still hoping some people here will chime in and say it works.

Any more comments ?

[chem geek]

According to this link on their website, this product is not only an SWG system, but also says it does the following:

The SolarChlor unit also employs an anode that, through the patented salt dissolution process, releases charged mineral ions that actively penetrate the cell walls of algae spores and inhibits further mutation.

That sounds like it releases copper ions so is similar, at least in part, to a Nature2 system (without the silver part). Do you really want to add copper to your pool?

Richard

[tphaggerty]

I was going to add my 2 cents yesterday but held off. I think the other thing to look at is that, according to the performance charts on the site, you would need 2 of these to chlorinate any pool larger than 20K gallons (unless I'm reading the chart wrong). That easily puts you into a regular SWG purchase price if you self install.

I actually think it is a cool idea and actually makes sense in a way. Sure would be easier to add to an existing pool compared to cutting in a new SWG. But I have to agree that the SaltShock stuff plus the clearly limited flow makes me leery. Where I think this WOULD work well is in an Intex type doughnut or small AG.

[CanuckPool]

I think this product is somewhere in the same line as the liquid solar blanket. I am sure it works to some degree, but it can't beat an inline SWG backed by a 1.0-2.0 HP pump with multiple returns. Like a previous poster stated, what if it gets stuck in an area of your pool that has little circulation.

[waterbear]

A solar powered salt generator is NOT going to produce enought chlorine by itlsef. This is why they add the ionizer to it. They don't say on their website but I bet they are depending on a .5 ppm residual FC becuase of the ionizer. In fact, nowhere on the website do they actually say what the output is in mg/l or ppm Free Chlorine! They do state that the unit can chlorinate a 10k pool in 3.5 hours but don't say what level of FC will be produced. Any takers that it's only .5 ppm?

The other thing that bothers me about the unit is that the salt level required (and therefore the chlorine output of the unit) is solely adjusted by the salt level in the pool and that a larger pool will require up to 6000 ppm salt and possibly additional salt in the unit itself.
From all I have seen this unit is really a solar powered ionizer that might be able to produce the .5 ppm residual chlorine that most ionizer systems recommend in this country (and that we know is NOT really enough!)

The 'Salt Shock" product is (to quote from their website) "is an oxygen-based compound specially formulated to enhance salt-water pools and is safe to use on all types of pool surfaces and water sanitizers."

sounds like MPS to me!

"SaltShock should be used weekly with SolarChlor or any other Chlorine generator system. SaltShock is used at a rate of 1 lb.
per 10k gallons."


sounds even more like MPS to me, since MPS is dosed weekly at 1 lb per 10K gallon!
EDIT: to their credit $15/3 lbs is pretty much the normal retail price of MPS at a pool store.
Just my 2 cents worth.

[Poolsean]

Is this made by Floatron?

I agree with Waterbear and am willing to put my money down that they are only relying on minimal chlorine residuals to maintain a pool.

Hey, I've got a heating system that is guaranteed to heat your pool for no additional cost, other than the product itself, and will last a lifetime! Exclusions include water imbalance, chemical attack, rodent damage, wind damage, UV damage, weather damage, accidential or intentional impacts, contact with anything other than water, incorrect installations, and repeated contact of Di-hydrogen Oxide. Send me $300.00 plus shipping. You provide your own, locally available High Grade mounting surface.
Now where did I see that picture of a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood with rolls of black irrigation tubing connected to it? hmmmm.....

[dp_vegas]

OK,
Don't beat me up. I was just asking , cause if it did work it would be a great Item to have you don't even need to tie it into the plumbing. ... But I guess its a no go. Have to spend the extra $$ and do a little work.

[CanuckPool]

Its like anything... wait until it has been used by alot of people in the industry for a good long time... and then and only then once it has been accepted and proven, then you can get one. If it seems like a fringe product that hasnt had the track record, stay away from it like the plague.