Help: any opinions on best SWCG: Poolpilot, PentairWatermaid, Aquarite?

[waterbear]

I have a Goldline Aqualogic (SWG and pool automation in one unit) and and very pleased with it. Where I work we sell Pool Pilot, Zodiac, and Resiliance SWGs (but can get other units if customers want them) They all work well. IMHO, the PoolPilot Digital is the best unit on the market because of the bells and whistles it has. The newer model Goldline units have included many of the same bells and whistles. Both compaines have excellent customer support. I am not as impressed with the Zodiac units for the price and the Resiliance is an entry level unit that is not very expensive. It does work well but lacks some features of the more expensive ones. Bottom line is this. If you get a unit from a company that has been making SWGs for a while and the company has a good customer support track record you should be fine! Goldline, AutoPilot systems, and WaterMaid have been manufacturing SWGs for a while now and are, IMHO, the big 3 names.
Just my 2 cents.

[tphaggerty]

I run from about 8am to around 5pm (solar heating), then again for about 4 hours at night. I just installed a multi-speed pump (Ikeric), so I will likely be extending my night run but at a much lower speed/gpm.

Due to the way the SWG works, I think (my own opinion) that it is better to run longer but lower so that the pool is more constantly chlorinated. SWGs work low and slow (low level of chlorine added, so more time is needed). You can vary the % of output, but what you are really doing is varying the amount of time during the ON cycle that CL is being generated, not the amount of CL generated (at least with the Aquarite). So, by running longer but at a lower %, the CL generation gets spread out, so (maybe) there is less of a roller coaster effect on FC in the pool. That is one of the reasons for using a 2 speed pump, it reduces the cost of running the pump so I can run it longer. (Hope this makes sense).

[SteveK2]

I run from about 8am to around 5pm (solar heating), then again for about 4 hours at night. I just installed a multi-speed pump (Ikeric), so I will likely be extending my night run but at a much lower speed/gpm.

Due to the way the SWG works, I think (my own opinion) that it is better to run longer but lower so that the pool is more constantly chlorinated. SWGs work low and slow (low level of chlorine added, so more time is needed). You can vary the % of output, but what you are really doing is varying the amount of time during the ON cycle that CL is being generated, not the amount of CL generated (at least with the Aquarite). So, by running longer but at a lower %, the CL generation gets spread out, so (maybe) there is less of a roller coaster effect on FC in the pool. That is one of the reasons for using a 2 speed pump, it reduces the cost of running the pump so I can run it longer. (Hope this makes sense).

Yes, makes sense. Thanks!

[bbroglio]

tphaggarty, nater & waterbear,

thanks for inputs on SWCG companies and models. Good to know few companies make most models and to stay with them. What are advantages of more "bells & whistles?" Usually that phrase ignites fears IMHO of more things to go wrong.

[bbroglio]

tphaggarty, nater & waterbear,

thanks for inputs on SWCG companies and models. Good to know few companies make most models and to stay with them. What are advantages of more "bells & whistles?" Usually that phrase ignites fears IMHO of more things to go wrong.

FYI All, we went with the Autopilot dig 220. More when we're up and running.

[Poolsean]

bbroglio,

Thanks for selecting Pool Pilot. Let me know if you have any questions!

I know that if I cannot get to your question fast, others here will.

Again, thanks.

[Socal_biker]

I did a self install of a Pentair IntelliChlor 40 in my pool in August of last year. Install was really easy. I kind of went with a cell that was way more than what I needed for the size of my pool. I figured I could run it at a lower power cycle for my pool, and the cell would last longer that way. Cost wise between the IC40 & IC20 was minimal, so I just went with the larger cell.

The reason I picked Pentair over the others, was because the rest of my pool's equipment is Pentair brand and I TRUST the brand.

I'm completely happy with the results and how the IC40 has kept my pool sanitized. The pool never looked or felt so good, with so little manual labor or chemicals. Pool just needs a few oz of Muratic acid every few weeks to keep the PH under check.

Since, I'm also new to the SWCG, I don't know or have experience with the other brands. But, I sure glad I went with a SWCG system. One of the best upgrades I've done to my pool.

[waterbear]

Bells and whistles means such things as a true salt meter and not just measuring conductivity to approximate a salt reading, being able to calibrate the unit, a manifold assembly for the cell (poolpilot), variable power levels, digital readout, and so on. Different companies include different features and many of them are very useful.

[CarlD]

People keep telling me I should get an SWG, and I am tempted ("Get Thee Behind Me!").

I am curious: I've noticed that several claim you plug your pump into them and they act as the timer.
How does this work with a 220V pump, with a twist-lock plug?
Or does it?
Is it really necessary?
Do you have to have an electrician wire it in?
If your pump is on a timer, can't you just set the SWG to go on when the pump is on?
Do they run off 110v, 220v, or both?

I've also noticed that there are some non-plumbed versions, very cheap.
Has anyone tried them?
Do they work?
For how big a pool?

I've also noticed that some of the less expensive SWGs, ($999 and under) have cells that cost fully half as much to replace--like the Hayward costs 1K and the replacement cell costs $550! Is this a normal ratio, or does it get better with the pricier units? That is, do the cells last longer, or do they cost less to replace?

These are the details of SWGs that I am totally ignorant of.

[Socal_biker]

I installed (followed directions) the electrical wiring for the SWCG power unit to some of the same posts that the pool pump was wired to in the timer.

The timer turns the pump and SWCG on at the same time. The SWCG computer then runs the cell according to the Sanitizer output settings (20%,40%,60%,80%,100%) on my IntelliChlor IC40.

From Pentair IntelliChlor manual. Power Center = SWCG power unit.