autopilot only going up to 50% output?

[tenax]

i have a softtouch with an sc36 cell..only ran for about 2 months after i installed it last season. no error lights, salt level at 3500ppm, good flow rate. i can't remember if i tried to set it higher than 50% output last year. i think i did for kicks for a few minutes but didn't need to run it that high and it was in the 70s to 80s air temp at the time. i've never had it going when the water temp is this cold still so i'm thinking maybe it limits the output level when temp is this chilly still? (it's about 50-55C overnight..about 63 daytime at this point.) cell power setting is at 1, normal on the cycle. i get 3 clicks by the way at the 50% light (where i press once to get it to 50% then i press twice more and see the light get stronger each time..then no change if i press again.

ps- i note when i fired it up this morning that it didn't go to 50% itself. started about 2 green lights up only.

[tenax]

ok..i think i'm on the right track that output is limited due to temp being so cold (water is 54 F right now..possibly getting as cold as 34 farenheit overnight..brrrrr) i've come to the conclusion unless someone wants to correct me otherwise in my thinking that there is no need with it still being this cold to run the autopilot..matter of fact, not good to run if it's below 50 anyway on the cell. so, it's powered off until it gets warm enough. funny but i couldn't find any info online googling to tell me when common algae starts to grow. i have put my solar cover on and my biggest concern is to run the pump overnight so water doesn't freeze!

[Poolsean]

Tenax,

you're correct. The output limit is due to the Automatic Temperature Compensation.
Just let the system adjust the output level. If you need to override the output so that you can maintain a higher residual in the pool, press the BOOST button. It does very little harm to the cell to operate it under cold water condition,for short periods of time.

[tenax]

hey sean..long time no chat..you can call me terry by the way. long past formalities after all the questions i sent you last year and i'm loving my autopilot soft touch. (ps- my jb weld fix for the pipe i burnt with the soldering iron is working great)

another quick question..since it's warmed up a bit, my output no goes all the way to 100%.. not that i'm using that level. i have good chlorine level after running the autopilot for 3 days now, but noticed when i run it some very small groups of bubbles..almost looks like foam here and there in the pool..they do dissipate if i turn the generator off and circulate for a bit.this is normal i assume and the hydrogen gas dissipation factor?

[Poolsean]

Hello Terry...

If it's not reaching 100%, it's still limiting the output based upon water tempearature. As it continues to get warmer, it will allow higher % levels.
The bubbles are probably more pronounced at cooler water temps as it tends to produce more Oxygen than chlorine...some of which is hydrogen too.

Have a great Memorial Holiday and Enjoy your Pool!!!

[tenax]

thanks sean..bit of a mistype on my part..as of today, it is able to go up to 100 percent, not that i want or need to run it that high..the water is only about 62 now versus 55 but warm enough for my autopilot chlorination "range" to go up. that's a good explanation on the bubbles..remembering now that i didn't run it until the heat of july last year after my install so this is the first time i've run the autopilot when the water is still quite cool. in the fall last year, i was running the heater still right up until closing so the water never did get below 75 from what i recall at closing time in september. and i didn't remember bubbles so i was a bit concerned..feel better now and i have no airleaks in pipes so i knew it wasn't that.

no memorial day wknd here and wouldn't matter cause we have another cold day to get through. 12 mm of rain between now and tomorrow night and low of 9C tomorrow..lovely summer weather, isn't it? at least it was a 20+ weekend and my solar cover is on!