Looking into SWG! Aquatrol or Autopilot Digital

[donaldm823]

I have been using the BBB method in my 9280 gallon above ground pool for over a year and I love it. Thanks for all the information on this.
I am now looking at SWG. I have a Waterway Plastics, Clearwater 26" sand systen with there supplied 2 speed 1.5 HP pump.
I like the Autopilot digital W/ super cell 36, up to 20,000 gallon cap.
I am worried about the 15 GPM min. flow rate. I run my system on low speed 8 to 10 hours a day depending on temperature. Do you think I would have to run it on the high setting?
How would I plumb the manifold assembly?
I can hard-line it in but on what plane should the manifold be, on the ground or mounted up at the return side of the system? Does this matter?

I also like the Aquatrol. With the return mount you don't need the flow meter It looks to be very easy to install.
Can this unit be hard wired? .

I realy like the extra features on the autopilot and the fact that I can get a larger cell to reduce the output setting for longer cell life!

HELP ME make a choice

Recommend the Autopilot Digital. I just bought one and self installed in August. Procured from Aquasuperstore.com at approx 50% of recommended retail price and they will price match so do some goggle searches

It comes with it's own 13" wide x 21" high manifold (upside down U), that must be installed vertical in the return line after your pool heater. I installed mine using PVC unions as it was a much easier fit-up. The manifold is sized to fit 2" diam PVC lines-so if your are smaller, you need enough space to use some PVC reducers.

Ask Poolsean (on this forum) for sizing and min flow concerns. He is a great source and avid responder on this forum-suspect he will probably answer this post!. Cell size ratings are based on 20gpm min flow and 24hr/day pump runs, so you need to ratio the size needed based on your pump run time. I put in a SC-60 for my 30,000 gal pool and am very happy with the operation and run times. RAn 50%, power 2 for Aug and now am at 30%, power 1 (lowest power setting)

Lastly-measure your present salt content of your pool, as you will have some salt build-up from 2 years of chlorine use. My 2 yr pool had 1400ppm salt. Anyway, I only had to put in 50% of the recommended pool salt to get to the 3000ppm salt level for the SWG.

Also look at autopilot.com web site. Lots of pictures, install manual, operating manual for further info.

I think it needs a min of 20gpm flow since it has a low flow shutoff, and the manifold has a high flow bypass as well as salt probe, temp probe, and the cell-but again ask Poolsean. I know you can easily configure the autopilot to control your pump and its speeds if needed, or you can wire it "dumb" to the same power as the pump since you want it to turn off when the pump stops

[Poolsean]

Donald is correct. At low speed, as long as you've got 20 gpm to the manifold, the system will operate.

Running on low speed, as long as it is sufficient flow to activate the flow switch, will not require running the AP on High Power (Cell Power 3). In fact it's the opposite. You should be able to set it on Cell Power 1 and just make adjustments to the Purifier Output % setting so that your chlorine level is maintained.
Plumbing the manifold should be so that the manifold base is at the bottom and the loop is up. You can mount is sideways too, but never upside down, where the loop is below horizontal, where the manifold base it.
Going with a larger size cell is what I would recommend as it does provide longer cell life, but also, more chlorine production in a shorter period of time, in the event that you have to run on high speed to get the manifold flow switch activated.

Hope this helps,

[Tredge]

I second the Autopilot.

Its been.....flawless.

[nater]

I third the Autopilot!