Wanting to convert - Chlorine to SWG - best way? DIY ?

[cody21]

A friend had their pool professionally converted to SWG after they drained & replastered. All I can say is WOW ! What difference to swim in. So nice on the skin. (I *am* curious whether the daily/weekly/monthly testing is the same though - or more involved or more frequent).

So if we were to convert our existing IG Pool to SWG, are there step-by-step guidelines or documentation anyone can point me to that describes how difficult this is to do? From what I've seen, it requires a "cell" and a special "pump", right? Sounds easy enough to cut the PVC and put this in-line, right? Then there's the whole BBB balancing act to follow of course. From what I've read here, no need to drain the pool to do this - just convert, test, and adjust.

thanks in advance

 

[elwood58]

This is really not a conversion, but a chlorine methodology change. The SWG makes chlorine from salt water.

1. Add SWG to return side of pool filtration
2. Add a bunch of salt to your pool (3000 ppm or so) via Pool Calculator
3. Run pump for 24 hours
4. Turn on SWG
5. Test

Testing involves adding an additional test for Salt, but you do not have to do this very often, as the chlorine generated turns back into salt, which is part of the beauty of the system. CYA needs to be somewhere between 60 -80, as the chlorine dose from the SWG is low and steady, so you want a fair amount of CYA protecting the chlorine long enough to sanitize your pool.

We recently went through this conversion, and have been happy with it thus far. Water is very soft. Chlorine levels are fairly low. We have had to watch the PH, as it has tended to creep up a little these first few weeks.

 

[cody21]

Thanks so much .. (so much great info here ...) !!

 

[jmhjgh]

Also, you could add salt to get the same feel, but maintain as you currently are doing.

 

[cody21]

I just wanted to eliminate the physical need to ADD Chlorine Bleach ... yea, I get it that the by-product of the SWG is in fact Chlorine. thanks again.

 

[bobodaclown]

Compupool CPSC48 can be delivered for less than $750. I did then install in about an hour. Here's the link of my install: cpsc48-install-mostly-new-reports-of-pool-conditions-t32089.html

 

[linen]

yea, I get it that the by-product of the SWG is in fact Chlorine.

I wouldn't call it a "by-product"...chlorine production is the reason to install a Salt Water Chlorine Generator (SWG).

 

[cody21]

Yea, I get that ... Thanks again for the direction and help .... Chatting with the previous Pool Maintenance peeps they are clearly against SWG systems .. Claim they're more trouble than they're worth .. hmmm ... I guess we'll make a decision at some point .. Likely just deal with it as regular Chlorine pool this year and get used to the testing & balancing of chems .. then revisit this next year.

 

[harleysilo]

Yea, I get that ... Thanks again for the direction and help .... Chatting with the previous Pool Maintenance peeps they are clearly against SWG systems .. Claim they're more trouble than they're worth .. hmmm ... I guess we'll make a decision at some point .. Likely just deal with it as regular Chlorine pool this year and get used to the testing & balancing of chems .. then revisit this next year.

That could be a profit margin motive for them....meaning once up and running what do you need them for?!?

 

[linen]

Chatting with the previous Pool Maintenance peeps they are clearly against SWG systems .. Claim they're more trouble than they're worth .. hmmm

You will find many users of them on here and not many will agree with those peeps. There are not many drawbacks, on is if you have soft stonework around you pool, then they are not a good choice...ohhh, and the initial cost.