Hello, new to this forum but have already found great information. First Pool info stats. IG plaster 16 years old 20K gal. Converted to SWG in 2007 installing the Pool Pilot Digital and a Pentair Intelleflow pump. Pump and PPD are powered 24/7 as pump runs on schedule. I have read here NOT to leave Pool Pilot Digital powered on in this manor. How bad is it to do so?? I have a SC-60 cell on the system and it is the original.
The reason I found this forum was searching for answers to the check system light alway being on and the message to check salt level or clean cell. I did clean the cell, it had what I would call a medium build up of calcium on both ends. The cell shows wear in that the middle two plates are shorter than the others. My system used to run on power level 1 at 50-75% and be fine but now it is on power level 2 100% all the time. It is generating but having to work hard to do so it appears. When I run system test I usually see 17 or 18v at about 3.5 amps.
After reading up here I powered it down and took of the cover and found the 4 capacitors bulging and discolored on the end. I have ordered replacements and expect them this coming week. I did order higher voltage and temp rated caps as I am in Southern California dessert climate and regularly hits 100. Everything else on the board looked good. I am a technician and have had to replace caps in my Plasma TV to fix the power supply in it as well. Sure saves money when you can do some of this stuff on your own!
I guess the next step is to put the caps in when I receive them and see how it works after that. I may then need to replace the cell as it is 6 years old. How long can they run if not driven really hard?? I run my pool low and slow which is about 14 hrs a day. This flow gets me a full water turn and is the most efficient flow on the pump for electricity usage and allows me to run the cell at a lower rate at least until recently that is.
Thanks for any input you all may have on my situation.
The reason I found this forum was searching for answers to the check system light alway being on and the message to check salt level or clean cell. I did clean the cell, it had what I would call a medium build up of calcium on both ends. The cell shows wear in that the middle two plates are shorter than the others. My system used to run on power level 1 at 50-75% and be fine but now it is on power level 2 100% all the time. It is generating but having to work hard to do so it appears. When I run system test I usually see 17 or 18v at about 3.5 amps.
After reading up here I powered it down and took of the cover and found the 4 capacitors bulging and discolored on the end. I have ordered replacements and expect them this coming week. I did order higher voltage and temp rated caps as I am in Southern California dessert climate and regularly hits 100. Everything else on the board looked good. I am a technician and have had to replace caps in my Plasma TV to fix the power supply in it as well. Sure saves money when you can do some of this stuff on your own!
I guess the next step is to put the caps in when I receive them and see how it works after that. I may then need to replace the cell as it is 6 years old. How long can they run if not driven really hard?? I run my pool low and slow which is about 14 hrs a day. This flow gets me a full water turn and is the most efficient flow on the pump for electricity usage and allows me to run the cell at a lower rate at least until recently that is.
Thanks for any input you all may have on my situation.
