Looking to see if anyone has found a generic version of a t-15 cell that's delivers good bang for the buck. My experience with SWG cells is that they last about two years and if you are persistent, you can get them replaced on warranty but it's a PITA. My current Calimar CMARCHA40-2Y was installed in August 2019 but that was a warranty replacement for an original purchase in 2017 so it's out of contract. Price is important to me, and the idea of going with a Hayward OEM cell at about $1,000 isn't very attractive. Besides, in my experience the OEM and generic versions last about the same amount of time. See history below:
Feb. 2009: Installed new Aquarite 40,000 gal. system.
May 2011: Low readings despite correct salt levels and clean plates inside the cell. Leslie's tested cell and determined it had died. Hayward replaced with new cell under warranty.
Aug. 2013: Low readings despite correct salt levels and clean plates inside the cell. Leslie's tested cell and determined it had died. Purchased new Hayward cell since original install was in Feb. 2009.
Nov. 2017: Low readings despite correct salt levels and clean plates inside the cell. Not tested but clearly had died. Purchased much less expensive new Calimar CMARCHA40-3Y generic replacement as Hayward cell was out of warranty.
Aug. 2019: Low readings despite correct salt levels and clean plates inside the cell. Sent cell back to Calimar at my expense and after testing, they determined that it had died. Received Calimar CMARCHA40-3Y generic replacement (shipping at my expense).
Feb. 2022: Low readings despite correct salt levels and clean plates inside the cell. Need to buy new one as 11/2017 warranty has expired.
I keep my pool chems pretty close to spec though I will admit it strays into high pH territory more than I like. My default cell cleaning approach when I'm in the low 2,000s is to scrape off any deposits blocking the ends of the vanes with a wooden stick but not go any further into the innards, followed by garden hose spray. If the deposits are heavy and either can't be removed at the ends, or I can see deposits on the plates in the middle, or the scrape and spray approach doesn't work, I give it a 30 minute soak in a 900ml water\200ml muriatic acid mix. This is hardly abuse (at least I don't think it is) but of the five cells I've had, four of them failed in two years. We can launch astronauts on Mars missions but we can't come up with a metal plate that can survive a mildly saline water bath for three or more years?
Thanks for any recommendations.
Nick in Palm Springs
Feb. 2009: Installed new Aquarite 40,000 gal. system.
May 2011: Low readings despite correct salt levels and clean plates inside the cell. Leslie's tested cell and determined it had died. Hayward replaced with new cell under warranty.
Aug. 2013: Low readings despite correct salt levels and clean plates inside the cell. Leslie's tested cell and determined it had died. Purchased new Hayward cell since original install was in Feb. 2009.
Nov. 2017: Low readings despite correct salt levels and clean plates inside the cell. Not tested but clearly had died. Purchased much less expensive new Calimar CMARCHA40-3Y generic replacement as Hayward cell was out of warranty.
Aug. 2019: Low readings despite correct salt levels and clean plates inside the cell. Sent cell back to Calimar at my expense and after testing, they determined that it had died. Received Calimar CMARCHA40-3Y generic replacement (shipping at my expense).
Feb. 2022: Low readings despite correct salt levels and clean plates inside the cell. Need to buy new one as 11/2017 warranty has expired.
I keep my pool chems pretty close to spec though I will admit it strays into high pH territory more than I like. My default cell cleaning approach when I'm in the low 2,000s is to scrape off any deposits blocking the ends of the vanes with a wooden stick but not go any further into the innards, followed by garden hose spray. If the deposits are heavy and either can't be removed at the ends, or I can see deposits on the plates in the middle, or the scrape and spray approach doesn't work, I give it a 30 minute soak in a 900ml water\200ml muriatic acid mix. This is hardly abuse (at least I don't think it is) but of the five cells I've had, four of them failed in two years. We can launch astronauts on Mars missions but we can't come up with a metal plate that can survive a mildly saline water bath for three or more years?
Thanks for any recommendations.
Nick in Palm Springs