SWG error lights? Low pressure

[Mattikuss]

Hi Friends,

My SWG is saying low salt and flashing all sanitizer output lights (see image). According to my Pentair app my salt level is 2750 ppm and it has been between here and 2800 ppm all season. Is it actually low on salt or is there something bigger here? Also, my water pressure is low. I had to crank my pump up and close two jets to run my slide. Filter pressure is fine, skimmers are clear. Not sure what the issue is here. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ajw22]

My SWG is saying low salt and flashing all sanitizer output lights (see image). According to my Pentair app my salt level is 2750 ppm and it has been between here and 2800 ppm all season. Is it actually low on salt or is there something bigger here?

You cannot believe what the IntelliChlor shows for salt. If the temperature thermistor int he cell goes bad its salt calculation will be off.

You need a salt test kit to know what your actual salt level is. Taylor K-1766 or Salt

Also, my water pressure is low. I had to crank my pump up and close two jets to run my slide. Filter pressure is fine, skimmers are clear. Not sure what the issue is here. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Remove your filter cartridges and run your pool and see if you have normal water pressure. If so, clean or replace the cartridges. You may have algae clogging your filter.

 

[Mattikuss]

You cannot believe what the IntelliChlor shows for salt. If the temperature thermistor int he cell goes bad its salt calculation will be off.

You need a salt test kit to know what your actual salt level is. Taylor K-1766 or Salt

I tested with my TFP test kit. 15 drops of silver nitrate later it looks like my level is 3000 which should be adequate to trigger my SWG. This is a brand new generator. It’s been used for less than 3 months. I’m guessing everything is okay with it.

 

[Mattikuss]

Remove your filter cartridges and run your pool and see if you have normal water pressure. If so, clean or replace the cartridges. You may have algae clogging your filter.

if algae were clogging my filter, wouldn’t the filter pressure be high? It has not changed from yesterday when everything was working just fine.

 

[ajw22]

I tested with my TFP test kit. 15 drops of silver nitrate later it looks like my level is 3000 which should be adequate to trigger my SWG. This is a brand new generator. It’s been used for less than 3 months. I’m guessing everything is okay with it.

Could be infant mortality.

What is your actual water temperature?

See what temperature your cell is reading by pressing the “More” button after the display shows 1,000s of hours of usage, will show temperature as follows:

Lights	Temperature
No LEDs	Below 30F
40%	36 to 45F
40% and 60%	46 to 55F
60%	56 to 65F
60% and 80%	66 to 75F
80%	76 to 85F
80 and 100%	86 to 95F
100%	96 to 99F
100% blinking	over 99F
All LEDs blinking	Sensor bad

Press and hold the More button until the lights scroll and note which % light lights up. Then, immediately press the More button again and see which % lights light up.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Matt,

Your sanitizer lights are flashing just to let you know you are running at 10% or less..

The salt light will turn red if your salt level is below 2800.. The salt level reported by the cell is +/- 500 ppm. You just need to add a bag of salt..

The problem is you, and not the cell..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[ajw22]

if algae were clogging my filter, wouldn’t the filter pressure be high? It has not changed from yesterday when everything was working just fine.

You would think so.

Running without the cartridges confirms if you have a filter problem or you need to look elsewhere.

If you want to look elsewhere then post pics of your equipment pad.

 

[Mattikuss]

Matt,

Your sanitizer lights are flashing just to let you know you are running at 10% or less..

The salt light will turn red if your salt level is below 2800.. The salt level reported by the cell is +/- 500 ppm. You just need to add a bag of salt..

The problem is you, and not the cell..

Thanks,

Jim R.

EUREKA! Yes, I had it running at 10%. My FC was at 3.0 and we are having a party today so i figured I’d give it a little boost overnight. I’ve been in such a bad mood for the last 2 hours and it was all my fault. I better go apologize to my wife.

 

[Mattikuss]

Could be infant mortality.

What is your actual water temperature?

See what temperature your cell is reading by pressing the “More” button after the display shows 1,000s of hours of usage, will show temperature as follows:

Lights	Temperature
No LEDs	Below 30F
40%	36 to 45F
40% and 60%	46 to 55F
60%	56 to 65F
60% and 80%	66 to 75F
80%	76 to 85F
80 and 100%	86 to 95F
100%	96 to 99F
100% blinking	over 99F
All LEDs blinking	Sensor bad

Press and hold the More button until the lights scroll and note which % light lights up. Then, immediately press the More button again and see which % lights light up.

This is really interesting. I guess I didn’t realize how much the water temp would impact the salinity. My temp is 87°. I think the issue was I had my SWG % set to 10%

 

[Jimrahbe]

Matt,

The water temp has a huge impact on the way the cell measures the salt level.. Water temp is so important, that they actually have a thermistor inside the flow switch that helps the cell determine the salinity by adjusting the reading based on the water temp.

The water temp and the output setting at 10% are two very different things..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Mattikuss]

What does it mean when this light is flashing? Pool company told me to keep generator on at 100%, and it has been for a week, but Cl level is still zero. I’m wondering if there is something wrong with this generator.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Matt,

If the cell light is flashing it means the cell is dirty or, if the cell is clean, it means the cell is dead!!

How old is the cell??

Most cells last 5 to 7 years,

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Mattikuss]

Matt,

If the cell light is flashing it means the cell is dirty or, if the cell is clean, it means the cell is dead!!

How old is the cell??

Most cells last 5 to 7 years,

Thanks,

Jim R.

The cell is dated 2017, guessing it’s EOL considering the chlorine level is 0 after running it for a week at 100%

 

[Jimrahbe]

Matt,

I suggest these guys..

Pentair IntelliChlor

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Mattikuss]

Matt,

I suggest these guys..

Pentair IntelliChlor

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thank you! Is it just a plug and play or do I need a plumber? The PVC looks like it just has compression knobs on each end of the SWG.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Matt,

Easy DIY... Unscrew the unions at both end of the old cell, install new cell and tighten unions..

You then need to unplug the cable from the old power center or automation and connect the new cable.

Pump off of course..

Make sure the new cell goes in the same direction as the old cell.

Will most likely cause your filter to drain, unless you have a valve to shut it off.. No big deal..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[BowserB]

Minor detail. I don't see that the OP cleaned or checked the IC40. Also, Pentair recommends 3600ppm as both minimum and optimum salt level. I have zero confidence in what the IC40 reports as salt level. Compared to the Taylor test, the IC40 sometimes report lower and sometimes higher. In spite of the cost of reagents, I test the water once a week.