mguzzy
Gold Supporter
What I highlighted I think makes the case for a SWG. It chlorinates whether you are there or not.
Facts and opinions please. Salt vs Chlorine?
- Thread starter Lisabdou
- Start date
Hootz
Bronze Supporter
- Feb 5, 2018
- 374
- Pool Size
- 24000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
If you travel, salt water generation is a great solution. It is hard to find someone to take care of your pool that follows the TFP methodology....testing every day and adding the proper amount of chlorine (at minimum). Pool services are only interested in showing up once a week to throw a stack of pucks in the skimmer and then on to the next job.....that is not conducive to well balanced water.
As someone who is looking to convert from LC to SWG why is a variable pump necessary? I have a single speed pump on an analog timer, my plan was to adjust the pump run time and the SWG chlorine percentage to achieve the proper FC level.
I can understand running a VS pump at lower speed to increase the amount of time the SWG is active but if you do the math and get a proper sized cell is a VS pump really required?
No it is not required. Just may have to go very big on the SWG to keep the run time shorter. You could switch your motor to a 2 speed and get a lot of the electrical savings too.
mguzzy
Gold Supporter
A variable speed pump is not required. I have a single speed pump. VS pumps are more energy efficient, and newer pools are installing pumps with VS motors. In California if you have to replace your pump you are supposed to replace with a VS pump per state law. Not sure how many other states require it as well.
Yes, all the water can go through a cell, but the cell is only charged 50% of its designated time. Not all water gets superchlorinated as it passes through the cell.
This is a fantastically interesting discussion. All I can add is I use a SWG and once I get the run time and % down early in the season, I vacuum once a week (Aqua bug), brush once a week, run a set of tests about once a week, and my water stays crystal clear all summer long. Knock on wood...the maintenance is minimal and pool time is maximized. Plus, the water is nice and soft feeling due to the salt.
Happy Swimming!
Happy Swimming!
- May 23, 2015
- 24,411
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I didn’t say it was required , I said it made sense. SWG’s produce the same amount of chlorine at any speed that satisfies the minimum flow rate (typically greater than 15GPM). SWG’s also produce chlorine at a fairly slow rate so even the largest cell on a small pool will require long pump run times. Single speed pumps are a huge waste of electrical energy compared to variable speed pumps - for example, my VSP uses less than 700W of power when the SWG is running as opposed to a similar sized single speed which would use thousands of watts of electrical power. Since SWGs force the pool owner to use longer run times than would otherwise be the case, they cost more to run. If a homeowner is building a pool, the incremental cost of adding a VSP is small in comparison to the overall pool build cost. If an SWG is being added to an existing pool then upgrading to a two-speed pump motor (~ $200 plus labor) can easily pay for itself with the energy savings accrued over a few seasons. A VSP has a longer ROI but is still worth it in terms of overall energy efficiency.
Fair enough. Your explanation makes sense, as part of the package I'm going to go ahead and replace the existing single speed pump with two speed and a manual toggle switch.
As the owner of a Salt Pool who has young children I will just call out that if my kids get into my bag of water softner salt, I am not that worried and I only have to keep 2-3 jugs of liquid chemicals out of their reach (Muric Acid and an emergency bottle or two of liquid chlorine in case something causes FC to drop))
I imagine I would need much more on hand (assuming I didn't end up using tablets, and even then I would have to be careful on storage) if I didn't have a SWG.
I imagine I would need much more on hand (assuming I didn't end up using tablets, and even then I would have to be careful on storage) if I didn't have a SWG.
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I dump the salt on my kid's heads while they are swimming ... they are always asking me to add more salt, but it just does not need it
rowiac
0
- Apr 20, 2018
- 82
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool Core-55
Kids are perfect salt mixing tools. I first added salt when they were in the pool and they freaked out until I told them it was okay. The next thing I knew they wanted me to add more. They liked the feel of the salt on their feet and said that it felt cool. Endothermic reaction of the salt dissolving, I guess.I dump the salt on my kid's heads while they are swimming ... they are always asking me to add more salt, but it just does not need it
There was one time poured it on them and their friends during a birthday party while all the other parents looked on in horror, not knowing what it was
And yes it does get pretty cold as it dissolves.
I must admit even I don't test every day. I do have SWG. I have never had any problems following the TFP methods. My pool is very little work. This summer, I have added some muriatic acid twice (once in July and once this week), and just a couple days ago added a bag of salt (after adding salt at the beginning of the season). That is it.
On the pump.....I am doing the VS because my waterfall and bubblers will run also off that same pump and each be manually controlled.....I’m a simpleton here
Katodude
Silver Supporter
- Aug 22, 2017
- 2,598
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I travel every week just like you do. I could not manage my pool without a SWG. I am a little OCD about it now (thanks TFP folks). I also tend on most weeks to add a couple of pucks to the pool at the beginning of the week when I leave town. It helps manage the pH. It help against the CYA degradation of a very hot pool and the big rains we have which cause a water exchange. It helps by adding just a little bit more FC to help the SWG while I am away.
Regarding travel, I do have problems with leaves. I usually have to empty the skimmer by hand daily. So, if I go out of town, I will put on my mesh leaf cover and let the SWG do all the work. The cover keeps the leaves out of the skimmer and I come home to a Crystal clear and perfectly chlorinated pool.
mguzzy
Gold Supporter
As this is a new build... I thought I would comment on this design consideration. Our pool came with the house when we bought it so we didn't have any input in the design, but I redid the pool equipment in 2005 and changed a bunch of stuff that always bugged me.. in particular where the equipment was located. The original PB put the equipment where it was convenient for them. right in the "middle" of the yard. I moved it 30ft away from the original spot but still within 20 ft of the pool to an area that wouldn't be used for anything else in the corner of the yard and behind some garden shrubbery. The shrubbery also provides a bit of a sound shield. So consider that when you decide where to put your equipment pad... The old pool equipment location is now our vegetable garden.
As to your single pump for everything.. We had an separate pump for the waterfall. It even has its own intakes in the pool. And they wired it to a switch on the side of the house. That has been nice because I can turn it on without worrying about the other pump settings, valves, etc. Automation theses days will probably alleviate that, but I've come to like having the water features on completely separate plumbing from everything else. just a thought...