Converting to Salt

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Kurtomac

Well-known member
Nov 18, 2019
73
Maryville, TN
Hello all. Longtime lurker, first time poster here!
I have a 26k ish liner pool with a 1.5hp Superpump currently. Looking to convert to salt and also do a pump upgrade at the same time.
Here’s what I’ve picked out so far

Pentair Intelliflo VS pump 011028
Pentair IC60 SWG
Pentair power center 520556

Does the SWG turn on and off on its own when it senses flow or do I wire it in with the pump some how?
Any other items I might need?
Any suggestions on other models in a similar price range that would be better?
 
Welcome to the forum!
Without a Pentair automation system, you will need a timer for the SWCG unless you plan to run the VS pump 24 hours per day.
The flow switch on the SWCG is the secondary safety device.
To be honest, without Pentair Automation, you would be better off with a different brand SWCG. The IC will only be able to be adjusted in 20% increments without automation. I suggest you take a look at Circupool SWCG's. You will still need a timer for the SWCG.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
 
Welcome to TFP.

Will you want to add automation someday for your pool? If so then with a Pentair VS pump you might as well stay with a Pentair SWG. Otherwise consider the Circupool RJ45 or RJ60 - Compare and Review Saltwater Chlorine Generator Prices and Features

You should wire whatever SWG to a timer. How do you control your pool pump on and off?

From Pentair Intellichlor ICXX SWG - Further Reading

The flow switch is a secondary safety mechanism. There should be a primary means for the cell not to be powered when the pump is off and there is no water flow. This can be with pool automation equipment or a mechanical timer.

Pentair Manuals say:

The IntelliChlor Salt Chlorinator Power Centers must be interconnected with the pool pump motor power source. This ensures the IntelliChlor Salt Chlorinator and pool pump will switch on and off together.

and

WARNING:CHLORINE GAS BUILDUP CAN OCCUR WITH IMPROPER WIRING: To reduce the risk of personal injury the IntelliChlor® Salt Chlorine Generator (SCG) Power Center must be installed on and wirded to the load side of the time clock, electronically controlled switch, or relay load side, so that it will receive power only when the pool pump is on. Otherwise, dangerous chlorine gas buildup can occur. The IECG should never be energized when the pool pump is OFF and water is not flowing through the unit.
 
Well I guess I’m glad I asked here first. I had bought a timer to install for my existing pump for this season before I had decided to upgrade to a more efficient pump...so I’ll use that to switch the SWG on and off instead of selling it like I had intended. Should I set it to start generating 10 min after the Intelliflo turns on to ensure it’s primed and has flow and the turn off before pump turns off in the evening? I do not intend on adding automation. It appears those Circupools produced a lot more chlorine..thanks for the tip there and they’re price similarly. The Intelliflo has a built in timer that will turn on and off everyday with its own timer correct?
Would you spring for the intelliflo with my pool size or go with the pentair superflo and save a few hundred?
We just got this house last year and it was a frustrating first season but after much reading on here and getting a good test kit I feel a lot better about it now.
 
The Intelliflo is the gold standard of VS pumps. So I would stick with that. But up to you.

You would schedule the SWCG within the schedule you will program into the Intelliflo. It can have 8 different schedules programmed.

Good to hear you are having success with a proper test kit. Can we ask you to fill out your signature?
 
Just ordered Intelliflo 011028 and the RJ 60+ Circupool SWG! Attached is my current setup. I have a new valve for my sand filter, removing chlorinator and that gray thing and adding the SWG and Intelliflo.
Current pipes are 1.5” which I plan on cutting off just above the ground and doing all new 2” above the ground. Any tips or tricks or ideas of how you would plumb this? I’m all ears and eyes!
 

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Replace your ball valves with diverter valves.

Use unions on the pump connections. The SWG will come with unions.
 
Kurtomac said:
Where is a good source to buy those?
Click to expand...

A search will find many sites seeling them from Amazon to Walmart to pool equipment sites.

Kurtomac said:
One of those is a dedicated vacuum line that I don’t use. Should I just cap that one off?
Click to expand...

I hate to cap it off and have stale water sitting in the pipe. You can plumb it into the return side and make it another return.
 
I like that idea. Currently 3 jets fed by the 1 return line. So I’ll “T” into the return line to have that pipe reverse flow for another jet. Wonder if the threads are the same as they are for an eyeball jet?
I have an electric robot and if I need to vacuum to waste I use a skimmer plate thus me wanting to change that one up
 

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Kurtomac said:
I like that idea. Currently 3 jets fed by the 1 return line. So I’ll “T” into the return line to have that pipe reverse flow for another jet.
Click to expand...

I would use a 3-way diverter valve as the T on that re-purposed line to adjust flow bias between it and the pipe that feeds 3 lines.
 
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The salesman from discount salt pool was telling me I didn’t need a time for my RJ as the flow switch would tell it to turn on or off. I have a brand new timer that I was going to use separately for the RJ and just use the built in control on the Intelliflo for the pump. Was he wrong?
 
Kurtomac said:
The salesman from discount salt pool was telling me I didn’t need a time for my RJ as the flow switch would tell it to turn on or off. I have a brand new timer that I was going to use separately for the RJ and just use the built in control on the Intelliflo for the pump. Was he wrong?
Click to expand...
Technically he is correct. But we have seen a number of SWCG explode when run without water running through them. And they had a flow switch, that failed. So our recommendation is to use the power source as your primary safety device (the timer) and the flow switch as the secondary safety device.
 
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Kurtomac said:
The salesman from discount salt pool was telling me I didn’t need a time for my RJ as the flow switch would tell it to turn on or off. I have a brand new timer that I was going to use separately for the RJ and just use the built in control on the Intelliflo for the pump. Was he wrong?
Click to expand...

Ask the "salesman" why Circupools flow switch is better then Pentairs?

Explosion near the SWG

We were watching TV and heard a major explosion after exploring in the backyard I went into my pool equipment should and found about a 16 in PVC pipe shredded 8in on one side 8in on the other side of where my SWG Is located. I have no Idea what to think. It appears the SWG somehow was not...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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Kurtomac said:
I saw in some other posts about pumps having salt specific seals in pumps. Does the intelliflo come with a seal that is ok with either salt or regular pool?
Click to expand...

Yes.

What post talked about pumps having salt specific seals?
 
ajw22 said:
I would use a 3-way diverter valve as the T on that re-purposed line to adjust flow bias between it and the pipe that feeds 3 lines.
Click to expand...
My pool guy said he wouldn’t bother with a diverter valve due to them having cavitation issues. Any truth to this?
I just got my pump in today and my RJ60+in yesterday. I’m gonna draw up my plan for you guys to review. Still considering redoing all of the plumbing and new valves above ground to 2” unless anyone thinks it’s a waste since it necks down to 1.5” under ground.

there’s a learning curve to all of this. I thank you for your help and patience guys
 
ajw22 said:
Yes.

What post talked about pumps having salt specific seals?
Click to expand...
I saw it the comments of some YouTube videos of seal replacements actually. I think it was for whisperflo units though and they provided part numbers for the seal for salt and the regular seal.
Is it bad that I trust you guys more than my “pool guy” already? He told me I shoulda got the superflo instead of the Intelliflo as I woulda seen more gains out of the superflo.
 
Kurtomac said:
My pool guy said he wouldn’t bother with a diverter valve due to them having cavitation issues. Any truth to this?
Click to expand...

No truth to it.

All of us with pools and spas have diverter valves on our suction and return lines.

Ask him for some data to back up what he says. At what flow rate will you have cavitation? Your flow rate using a VS pump will be so low your water will flow smoothly through the valves.
 

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