Just got a new SWG--Aqua Rite 900. It was a "surprise"

[Newdude]

Correct that it won't produce without flow if everything works like it should.

It is supposed to be on a timer that only runs when the pump is already on. If not, the gases can build up and explode if it runs by itself. It won't level your house but it will destroy the SWG, a few feet of pipe and whatever the shrapnel hits. There is a flow switch that acts as a failsafe but TFP does not recommend using that alone to turn the unit off. Manually turn off the unit with the pump and double check the timers still line up when you turn them both back on.

 

[mguzzy]

You are correct!.. no flow-no chlorine

 

[Tyrone Shuz]

OK so the idiot lights were on again this morning (Check Salt, Inspect Cell). I reset the average salt and they went away again. Is this something I'll have to do every day? Or every time I check it? My drop kit arrives sometime today and the FC is steady at 4ppm, set at 50%.

 

[Saturn94]

OK so the idiot lights were on again this morning (Check Salt, Inspect Cell). I reset the average salt and they went away again. Is this something I'll have to do every day? Or every time I check it? My drop kit arrives sometime today and the FC is steady at 4ppm, set at 50%.

I suspect your SWCG is still powered on when the pump is off. This can cause average salinity to read low when the pump kicks back on. The SWCG needs to be set up so it is powered off when the pump is off. This will assure correct average salt readings and eliminate the possibility of the cell exploding.

 

[Tyrone Shuz]

DINGDINGDINGDING!! The outlet that's next to the outside breaker box is not wired to the timer, but to one of the other breakers. I think the install guy should have known that? Or found out by testing with any appliance he has?

So obviously I need to get that done OR if I turn the SWG off at night and on each day do I need to run it at a higher percentage to keep the chlorine level up?

In the meantime I guess I'll let everything run 24/7 but can I manually turn it off each night before the timer kicks in, and then back on sometime after it resumes?

 

[Saturn94]

You could power the SWCG off and on manually until you get it wired/set up correctly.

 

[mguzzy]

In the meantime I guess I'll let everything run 24/7 but can I manually turn it off each night before the timer kicks in, and then back on sometime after it resumes?

I think you mean you will turn on the SWG AFTER the pump timer kicks on and then turn the SWG off BEFORE the pump timer kicks off.. or did I miss understand it.

 

[Tyrone Shuz]

Installer says there's a flow switch. It looks like a black knob and there's a wire that goes to the control unit. Says that the flow switch senses to turn off the generator when there's no water flowing through the cell.

 

[mguzzy]

Yikes, the flow switch is a safety device. . It's not intended to be the on/off for the SWG system.

 

[Tyrone Shuz]

Yikes, the flow switch is a safety device. . It's not intended to be the on/off for the SWG system.

So is your SWG paired with a timer or do you turn yours on and off each day? I think the cheap solution would be buy a timer between the SWG and the outlet and set it for a greater number of hours than the pump is off. But I'd love it if they came on and off at the same time.

 

[mguzzy]

Yes, the power for my SWG controller comes from the same connection as the power to my filter pump on the timer. So if the Pumps are running my SWG is powered up. When the timer turns the pumps off, power to the whole system is turned off as well (Heater, SWG, Pool sweep). My SWG has a flow switch as well. its wired into the controller so if the flow stops for some reason it will turn off the SWG. The flow switch is independent of the power that goes to the SWG controller.

 

[Tyrone Shuz]

Yes, the power for my SWG controller comes from the same connection as the power to my filter pump on the timer. So if the Pumps are running my SWG is powered up. When the timer turns the pumps off, power to the whole system is turned off as well (Heater, SWG, Pool sweep). My SWG has a flow switch as well. its wired into the controller so if the flow stops for some reason it will turn off the SWG. The flow switch is independent of the power that goes to the SWG controller.

That's what I want, but methinks I'll call an actual electrician to do the work instead of the pool guy. It won't harm the SWG if the pump is running and the unit is off right? If it's safe to have the system running, an $9 digital timer from Amazon might be the poor man's solution, just set it outside of the limits of the pump timer.

Funny not-so-funny: Strips read 2850, SWG reads 3100 (sometimes 3200) drop test (two attempts) 3800, 4000. Either my pool has fewer gallons, or there was way less than 0 salt prior to the bags being dumped into the pool.

 

[mguzzy]

Get an Intermatic Timer, that is what is used in most pool applications... search for that on the forum Intermatic and you'll see lots of hits on setups. I'll see if I can find a reference for you later.

 

[laprjns]

I suspect your SWCG is still powered on when the pump is off. This can cause average salinity to read low when the pump kicks back on. The SWCG needs to be set up so it is powered off when the pump is off. This will assure correct average salt readings and eliminate the possibility of the cell exploding.

This statement has me confused. Assuming that the flow switch has not failed, and there is power to the SWCG all the time, it should not be measuring salinity level or generating chlorine when there is no flow. If this is the problem, then Tyrone has a bad flow switch also.

 

[laprjns]

Have you checked to see if the cell type is set correctly in the controller? Your signature says that you have a TCell 940 so per the manual the controller should be set to a T-15.

 

[Saturn94]

Yes, the power for my SWG controller comes from the same connection as the power to my filter pump on the timer. So if the Pumps are running my SWG is powered up. When the timer turns the pumps off, power to the whole system is turned off as well (Heater, SWG, Pool sweep). My SWG has a flow switch as well. its wired into the controller so if the flow stops for some reason it will turn off the SWG. The flow switch is independent of the power that goes to the SWG controller.

Mine is the same.

 

[Saturn94]

This statement has me confused. Assuming that the flow switch has not failed, and there is power to the SWCG all the time, it should not be measuring salinity level or generating chlorine when there is no flow. If this is the problem, then Tyrone has a bad flow switch also.

What you say makes sense. Unfortunately, I don’t know the exact details of how it works, but I have read here, more than once, of the situation the OP is experiencing being caused by the SWCG remaining powered on when the pump is powered off. That’s why I mentioned this as a possible cause.

 

[Saturn94]

BTW, this is what the manual for my SWCG says about installation/wiring

”...Wire the Aqua Rite to the LOAD SIDE of the filter pump timer. It is very important that the Aqua Rite is powered only when the pump is running...”

I suspect the OP’s would say the same.

 

[Saturn94]

That's what I want, but methinks I'll call an actual electrician to do the work instead of the pool guy. It won't harm the SWG if the pump is running and the unit is off right? If it's safe to have the system running, an $9 digital timer from Amazon might be the poor man's solution, just set it outside of the limits of the pump timer.

Funny not-so-funny: Strips read 2850, SWG reads 3100 (sometimes 3200) drop test (two attempts) 3800, 4000. Either my pool has fewer gallons, or there was way less than 0 salt prior to the bags being dumped into the pool.

It’s fine to run your pump with the SWCG off.

 

[Tyrone Shuz]

The cell is set correctly. I have an Intermatic timer on my pump. But the outlet that is next to the outside breaker box is not wired to the breaker that the timer controls. I would love to have that outlet moved over to be controlled by the same breaker. I'm not an electrician, and just to get one out and do that 5-minute job would likely cost $150. I may do that in the future probably when other electrical work is needed, but I can buy a digital programmable outlet timer for $9 plus tax on Amazon. So the cheap fix will be separate timers for the pump and SWG, I will just make sure the SWG's timer is set to turn off prior to the pump turning off, and turn back on after the pump comes on.

My controller has a standard 3-prong plug and there's an outlet by the breaker box, so I'm not sure how I could wire it directly to the pump timer, but I'm sure that outlet could be rewired to be controlled by the proper breaker.