quick newb swg questions

[poolurker5]

I have been lurking here for years, keeping my pool nice and clean with proper levels and minimal chemicals. (2.5 cups of liquid chlorine tossed in daily, with .75 cups of muriatic acid twice weekly)
Now after 4 years of daily liquid chlorine I am looking to make the switch to SWG, I have read many a post here and have just my final build for a once-over before I order everything.
Pool is "L" shaped rounded inground about 28' x 12.5' (plus the kneehigh sunshelf), 6-3.5' deep, about 10,000 gallons in size, running a Pentair single speed pump. No fancy water features, I do have a heatpump heater I use in October and March (I am in north Florida).

1) SWG - Tossed between the Circupool RJ30+ or the RJ45+
Going with 2x sizing the RJ30+ would work as I am on 10k pool, but I am using a single-speed pump so minimum run time would be nice, and its not much more cost to upgrade with the same install effort, with the rj45 seems to be a more common/popular model over the rj30?
I am leaning towards Circupool over Pentair, as I am not interested in an automation system. SWG will run off the same mechanical timer as the pump. I just need a reliable yet simple swg. (I went through the Pentair LED intelilight fiasco, after breaking twice in warranty and once out, just went halogen)

2) Install will be vertical, (replicating that vertical kit with my box of parts) as it will keep my re-plumbing to a minimum (cost and effort) and have a good easy to access yet safe spot from being kicked location. If I go vertical, does air get trapped in the top of the loop at all? Any negatives with going vertical, I did not find any scouring the forums. I can also throw a "T" in the middle of the straight sections to get a horizontal install if that is better in the long run.

3) My pool heater does not have a backflow valve, only a 3-way on the intake. But there will be just over 8 feet of pipe length between the SWG and the heater output. Is this ok, or should I put another valve in to completely isolate the heater?

 

[Jimrahbe]

5,

You only need a check valve if you are using a tab feeder, you do not need a check valve when using a SWCG...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[poolurker5]

With current prices of the Circupool, it looks like its not much more to go with an Autopilot.
Is Autopilot a much higher quality unit?

 

[Jimrahbe]

5,

Well Autopilot seems to think so...

We do not have many Autopilot users here, so it is hard to get an actual feel for how their products perform. I do not remember seeing any negative posts about them.

We have a lot of CircuPool users, Hayward T15 users, and Pentair IntelliChlor users..

I would not hesitant to buy any of those three SWCGs.. That said, I would not buy a Pentair SWCG unless you also had their automation system.

Thanks

Jim R.

 

[HermanTX]

My pool heater does not have a backflow valve, only a 3-way on the intake. But there will be just over 8 feet of pipe length between the SWG and the heater output. Is this ok, or should I put another valve in to completely isolate the heater?

This appears to be a heater bypass set up. Refer to the link below. The recommendation is to have a check valve. It is not to protect it from the SWCG but more so that you do not have backflow pressure to the heater when in bypass mode.
Just curious - do you keep your 3 way valve open to both heater and bypass or do you turn one pipe off and open the other. In your picture, the filter is blocking where the 3 way valve is set up.
You really cannot put the SWCG in the long straight sections unless they both see flow continuously.

Heater Bypass - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Also, if you ever decide to switch to a VS pump, then straighten out the suction line to the pump so it is 10inches or so as that will improve the flow into the pump.

 

[poolurker5]

Correct, the 3-way valve from the filter goes either 100% on/off for the pool heater loop.
When I plumb in the line for the SWG, I most likely will put in another 3-way valve instead of a plain T. The pipes will be cut anyway and I can fully isolate the heater.
thanks

 

[poolurker5]

5,

Well Autopilot seems to think so...

We do not have many Autopilot users here, so it is hard to get an actual feel for how their products perform. I do not remember seeing any negative posts about them.

We have a lot of CircuPool users, Hayward T15 users, and Pentair IntelliChlor users..

I would not hesitant to buy any of those three SWCGs.. That said, I would not buy a Pentair SWCG unless you also had their automation system.

Thanks

Jim R.

My hesitations with Circupool are that it seems to be a generic re-branded design with a warranty that is heavily prorated, and recent units are having issues like less output than rated. Though when it runs it seems to run great, I do realize that only people with problems will post here about them. I am looking at Autopilot as they are also DIY friendly, but if its not a popular unit here that would explain lack of problems. Let me know if this is not the case, I am still in my analysis mode. Thanks!

 

[superuser]

I'm only one data point, admittedly a relatively low quality one, but my RJ45+ has been working fine so far. Installed in May 2021. I don't have anything to compare it to, but the install was quick and easy and it has given me no trouble at all thus far.

 

[poolurker5]

I'm only one data point, admittedly a relatively low quality one, but my RJ45+ has been working fine so far. Installed in May 2021. I don't have anything to compare it to, but the install was quick and easy and it has given me no trouble at all thus far.

thanks!