Been talking with an installer about adding a SWG. After reading here I've been adamant about getting at least an IC40. He's been pushing an IC30. So I discussed with him on the phone today and he's citing #s that he's seeing IC40s fail at about 2-3 years and failure rate is 50-60%. He says the failure rate of the IC30 is much better, 12%. Seems like he could be pulling my chain but IDK. The point of talking to these guys is to get their experience and he's really trying to talk me out of an IC40. He did say if that's what I wanted he would still do it. Any truth to the reliability rumors? I know the IC40 is well regarded here, that is how I researched what I wanted!
IC40 reliability? Installer citing high failure rates.
- Thread starter maxBR
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 62,708
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Not what we have seen. Many of us have IC40's that last 5++ years.
The iChlor (what you are calling IC30), are not very robust and have shown high failure rates.
Most failures on an Intellichlor (that is not eventually attributed to poor water chemistry and not the equipment) is the thermistor in the flow switch. An easy fix, and even have a workaround that is quite inexpensive.
Now, if you do NOT have automation, Circupool is a good source for a SWCG. Especially DIY install.
The iChlor (what you are calling IC30), are not very robust and have shown high failure rates.
Most failures on an Intellichlor (that is not eventually attributed to poor water chemistry and not the equipment) is the thermistor in the flow switch. An easy fix, and even have a workaround that is quite inexpensive.
Now, if you do NOT have automation, Circupool is a good source for a SWCG. Especially DIY install.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,353
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Pentair has the IntelliChlor with IC20, IC40 and IC60 cells. No IC30.
Pentair also has the iChlor SWG system with 15 and 30 cells.
The iChlor is a lower quality system then the IntelliChlor that Pentair came out with to compete with the many Chinese SWGs now on the market.
I would get the IC40.
Pentair also has the iChlor SWG system with 15 and 30 cells.
The iChlor is a lower quality system then the IntelliChlor that Pentair came out with to compete with the many Chinese SWGs now on the market.
I would get the IC40.
We all knew what you meant. I mentioned it in your other thread. But we (they) wanted to make sure you understood the difference and it's not just 2 more models of the same unit. The 15 and 30 are the budget friendly cousins (now HOW did they achieve THAT??) of the 20/40/60.
Max,
My guess is that 75 to 80% of all reported SWCG failures are not hardware problems, but rather pool owner problems.
Things that we see all the time, like...
"I run the pump 4 hours day, but my chlorine still goes down, must be a bad cell".. The pool owner has to have a clue how much chlorine the cell makes each day and run the cell long enough generate the required chlorine.
" I have 20K pool and a 20K cell, but it just won't keep up, it must be a bad cell." Your cell needs to be at least 2 x the volume of your pool or larger.
" I have been running my cell on Super Chlorinate because I have algae and it has made no difference, it must be a bad cell". If you have algae, a SWCG will never be able to generate more chlorine than your pool can consume.
" Always try to keep my FC at about 1 ppm, but I still get algae, so the cell must be bad." You need to keep your FC in the proper relationship with your CYA.
"I keep my CYA at 20 ppm, but in the summer the cell just does not make enough chlorine, so the cell must be bad." The lower the CYA the faster the sum will consume it.
Not saying that cell's do not go bad, they do, but the average lifespan of a salt cell is 5 to 7 years if correctly sized for your pool.
Thanks,
Jim R.
My guess is that 75 to 80% of all reported SWCG failures are not hardware problems, but rather pool owner problems.
Things that we see all the time, like...
"I run the pump 4 hours day, but my chlorine still goes down, must be a bad cell".. The pool owner has to have a clue how much chlorine the cell makes each day and run the cell long enough generate the required chlorine.
" I have 20K pool and a 20K cell, but it just won't keep up, it must be a bad cell." Your cell needs to be at least 2 x the volume of your pool or larger.
" I have been running my cell on Super Chlorinate because I have algae and it has made no difference, it must be a bad cell". If you have algae, a SWCG will never be able to generate more chlorine than your pool can consume.
" Always try to keep my FC at about 1 ppm, but I still get algae, so the cell must be bad." You need to keep your FC in the proper relationship with your CYA.
"I keep my CYA at 20 ppm, but in the summer the cell just does not make enough chlorine, so the cell must be bad." The lower the CYA the faster the sum will consume it.
Not saying that cell's do not go bad, they do, but the average lifespan of a salt cell is 5 to 7 years if correctly sized for your pool.
Thanks,
Jim R.