"Budget" build in Los Angeles

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On return side - if #1 is set to spa off, #5 should regulate flow over the spa spillway by restricting flow to pool returns - if suction side is set to pull solely from pool. Maybe not the best way to do it, but will work for now.
 
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Our pool is done, we are only a 10 days since our plaster was done so we wont be installing the SWG for a few weeks.

Given our plumbing, would this be the best spot? on the spa/pool return after the heater.

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Yes, that appears it will work.
How are you going to control the power to the SWCG so that it is fully powered off when the pump is not running?
 
thechem said:
had not thought about that. I was thinking the flow meter would take care of it.

Hmm
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The flow switch is the secondary safety device. Do not rely on it. SWCG's can explode if powered on without flow through them. Does not happen often, but does happen.
 
When I didn't know better, I inadvertently solved the no SWG timer problem by deciding to run 24/7 with the energy sipping VS pump. The pump was always on so there was no need to make sure the SWG didn't run without the pump. If the pump lost power, the SWG shared the breaker and lost power too.

With pool #2 I planned on no SWG timer and 24/7 operation.

On the off chance the pump dies with the power on (loses prime, etc), then the flow switch is my fail safe.
 
From someone that has a built in spa you are going to hate not having automation when you start using the pool. I see some sort of automation in your future. I would seriously think of adding it when you add the SWG. Even something like this can be added to a run of the mill timer box Hayward Two Valve Actuators and 1 Smart Relay, J-Box and 6’ Whip, HL485SPAKIT under 1k and can control everything from your phone. I know it got old really quick having to get out of the pool or spa to adjust temps or switch valves.
 
jonnyd91 said:
From someone that has a built in spa you are going to hate not having automation when you start using the pool. I see some sort of automation in your future. I would seriously think of adding it when you add the SWG. Even something like this can be added to a run of the mill timer box Hayward Two Valve Actuators and 1 Smart Relay, J-Box and 6’ Whip, HL485SPAKIT under 1k and can control everything from your phone. I know it got old really quick having to get out of the pool or spa to adjust temps or switch valves.
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something i need to look into in the future. Fortunately i am pretty handy and some minor electric/plumbing should be easy to do.
 
thechem said:
something i need to look into in the future. Fortunately i am pretty handy and some minor electric/plumbing should be easy to do.
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I installed mine myself and it was the complete omnilogic panel/breaker box, so what I linked should be pretty easy to install. Its probably harder to setup. One thing to think about would be to get it before or at the same time as the salt cell. The SWG on most systems has its own electronic box when you dont have automation, if you get the automation that acts as the brain and you only need the salt cell and it plugs into the automation. You save money by just getting the salt cell and not having to get the box that controls it.
 

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Figure i would give some feedback after now enjoying the pool for most of the summer.

1. We got no automation, given our small yard/pool and the fact that i work from home, it has not been an issue.

2. I was initially thinking of a robot to keep the pool clean, but the vacuum port the contractor installed works well for us. We have no trees around us, so i am only having to vacuum once every other week with little to no dirt.

3. Salt system, install was easy and a big win, after i got that going its been easy to maintain.
 
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Things i would do differently/wish i've done.

1. I took pictures of everything, all the plumbing/drains etc, but i failed to use a tape measure. There has been a few times i wish i knew exactly where everything was.

2. Larger Baja shelf/area

3. return jet near the "baja" shelf since its only on 6" of water it tends to over power, i wish it was angled toward the skimmer.

4. Separate control for skimmer/drain. Since all we get is small dirt, brushing it toward the drain would be great.

5. Extra drain on pavers, with some of the heavy rain it would be helpful. I may need to do this myself later.

6. Be a little more picky on the tile work, they did a good job over all but the 90degree cut could have been better.
 
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thechem said:
Things i would do differently/wish i've done.

1. I took pictures of everything, all the plumbing/drains etc, but i failed to use a tape measure. There has been a few times i wish i knew exactly where everything was.

2. Larger Baja shelf/area

3. return jet near the "baja" shelf since its only on 6" of water it tends to over power, i wish it was angled toward the skimmer.

4. Separate control for skimmer/drain. Since all we get is small dirt, brushing it toward the drain would be great.

5. Extra drain on pavers, with some of the heavy rain it would be helpful. I may need to do this myself later.

6. Be a little more picky on the tile work, they did a good job over all but the 90degree cut could have been better.
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Looks great. What was your final out the door cost if you don't mind sharing?
 
thechem said:
65 went to our contractor and we spent another 10k in dirt dumping/permits.
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Looks like you went with the low bidder as you mentioned the range was 60-130k. I too went with the low bidder earlier this year in New Jersey and my bid started at 65k for a 30x16 gunite simple rectangle inground pool 3.5' -5' deep no spa...and I ended up paying close to twice that cost once the add-ons were added including electrical (with 1 led light), fence, heat pump, concrete decking, township required storm water management rain garden, variable speed pump and booster pump, pressure side cleaner, land repair, etc...
 
we got "lucky" with the small contractor that was the low bidder, but overall we had no issues with him.

No overages/change orders were paid at all to him, just permits/city
 
thechem said:
we spent another 10k in dirt dumping/permits.
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Really? Wow, I/we lived in South Orange County up until the end of 2019 when we moved to Las Vegas. I did an owner build here for our pool. I am so surprised at the cost for your dump fees and permit fees. Our pool in So OC was built in 1999, I don’t remember much about that build just that it was $36k back then.

I can say here our LV City permit cost us $1200 total. LA sure is expensive.
 
Since we fall under los Angeles, we were forced to use the landfills from the city at 70 dollars a ton.

My contractor had a free location to take the clean dirt, but the city would not allow it.
 
Same rules apply in OC now, dirt from the excavation must be dumped at a county landfill only and you are required to obtain load tickets from the county to give to the landfill for every load showing where the load originated from. Also you have to apply for a Red Ant permit from the county to insure that you are not moving Red Ants within the load.
 
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