Starting SWG, salt and chemicals adjustment

[Mdragger88]

Your cell produces .98 #/day
Put that in the settings of poolmath.
Then you can add your swcg settings just as you would a chemical instead of making a note. Select swg from the sanitizer list.
It will show the addition as ppm fc.

You can also tinker with effects of adding to help determine the appropriate run time & % needed to meet your current daily fc demand.

The swcg should turn off if the pump stops & the flow switch is operating correctly. But!
It should also be wired in such a way that it cannot operate if the pump is off not solely relying upon the flow switch as they can & do go bad.
Post pics of your setup to confirm it’s wired properly.

 

[old_monk]

You can also tinker with effects of adding to help determine the appropriate run time & % needed to meet your current daily fc demand.

Thanks, that video was helpful. If I plug my numbers, app says 25% setting with pump running 24 hrs will raise FC by 1.6. My FC just tested at 11.5 (it's been cloudy and lot of rain last few days). So if I let FC drift down to say 7-8 then daily output of 1.6 should be good enough, is that fair assumption?

Any specific part of setup wiring for the pump/SWG ?

 

[Mdragger88]

Average fc loss can be anywhere between 1-4ppm/day depending upon the conditions/season - so you’ll just have to gauge where you are in the season currently. Around 2ppm is good place to start mid spring.

Take pics of the wires in any timer or relay that may be in your automation if you have it.
Basically, How is the power supplied to your swcg?

 

[old_monk]

Well, I don't have any automation. S325 is pretty basic cell. According to PB, automation is an upgrade lol. I looked around on Hayward website and seems like I need this kit to get automation added.
Meantime I guess I'll have to constantly keep an eye on FC level and pump being working?

 

[proavia]

Well, I don't have any automation. S325 is pretty basic cell. According to PB, automation is an upgrade lol. I looked around on Hayward website and seems like I need this kit to get automation added.
Meantime I guess I'll have to constantly keep an eye on FC level and pump being working?

Automation is not going to automatically monitor and adjust FC output to compensate for daily chlorine loss.
You will still need to test FC and adjust the SWG and/or pump runtime as needed. Once the SWG is dialed in, testing once or twice weekly is possible. A SWG is not set and forget.

I have a very basic system - VS pump, RJ45+ SWG and a mechanical Intermatic timer.
The timer is the primary SWG safety device and the SWG flow switch is the secondary safety device.
The pump receives constant 220v power and the SWG is wired thru the timer to run within the pump run times. Pump and timer/SWG are on the same 220v breaker. Timer powers SWG controller on 30 minutes after pump starts and off 30 minutes before pump stops. This provides a bit of a buffer in case the timer for the SWG gets out of sync with the pump clock. I check the time and pump times at least weekly - when I check the rest of the equipment and empty the leafvac and pump baskets. This extra check of the pump clock and timer takes all of 10-15 seconds. The SWG controller is adjusted as needed to produce the chlorine the pool requires - or I can adjust pump runtime to accomplish this. It's a combination of SWG percentage and pump runtime to get the chlorine needed.

 

[old_monk]

Yeah PoolMath asks for both SWG % and pump runtime so that part is clear. I lowered the % bit further and FC is 8.5 at 3pm, peak sun. Will let it ride like that few days and see if need further tweak.

I'll open a separate thread on automation, besides what we talked above, I also want to get MA inject automated. Otherwise I don't know how can I leave my pool and go on a week long family vacation. pH is riding up every couple of days.

 

[proavia]

Yeah PoolMath asks for both SWG % and pump runtime so that part is clear. I lowered the % bit further and FC is 8.5 at 3pm, peak sun. Will let it ride like that few days and see if need further tweak.

I'll open a separate thread on automation, besides what we talked above, I also want to get MA inject automated. Otherwise I don't know how can I leave my pool and go on a week long family vacation. pH is riding up every couple of days.

Work your TA down to about 60. This should stablize/slow the pH rise.

Not a big deal if pH is on the high end for a week or two. Dose pH to 7.2 before departure and adjust as needed on your return.

The goal is to keep CSI slightly negative to minimize scaling in the SWG.
Strive to maintain CSI in the 0.00 to -0.30 (negative 0.30) range.

 

[old_monk]

Does pool use (swimming/splashing for 3-4 hours) contributes to FC drop? Just trying to understand if it was me turning down the SWG % that lowered the FC or pool use also contributed to it. Heater is on and set to 85 if that's a factor?

 

[Mdragger88]

Does pool use (swimming/splashing for 3-4 hours) contributes to FC drop? Just trying to understand if it was me turning down the SWG % that lowered the FC or pool use also contributed to it. Heater is on and set to 85 if that's a factor?

Bather load certainly is a factor along with uv exposure & your swcg output.
If having a pool party predose a bit higher than target with liquid chlorine to give yourself more of a buffer. Then dose again when they leave if its really a party.
Sweaty sunscreened people & kids especially can consume some fc.
I usually dose to 10 before guests arrive when my cya is in the 70/80 range.

 

[old_monk]

Bather load certainly is a factor along with uv exposure & your swcg output.
If having a pool party predose a bit higher than target with liquid chlorine to give yourself more of a buffer. Then dose again when they leave if its really a party.
Sweaty sunscreened people & kids especially can consume some fc.
I usually dose to 10 before guests arrive when my cya is in the 70/80 range.

Thanks, very helpful to know what to expect. I like the idea of dosing with LC to raise the FC before a pool party.

 

[old_monk]

@Mdragger88 - do you mind reviewing my recent week's logs for FC ride? It's been bright sunny lately so had to up the SWG % and have added LC to keep levels hitting below limit.

 

[Mdragger88]

@Mdragger88 - do you mind reviewing my recent week's logs for FC ride? It's been bright sunny lately so had to up the SWG % and have added LC to keep levels hitting below limit.

While you’re keeping it above minimum (3ppm for you), you are hanging at the low end of target range. This is ok but It’s not a bad idea to increase your maintenance fc level to give yourself a good buffer incase Murphy throws something at you. It buys you time to correct for whatever happens.
I personally aim for keeping my fc @ 10% of my cya level or a dab above. Its very easy to remember & gives me a decent little buffer without having to try & micromanage everything constantly.
*In poolmath when you change your swcg setting you can add that addition like any other chem. Use the + at the bottom of the page, then select add chemicals, then just select swg & enter your settings.
it will then show in your log along with the fc those settings should be producing in your pool instead of using the notes which do not contain your pump run time.

 

[old_monk]

While you’re keeping it above minimum (3ppm for you), you are hanging at the low end of target range. This is ok but It’s not a bad idea to increase your maintenance fc level to give yourself a good buffer incase Murphy throws something at you. It buys you time to correct for whatever happens.
I personally aim for keeping my fc @ 10% of my cya level or a dab above. Its very easy to remember & gives me a decent little buffer without having to try & micromanage everything constantly.
*In poolmath when you change your swcg setting you can add that addition like any other chem. Use the + at the bottom of the page, then select add chemicals, then just select swg & enter your settings.
it will then show in your log along with the fc those settings should be producing in your pool instead of using the notes which do not contain your pump run time.

I have the same goal to target roughly 10% of CYA as FC. When I first turned on the SWG about 10 days back, it was mostly cloudy and rainy weather for days and FC was hovering at 11-12, dialed it down and at the same time hot sunny stretch came back and FC is at 4-6. Tweaking SWG again to get it to read 8 in the mornings.