Should I power a SWG to the pump, or continuous power?

[poweranimal]

So I ordered a Circupool RJ60+ (arrives tomorrow) and wondering how the power should be hooked up. The manual says continuous power is ok as it has a water flow switch to only run when water is moving.
That however makes me put a lot of faith into a switch that has potential to fail. Is it common to hook these up to continuous power? What will happen if the switch fails and the salt cell stays running with no water flow?

 

[Saturn94]

I’m surprised the manual says that. Most state that power to the SWCG must be off when the pump isn’t running. The flow switch is a backup/secondary safety device.

If the cell operates without sufficient water flow, hydrogen gas can build up in the cell resulting in an explosion risk.

One example

 

[poweranimal]

I’m surprised the manual says that. Most state that power to the SWCG must be off when the pump isn’t running. The flow switch is a backup/secondary safety device.

If the cell operates without sufficient water flow, hydrogen gas can build up in the cell resulting in an explosion risk.

One example

That’s why I was asking. I figured I’d take the safe route and use the flow switch as the fail safe. Now to go find out how the wiring works in my pump.
Thanks for the help! Awesome video! Great example of what not to do.

 

[suzook]

Idk, my old system always had power and turned the cell off with no flow. No issues, but I guess if the flow sensor fails, I guess that could be an issue

 

[Saturn94]

Given the potentially severe consequences, it seems silly not to take the simple precaution of wiring a SWCG properly to eliminate the risk.

 

[Hammond]

Powering with the same source as the pump protects in case there is an issue with the electrical circuit. However, what happens if someone turns off the pump or the pump fails. Does this turn off the swg?

 

[suzook]

Powering with the same source as the pump protects in case there is an issue with the electrical circuit. However, what happens if someone turns off the pump or the pump fails. Does this turn off the swg?

It does if it has a flow switch. No flow, it doesn't turn on.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Wire a timer in to the SWG circuit so that it turns on after the pump turns on and turns off before the pump turns off. Then the flow switch is the failsafe if the pump fails while the timer has the SWG on. Show us how you have your pump wired up now and to what.

 

[suzook]

As stated, easy enough to wire up the swg to turn on whenever the pump is on. So yes, should be done, but as stated I had no issues without it.

 

[poweranimal]

Wire a timer in to the SWG circuit so that it turns on after the pump turns on and turns off before the pump turns off. Then the flow switch is the failsafe if the pump fails while the timer has the SWG on. Show us how you have your pump wired up now and to what.

So originally, I thought I would just intercept the wires coming from the pump drive to the motor. I quickly found out, they attach with pins that I can’t tie into.

Then I found some threads on here about using a Current Sensing Relay. Then I realized it’s 240V power and if I use a CSR for 1 leg of the power, it’ll still be getting 120V through the other leg. Not sure if it will power on with 1/2 power or not.

If I switch the SWG controller to 120V, I could use a CSR although most of them are for 240V. I don’t see how the relay would notice or care how many volts go through it.

The original manual timer has been cut. Looks like there might even be some live wires they left and didn’t bother capping.

 

[poweranimal]

So originally, I thought I would just intercept the wires coming from the pump drive to the motor. I quickly found out, they attach with pins that I can’t tie into.

Then I found some threads on here about using a Current Sensing Relay. Then I realized it’s 240V power and if I use a CSR for 1 leg of the power, it’ll still be getting 120V through the other leg. Not sure if it will power on with 1/2 power or not.

If I switch the SWG controller to 120V, I could use a CSR although most of them are for 240V. I don’t see how the relay would notice or care how many volts go through it.

The original manual timer has been cut. Looks like there might even be some live wires they left and didn’t bother capping.

Figured it out. Just needed another relay to connect both 120V lines