Pentair IC40 replacement after three years

[DanManSanDiego]

I am no longer getting chlorine output from my Pentair IC40. Salt level is fine-about 3500. The pool was built new and we’ve been using it since the summer of 2021. I’ve had no chlorine output since last summer so that’s effectively a three year lifespan for the unit. That seems short, But I will admit to possibly over chlorinating as a new owner, but I’m still disappointed that I’ve only gotten three years. I have carefully maintained PH and have cleaned the cell every 4 to 6 months. Now, the plates are clean, but the cell dirty light comes on. Is there anything else I can do? I’ve heard some talk about a faulty flow switch but not sure if that’s applicable here.

I intend to upgrade to the IC 60 and lower the output and maintain a chlorine level of about two. I have a very light bather load and I’ve never had issues with algae or dirty water.

I really hate that I’m going to have to pay $15-$1800 for a new Pentair Unit. I have seen some of the generic salt cells for about half that price but it seems that none of them will work with the ScreenLogic automation. Not sure that I want to put in a dumb salt cell that I have to adjust on the actual unit anytime I need to change. However, maybe that’s not as much of an issue as I think. Are there any generic salt cells that work with Pentair ScreenLogic? Also, am I able to do a self install of the unit to have the full Pentair warranty without going through a pool builder or installer? I appreciate any and all recommendations.

 

[DanManSanDiego]

Slight correction— current unit is IC30

 

[Jimrahbe]

Slight correction— current unit is IC30

Dan,

That is a huge correction..

Your cell is about half the size it should be.. We always recommend that a cell be at least 2 x the volume of your pool.. In your case an IC60 for a 32K gallon pool.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[ajw22]

Cleaning the cell every 4-6 months with acid reduces the life of the cell.

Replace your cell and use less damaging cleaning methods. Also we can discuss your water chemistry.

 

[PoolStored]

I have carefully maintained PH and have cleaned the cell every 4 to 6 months.

Acid cleaning, as @ajw22 has indicated, will shorten the life of the cell.

If you maintain a negative CSI, you won't need to clean the cell.

If you clean the cell, use mechanical methods...here is our cleaning guide:

SWG How It Works - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

maintain a chlorine level of about two

You should maintain your FC based on your CYA...Link-->FC/CYA Levels

I have seen some of the generic salt cells for about half that price but it seems that none of them will work with the ScreenLogic automation. Not sure that I want to put in a dumb salt cell that I have to adjust on the actual unit anytime I need to change. However, maybe that’s not as much of an issue as I think. Are there any generic salt cells that work with Pentair ScreenLogic?

Replacing IC60

I have Intellicenter with the built in swg transformer. I need to replace my IC60. I see a couple aftermarket cells that say they are a direct replacement. Does anyone have any experience with them? Do the use the same internal power supply and connector I already have on Intellicenter? Do...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Newdude]

I saw the IC60 on sale at swimming pool supply USA for low $1300s yesterday and was thisclose to having a spare at that price. But broke with a kid in college. So.

Link here

 

[Ahultin]

I am no longer getting chlorine output from my Pentair IC40. Salt level is fine-about 3500. The pool was built new and we’ve been using it since the summer of 2021. I’ve had no chlorine output since last summer so that’s effectively a three year lifespan for the unit. That seems short, But I will admit to possibly over chlorinating as a new owner, but I’m still disappointed that I’ve only gotten three years. I have carefully maintained PH and have cleaned the cell every 4 to 6 months. Now, the plates are clean, but the cell dirty light comes on. Is there anything else I can do? I’ve heard some talk about a faulty flow switch but not sure if that’s applicable here.

I intend to upgrade to the IC 60 and lower the output and maintain a chlorine level of about two. I have a very light bather load and I’ve never had issues with algae or dirty water.

I really hate that I’m going to have to pay $15-$1800 for a new Pentair Unit. I have seen some of the generic salt cells for about half that price but it seems that none of them will work with the ScreenLogic automation. Not sure that I want to put in a dumb salt cell that I have to adjust on the actual unit anytime I need to change. However, maybe that’s not as much of an issue as I think. Are there any generic salt cells that work with Pentair ScreenLogic? Also, am I able to do a self install of the unit to have the full Pentair warranty without going through a pool builder or installer? I appreciate any and all recommendations.

As others have said, your ic30 is woefully undersized for your pool size and our climate, my pool is a little over half your volume and i am running an ic40. Have you checked what the hours use is on the cell? While they may tell you to pound sand, i would try reaching out to pentair to see if they will goodwill warranty it, we recently had our ic40 replaced under warranty and the tech confirmed that lots of the covid era equipment has experienced reduced life.

As far as the warranty, it appears the new versions of the pentair swg have a 3yr warranty vs the standard 1yr and afaik the salt cell is the only item pentair supports with self install.

 

[Jaimslaw]

Sorry to hear of the 3 year life span of your SWG cell. Prices have soared in the last 5 years making it painful these days to replace the cell. I regret not buying 2 of them at my last change out 7 years ago - this notwithstanding the gamble in running of the warranty period as it sits in my cabinet. I weep when seeing what I’ll need to shell out at some point down the line.

As to your question of a self install, never heard of a warranty issue there; only I would exercise caution as to where you purchase it. Recall some here having run into warranty issues when buying from unauthorized 3rd party sellers (on eBay, Amazon, though some on those sites have authorized resellers).

Definitely a great cost-benefit outcome from purchase of an oversized cell stemming from the prolonged life by reducing the run time of the cell (for me, as low as 50% in summer, low to off in winter months).

Parenthetically on the diminished life of the cell based on what solution is used in the cell cleaning process, I think one overlooked factor on the wear on the plates is the abrasive properties of plain water. Notwithstanding psi levels are only around 8 or so by the time the water passes through the cell, it still amounts to thousands of hours of appreciable movement over the cell and, IMO, makes the composition of the brief introduction of the (recommended manufacture’s or other) cleaning solution largely inconsequential insofar as the life of the cell (assuming optimal chem levels maintained).

 

[DanManSanDiego]

Thanks all for helpful advice. I'll definitely be upsizing to IC60 or equivalent. The builder provided original specs and I was not knowledgble enough to question. I keep a cover on the pool most of the time as my wife wants it as warm as possible, so I feel I'm OK with running CYA in the 40-60 range in summer. Regarding CSI and desirability to maintain negative CSI--we have pretty hard water here with high calcium levels. Is a negative or at least lowered CSI achieved through use of Beaufort or other sequestrant?

 

[Ahultin]

Not quite 3yrs in and our calcium is creeping up around the mid 600's which requires keeping the ph around 7.8 to keep the csi negative.

 

[Divin Dave]

I sympathize with you on the 3 year longevity of the cell. My first IC60 cell lasted 8 years and I was happy with that. I replaced it for about 800$ and that one lasted 3 years. Another replacement by then had increased in p;rice to 1300, and for 1300 I could replace the whole system, so that's what I did. The Pentair is a good system, but if you get 1 dud cell that doesn't last very long, the replacement cost hurts.

 

[DanManSanDiego]

yeah, just opening up my pool for the season here in san diego and doing liquid chlorine for now. I'm debating about buying a generic for about half to two thirds price of Pentair--but I couldn't change chlorine output via Screen Logic. Maybe that's not such a show stopper?