How much chlorine to store

[Newdude]

The cells are rated for 24/7 runtime with a finite lifespan of hours 'on'. With a 2x cell it only needs to run 12 hours a day in the peak season, saving 50% pump electricity while doubling it's lifespan. It does not cost anywhere near double to upgrade so the ROI is in your favor.

I'd go 3x in NY if one was large enough. In a hot climate, I'd consider 4x. But with our large pools, the residential units top out at 60k.

What is the pentair automation provide?

You can control it with the automation so we recommend sticking with the same brand. Without automation you can mix/match brands.

 

[ajw22]

Why do you recommend rj60 and not 30 if my pool is 30k gallons.

We recommend an SWG be around 2X the pool volume. SWG capacity is based on running the SWG at 100% for 24/7. You do not want to run the system that way.

SWG How It Works - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

What is the pentair automation provide?

Without Pentair automation, IntelliChlor cells can be adjusted in 20% increments. With Pentair automation, the cells can be adjusted in 1% increments.

 

[House2021]

 

[House2021]

Let me know if the salt generator will work for me. Does it go after the filter or before the filter

 

[Newdude]

Let me know if the salt generator will work for me

Its the bees knees for anyone.

Does it go after the filter or before the filter

It needs to be the last device on the line, so after the heater. That pipe isn't long enough so it can be rerouted in and direction before going back in the ground. It can go up then down, to the right before it hooks back to the left, however you need to get enough space.

 

[pjt]

At 1 gallon a day it would cost me $140 per month in just chlorine. That sounds really high.

That's optimistic. It would probably cost you $6/gallon ($180/month) after taxes unless you can find a bulk supplier. Then there's the cost, time, and effort driving to and from the store, transporting, storing, and pouring.

By the way in the winter when it’s cold and no is using the pool do I still need to keep the chlorine at the right level?

Yes. However, FC demand in the winter is almost nothing.

So with that I don’t need to ever add chlorine to the pool?

Under normal circumstances, the SWCG will provide all the chlorine you need.

How much does the salt cost and how often do I need to add it?

Salt is cheap. I pay ~$7/bag for Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals (recommended). You might have quite a bit of salt in your pool already. Test with a K-1766 before adding any salt. I add salt twice a year.

How difficult is the install

Depends on your DIY skill level/enthusiasm. Shouldn't cost much if you decide to hire it out.

 

[daleyfolk]

How much chlorine in gallons do most folks use? Walmart has free shipping for $35+ and wondering if buying 7 gallons at once is too much or not

I buy as much as Walmart will let me in a single order which is either 10 or 12 gallons..can't remember. This lasts me less than a month, so it doesn't go bad. (but I still have 8 gallons in my pool house from last season. It's probably not effective at this point, but I'm gonna try using it this spring.)

 

[clambert1273]

In Cali, you should be able to find a pool store that does fillable containers. You pay a deposit for the case and just swap out empty for full. I found one here in AZ as well. It's the easiest for me not necessarily the cheapest but definitely the easiest.

I get 8 gallons of 12.5%for $65

Attached picture of what it looks like

 

[sande005]

Do you chlorinate with anything else - tablets, powders, or similar? Any "shock"?
I find it really odd that your old pool guy only needed 2 gal of chlorine a week for your size pool in your part of the country. Did you have a lot of issues with the pool turning cloudy or green?

The generator is the best - but in the spirit of total disclosure:
1. Depending on brand/model, they stop making CL when the water is cold - somewhere in the 50-60 degree range. So you will need to use liquid during those times of the year. But luckily, not very much at all, as cold really limits the amount that gets used up each day.
2. Even a really big one can't make it really fast, so no good if you need to add a lot of CL. But it will be doing a great job of maintaining things at a given level, so you do not ever need to add CL.
3. It all works best if you can run your pump for longer periods, especially if the generator is not greatly oversized for the pool. It doesn't care about how much is pumped, just that the water is moving - so a variable speed pump is a fantastic add on. You can dial it down to use very, very little energy yet add CL and filter your water 24/7. Many here report energy costs for the pump as being about $20 per month!
4. Without the variable speed pump, it will be a balancing act between how long to run your pump (and save whatever energy you can) and how long the generator needs to run to keep you in adequate Cl. Depending on your specific pieces of equipment, that may mean some kind of add on timers or other to regulate both devices properly.
5. There are many sources of extremely bad information about salt pools causing corrosion. It is ALL false. Too many years and multi-thousands of converts to attest to the benefits.

 

[PoolStored]

Even a really big one can't make it really fast, so no good if you need to add a lot of CL. But it will be doing a great job of maintaining things at a given level, so you do not ever need to add CL.

If you mean in 30 minutes, you are correct. However over a short period of time, it can. I have tested it. I have a 30K pool and a 60K cell. It can raise my FC ~12ppm in 24 hours. In a 12-24 hour period of time (or longer), there is no difference between the cell production and adding liquid. Unless you are in a SLAM, there is no reason to "add a lot of CL." I run at 15% in the summer (granted solar cover), but if there are swimmers/cover off/sun, I raise to 50%...and it maintains FC level just fine [raising to 50% is the same as "making it really fast."]

 

[House2021]

How long do these salt water generators typically last?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

How long do these salt water generators typically last?

Mine is currently 14 years old. First cell lasted 9 years, never needed cleaning. YMMV.

 

[HermanTX]

How long do these salt water generators typically last?

There is no one correct answer.
SWCGs have a finite life usually denoted in hours. 10,000 hrs is the max of most cells. In TX, it runs 10-11 months each year - only time not in use was in really cold weather for 6-8 weeks where I supplemented with liquid chlorine or used some pucks floating in the pool. SWCG life in TX can be 3-6 years depending on sizing properly for your pool.
With the VS pump, it ran at 1500rpm for 24 hrs per day, every day, In summer it was set at 40-50% output to maintain the FC level and in cooler weather it was set at 10-20% output. I am going on year 4 now.

Members who live in areas where they close their pool will only use half the time vs members in TX or other warmer climates. I would suspect in LA, CA that you would be closer to what we do in TX.

It is important that you purchase the 60k rated SWCG so you can dial down the output and run your VS pump at a low speed for 12 or more hours a day.
So for example use the CircaPool RJ60+ SWCG, if you run the pump 15 hrs per day and set it at 52% output, it will create 4ppm FC per day for a 30k gal pool. If you increase pump time to 24 hrs per day then you only need to set SWCG at 32% output.

We can help you position the SWCG on your return line after your heater. Or you can call a pool tech to help you.

 

[House2021]

There is no one correct answer.
SWCGs have a finite life usually denoted in hours. 10,000 hrs is the max of most cells. In TX, it runs 10-11 months each year - only time not in use was in really cold weather for 6-8 weeks where I supplemented with liquid chlorine or used some pucks floating in the pool. SWCG life in TX can be 3-6 years depending on sizing properly for your pool.
With the VS pump, it ran at 1500rpm for 24 hrs per day, every day, In summer it was set at 40-50% output to maintain the FC level and in cooler weather it was set at 10-20% output. I am going on year 4 now.

Members who live in areas where they close their pool will only use half the time vs members in TX or other warmer climates. I would suspect in LA, CA that you would be closer to what we do in TX.

It is important that you purchase the 60k rated SWCG so you can dial down the output and run your VS pump at a low speed for 12 or more hours a day.
So for example use the CircaPool RJ60+ SWCG, if you run the pump 15 hrs per day and set it at 52% output, it will create 4ppm FC per day for a 30k gal pool. If you increase pump time to 24 hrs per day then you only need to set SWCG at 32% output.

We can help you position the SWCG on your return line after your heater. Or you can call a pool tech to help you.

Thanks for the info, I will measure my return line to see if I can just cut it and install or if I need to do some 90 degree elbows to have more room. Will the SWCG last longer at 24 hours with 32% vs 15 hours at 52%? Seems like it would be same result in the end? Is there a benefit of one versus the other?

Also looks like initially for my size pool I need to dump around 850 pounds of salt into my pool. Do I do it all at once? This will be a lot of trips to Home Depot to fit all that salt in my sedan

 

[Bperry]

Thanks for the info, I will measure my return line to see if I can just cut it and install or if I need to do some 90 degree elbows to have more room. Will the SWCG last longer at 24 hours with 32% vs 15 hours at 52%? Seems like it would be same result in the end? Is there a benefit of one versus the other?

Also looks like initially for my size pool I need to dump around 850 pounds of salt into my pool. Do I do it all at once? This will be a lot of trips to Home Depot to fit all that salt in my sedan

100% for one hour is the same as 50% for two hours. If you’re already running the pump 24x7 then I’d make sense to add a small amount of chlorine over that same time frame rather than spiking it up high for a short time and letting us drift down. You can do it however you prefer

 

[House2021]

Also what do you guys think of the CircuPool univerisal55 and also the edge model? They seem a lot cheaper than RJ60 but not sure what’s worse about them

 

[PoolStored]

Also looks like initially for my size pool I need to dump around 850 pounds of salt into my pool. Do I do it all at once? This will be a lot of trips to Home Depot to fit all that salt in my sedan

Always test your water before adding anything. You may be surprised at the salt level in the existing water.
Turn the SWG off.
I do 4 bags at a time, just because pushing around 850 lbs of salt is a lot. Add 75% of what you need.
Wait 24 hours withe pump running.
Retest, then add the remainder. Better to creep up than overshoot.

Also what do you guys think of the CircuPool univerisal55 and also the edge model? They seem a lot cheaper than RJ60 but not sure what’s worse about them

For me, the ability to control the output% in 5% increments makes the RJ series a no brainer...

More info:

Circupool Edge vs RJ series

I was talking to discount salt about what size Edge and they said I should get the RJ45? I thought that was strange because the RJ is an older system but cost more. Anybody know why? Hate to wonder but maybe they make more off the RJ?

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[House2021]

I see the price is $1069 for SJ55. $1059 for universal 55. $1399 for rj60. Still not clear on what is the difference in features

 

[ajw22]

I see the price is $1069 for SJ55. $1059 for universal 55. $1399 for rj60. Still not clear on what is the difference in features

They all generate chlorine.

Differences are in the controls, form factor, and quality.

 

[sande005]

These guys always run an upgrade special: CircuPool RJ-45 PLUS Saltwater Chlorinator | Discount Salt Pool
Same control box, just a bigger cell itself for the extra $10.

FYI - as a case in point, I was a tablet guy for years. Even though over the winter I replaced about 20% of the water every year, when I tested my salt level before going to the store for my first time, it came in to be about 60% of the way there already. Chlorine turns to salt as it gets used up, so many pools are close to being salt pools already. Therefore far fewer bags to cart home.
Now I only need 4-5 bags per year, depending on the amount of water exchange due to lowering the pool and snow melt additions.

Your post above came in as I typed, so you already know about discountsaltpool. The differences are mainly warranty, and expected life in hours. The SJ and U Series are 3 or 4 yr warranty, and 10K hours life. The SJ is 7 years and 15K hours. The SJ allows adjustments in strength in 5% increments. Check the manuals for the others, but I believe they only allow steps in 20% increments. The U series is meant as a more-or-less equivalent substitute for existing installs, but can't say what makes it $10 less than the SS series.

Note that they offer a vertical install kit, which is just the same plumbing fittings you can find locally, but may provoke ideas as to how to fit it in to your existing set up. Or follow the same idea, except in a horizontal loop out and back, rather than a vertical.