Considering SWG for 30k gallon Pool

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thedeependent

Active member
Jun 30, 2024
38
SoCal
I am tired of lugging gallons of chlorine from the store and am considering adding a swg to my pool.

I was quoted $2475 for a Pentair IC-40 installed (including salt). Does this price seem high? Also, will this pay for itself after a few years? Any other recommendations for 30k gallon pool?
 
Are you handy ? Do you have automation it's connecting to etc ?

I mean, a non-Pentair equivalent SWG is probably $1500, so you're paying $1000 for installation...which is basically plugging it in and a bit of PVC plumbing....

(edit : Salt is like $7 a bag - even 20 bags would only be about $150, and you probaby wouldn't need more than 10-15 if the pool is of any age...)
 
thedeependent said:
I was quoted $2475 for a Pentair IC-40 installed (including salt).
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Price is good.

thedeependent said:
Does this price seem high?
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Nope.

thedeependent said:
Also, will this pay for itself after a few years?
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Yup.

If you get the full 10,000 life from the cell the IC40 can give you 2,333 ppm of chlorine.

That is equivalent to about 750 gallons of 12% liquid chlorine. How much do you pay per gallon of liquid chlorine?


thedeependent said:
Any other recommendations for 30k gallon pool?
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If you do not have or plan to get Pentair automation you should get a Circupool RJ45+ or RJ60.

The downside of an Intellichlor without Pentair automation is it can only be adjusted in 20% increments.
 
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With a 30K pool, you must get an IC-60.
You can buy the IC-40 for about $1800. Salt won't be more than $100 at retail, so 575$ for install isn't all that bad.
If you can do the install yourself, or your installer will install it, you might consider the Circupool RJ-60+.

Prices from In the Swim:
Trichlor $359 for 50 lb. = 7.18 per pound, will raise FC by 10 per lb. So, $0.718 per FC. Each pound will also raise CYA by 6ppm.
Dichlor $217 for 40 lb. = 5.425 per pound, will raise FC by 6 per lb. So , $0.904 per FC. Each pound will also raise CYA by 6ppm.
Cal-Hypo (68%) $260 for 50 lb. = 5.2 per pound, will raise FC by 7 per lb. So, $0.742 per FC. Each pound will also raise CH by 5ppm.
^^^All of these do not include the cost of water replacement when CYA or CH gets too high...
Liquid chlorine is $6 / Gallon at Walmart = 3.2 FC in your pool, or = $1.875 per FC.
IC-60 (assuming the same price) is $2475
Outputs 2lb / day = 7.7 FC / day in 31K pool.
Lifespan of 10,000hours = 416days at 100%
416* 7.7 = 3208 FC
$2475/3208 = $0.77 per FC.

Even if the cell lasts only 7500 hours, it is still ~$1.00 per FC.
 
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You want an IC60 (or 60k equivalent of another brand) with your long hot seasons. It'll last 50% longer than the IC40 and won't cost 50% more. It'll also need to run less, saving pump electricity.


thedeependent said:
will this pay for itself after a few years?
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An IC40 makes about 700 jugs worth of 10% LC which would cost $4312 for me ar Walmart. (I didn't look up your local sales tax). An IC60 makes 1000 jugs worth that would cost me $6160.

Replacement cells are $1400 and $1800 right now, not needing the controller or install. It's a 5 min DIY swap. So yes, you save considerable money this time, but you make BANK next time.
 
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PoolStored said:
With a 30K pool, you must get an IC-60.
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An IC40 will work fine. I ran an IC40 on a 35K pool for years.

IC40 vs IC60 all comes down to the price differential. Many places I have seen it comes down to a wash.
 
OK == then a Pentair system will be of high cost. And you will need to add some kind of device (timer, current sensing relay, etc) to remove the power from the SWCG when the pump is not running.

The cost you are quoted, if it includes the power center and installation, is quite good for a Pentair system. Depending on what portion of 'SoCal' you live, the IC40 for your pool could be fine, or you may see some shortfall in chlorine generation in the summer months. If you are willing to run the pump 24/7, then you can easily use the IC40 and also can defray the expense of the timer or current sensing device.
 
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ajw22 said:
An IC40 will work fine. I ran an IC40 on a 35K pool for years.
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Not in SoCal though. I agree it will work, but it'll remove lower pump runtime options in the peak season where OP is likely concerned about their electric bill.
 

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Newdude said:
Not in SoCal though. I agree it will work, but it'll remove lower pump runtime options in the peak season where OP is likely concerned about their electric bill.
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Then present the correct reasons for the OP to make an informed decision.

Maybe the OP has solar electric and electricity is not an issue.
 
SJPoe said:
Are you handy ? Do you have automation it's connecting to etc ?

I mean, a non-Pentair equivalent SWG is probably $1500, so you're paying $1000 for installation...which is basically plugging it in and a bit of PVC plumbing....

(edit : Salt is like $7 a bag - even 20 bags would only be about $150, and you probaby wouldn't need more than 10-15 if the pool is of any age...)
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Semi handy…no automation. Is this something I should future proof for?

Good to know pricing on non Pentair brands. Do they work as well?
 
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mknauss said:
OK == then a Pentair system will be of high cost. And you will need to add some kind of device (timer, current sensing relay, etc) to remove the power from the SWCG when the pump is not running.

The cost you are quoted, if it includes the power center and installation, is quite good for a Pentair system. Depending on what portion of 'SoCal' you live, the IC40 for your pool could be fine, or you may see some shortfall in chlorine generation in the summer months. If you are willing to run the pump 24/7, then you can easily use the IC40 and also can defray the expense of the timer or current sensing device.
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I believe it includes all of it to make it run. I am in the greater Los Angeles area so it doesn’t get too hot. Not sure about running the pool pump 24/7 though. If I went for the ic-60 I won’t have to run it 24/7?
 
thedeependent said:
I believe it includes all of it to make it run. I am in the greater Los Angeles area so it doesn’t get too hot. Not sure about running the pool pump 24/7 though. If I went for the ic-60 I won’t have to run it 24/7?
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An IC40 running at 80% will give you 3 PPM of FC in 16 hours of pump running.

Tell us how much liquid chlorine you add in a few days or a week?
 
thedeependent said:
Also, any reason to look at the ic40/60 plus series? They seem similar priced
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The Plus is new and looks like it has more maintainable cells. Only time will tell.

If equally priced I would get the new Plus version.
 
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ajw22 said:
An IC40 running at 80% will give you 3 PPM of FC in 16 hours of pump running.
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You can run an IC60 at 50% for 12 hours per day to get the same 3 PPM.

How long do you run your pump now?
 

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