How big is too big in SWCG capacity?

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BowserB

BowserB

Silver Supporter
Jul 29, 2018
777
"Old" Katy, TX
Pool Size
15000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Thanks to Marty, Matt, and chem geek plus some others in another thread for helping my decision making. As an all-Pentair shop, I'm getting prices--tomorrow, actually--on installation of an IntelliChlor SWCG. I've read here that "double or greater" capacity is desirable for life of the product as well as for conditions of extreme demand. But can it be too big? For example, I know you can have too large an A/C system which won't run enough to remove humidity down here in southeast Texas. That wouldn't apply to a SWCG, but what might? From what I can see, the initial cost difference between an IC40 and IC60 is nominal, as is the cost of cell replacement. I don't see relevant specs so far, but I would guess the power demand is higher for the larger unit, but I would routinely run it like I do my pump at midnight to 11am when my electricity rate is low. Why else would I not want the IC60 for my 15k gallon pool?
 
My understanding is there really isnt a downside to going bigger, outside of the initial cost. In theory you would have to run the IC60 less than the 40, so it should last longer.
 
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I have an IC40, on a 6K gallon pool. Why? The cost was less than $100 more than an IC20 when I bought the ET4 system with SWCG.

I have just passed the 2000 hour mark after 5 years.

I will probably replace it, when it fails, with an IC20.
 
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Hiya Bill,

plugging some numbers into Poolmath using 15k gallons for your pool size and 11 hours runtime.
the IC40 running at 100% should raise FC by 5.1 in that period
the IC60 running at 100% should raise FC by 7.3

Now without changing any of your pump schedules the IC60 would give you greater capability/capacity during peak summer periods to not run it at 100%

I do think it's useful to calculate just how much FC gets generated inside your planned runtime and work backwards .... the 2x sizing is a decent starting point.

I'm worse than Marty as i have a RJ45 cell that is higher than an IC60 on a 7k gallon AGP :)
 
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I don’t see any downside. That’s the conclusion I made when I got the IC60 for my 20,000 gallon pool. I couldn’t be happier. I have tons of flexibility. I run my pool 9 hours a day. Even I the summer, that allows me to create more chlorine than I normally would use (at 100%). Oops, I underestimated my chlorine usage. No problem, I can just bump up my % and still run 9 hours and make up the difference.

My $.02, go with the IC60.
 
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jimbethesda said:
I don’t see any downside. That’s the conclusion I made when I got the IC60 for my 20,000 gallon pool. I couldn’t be happier. I have tons of flexibility. I run my pool 9 hours a day. Even I the summer, that allows me to create more chlorine than I normally would use (at 100%). Oops, I underestimated my chlorine usage. No problem, I can just bump up my % and still run 9 hours and make up the difference.

My $.02, go with the IC60.
Click to expand...


I think im going to upgrade my IC20 to a IC40 for my 15000 gallon pool.
 
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The only time the SWG is "too big" is if you like to run your pump 24/7 or for long run times and the SWG % adjustments is not granular enough to get the needed % for your pool.

For example the Pentair Intellichlor cell % adjustment can be adjusted in 1% increments through it's range if connected to Pentair automation (ET, IntelliCenter, etc). However if you are using the ICXX standalone the cell control panel adjusts the % by 2% from 0 to 10% and in 20% increments from 20% to 100%. So if 40% causes your FC to rise and 20% causes it to drop you need to then adjust your pump runtime to get the right FC output.

So look at the SWG % increments of the SWG you are electing for the pump runtime you plan and confirm it will give you the adjustments you may need.
 
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Thanks, guys. I have a quote coming for both the IC-40 and IC-60, but my intention is to go with the larger one. FWIW, the dealer, Gartin Pool & Spa, suggested the IC-40.
 
Thanks to all who replied. Thanks entirely to you guys here at TFP, I have decided to move to SWCG for chlorine. Here's more information for your opinions if you wish to express them. Pentair and the local installer both recommend the IC40 for a 15k gallon pool. The Pentair guy specifically said "for Texas" (clearly he's not from here, or he'd know that southeast Texas, west Texas, central Texas, North Texas, and the Panhandle are very different year-round climates.) The installer who is located about a mile from me, is familiar with the location and pool. From my reading here, I had concluded the difference in cost, plus no other downside, makes the IC60 a good idea. I have quotes now on both. Except for the cell itself, they are the same (I've rounded the cents here):

Intellichlor Power Center $566
Misc PVC Fittings $30
Labor $195
IC40 $979 or IC60 $1,369
Total IC40 $1,900 or Total IC60 $2,322

Since there is both plumbing and electrical involved here, there are probably City of Katy permits and inspections. There were two or three for my water softener, several for the standby generator, and probably 20 for the original pool construction (by the time the pool was done, I knew all the inspectors' names and family histories!) Nonetheless, I found this a bit more than I had expected, especially the IC60 difference, although neither, obviously, are going to break the bank. Also, I wonder why the installer was reluctant to even quote the IC60. Initially they were just going to send the IC40 quote, and I had to convince Melissa to quote the IC60 as well. It seems to me that they must make more off the IC60, so why not suggest it? OTOH, if the installer genuinely believes the IC40 is right for me, and he doesn't want to cause me to spend more than necessary, that's good. Or maybe he doesn't want to scare me away by breaking the $2,000 threshold?

I know I should, in the interest of cost, get another quote. However, this is an authorized Pentair and Paramount warranty service provider. They were not part of the pool construction (they build pools, but not in Katy), but they've provided warranty service already once and did a minor Paramount upgrade at a fair price. The guy who does the work is very knowledgeable and helpful, plus is willing to listen to my ideas...and he is a Texas boy whose only language is English.

Any comments? If so, thanks. If not, thanks for all the information you've provided!
 

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Sorry. The sig editor kept stopping me from adding more info. I have the IntelliConnect box provided by the pool builder (who didn't even know what it could do, so he didn't connect the Intelliflo to it. Brian Boothe at Pentair helped me with that once I got the RS-485 cable.) Brian also told me the IntelliChlor series will work through the second RS-485 port as well, so that is my plan. I think IntelliConnect is probably their older technology, but it does have wifi and will connect two RS-485 Pentair devices plus some other brands' stuff, and it has two simple relays that have programmable start/stop times. I use one for the Whisperflo feature pump which drives two bubblers and two small water pour slots. I run a schedule to run that pump five minutes a day to avoid stagnant water. When needed the app will also turn them on or off manually. The secnd relay was used for a LOUD booster pump for a pressure side cleaner (now retired.) Good thing about the app for the IntelliConnect is that it is not just iOS and Android but also for the PC.

I'll update my sig again, and try more abbreviation so I can add the IC40 or IC60 and also the IntelliConnect. OK, sig updated except for SWCG which is not yet installed.
 
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Just remove the O3 and UV stuff in the signature. It does not matter if it is working or not. All magic.

As you have Pentair automation, the IC is a good choice. Amazing how much they are charging, but that is what it is.
 
mknauss said:
As you have Pentair automation, the IC is a good choice. Amazing how much they are charging, but that is what it is.
Click to expand...
Pentair also suggested the IntelliChlor over the iChlor...also the iChlor largest is 30k gallons. Since you also think the price looks high, I may have to get another quote. The labor charge seems reasonable, though. I may ask what they would charge if I provide the equipment. Thanks.
BTW, chlorine doesn't kill cryptosporidium, but UVC does kill it (and pretty much any living thing given enough contact), and we don't get UVC from the sun, as it is blocked in the atmosphere, almost ironically, by the ozonosphere, which also blocks 95% of UVB, which is also pretty deadly. Luckily, ozone depletion in the atmosphere has largely stopped, now that use of chlorofluorocarbon and halocarbon solvents have been limited to only government use [sarc.]
 
Your UV statement is great if you pumped into a holding tank not mixing the waters. But since you don't, it does not matter.
 
Still wondering... Quote from local firm seemed high for IC-60 plus power supply ($1,935 for the two items), but their installation labor and parts seems OK, so I started shopping. Amazon has the two items for a combined price of over $500 less. However, I saw more than lower prices at Amazon. Overall, the IntelliChlor line has a full 25% of reviews being 1 or 2 stars and 21% one star, with the complaint being the same for every bad review: early failures of the equipment, and when under warranty, subsequent premature failures of the replacement equipment. So now I'm wondering if Pentair should be my product choice or not? I have all Pentair stuff--pumps, filter, heater, skimmers, and the IntelliConnect automation box--which works with the IntelliChlor--but maybe that's not important enough, if the thing is going fail in short order. I expect to pay a little more locally, but 35% more AND for a product that's not reliable?
 
Be wary of online reviews for SWCG's. Only the ones with issues submit reviews and most of those issues are user created by not managing water chemistry correctly. Those of us on the forum with IC's do not have those kind of failures. The only issue IC's have is the thermister in the flow switch. Easily repairable and we even have workarounds that are more permanent.
 
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I have an IC 40 which has been working well for many years. I run low CYA because it can alter orp readings and make them less accurate for intellichem. On a hot summer day the IC 40 can have trouble keeping up so I generally fun my fc a bit high from the get go. When the IC 40 dies I will move to an IC 60 so that I can hopefull lower my baseline FC and have the IC keep up more easily ( faster production). That said I suspect the lifespan of the IC 60 will be greater as well.
 
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