Vertical or Horizontal?

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Green Krusty

Green Krusty

Bronze Supporter
Jan 4, 2021
48
Pahrump, NV
Pool Size
7800
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Looking at a replacement for a Pentair 40 Intellichlor salt cell. While reading Pentair and generic manuals, I discovered both call for vertical installation
of the cell. Funny thing...I've never seen one installed vertically...only horizontally. What's up with that? While I'm at it, does anyone have opinions on the generic replacement for the Pentair IC40?
 
Welcome to the forum!
The newest manual revisions have shown vertical installations. Not sure of their reasoning, but most of us have horizontal SWCG installations. We do highly recommend not relying solely on the flow switch. If you do not have Pentair automation you need a timer for your SWCG. If you could fill out your signature we would have a better idea what equipment you have.
I have no information about generic cells. We do get reports of very short lives of some of those type cells as the coating on the plates is thinner. I also am not sure a generic cell would work with automation.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
 
mknauss said:
Welcome to the forum!
The newest manual revisions have shown vertical installations. Not sure of their reasoning, but most of us have horizontal SWCG installations. We do highly recommend not relying solely on the flow switch. If you do not have Pentair automation you need a timer for your SWCG. If you could fill out your signature we would have a better idea what equipment you have.
I have no information about generic cells. We do get reports of very short lives of some of those type cells as the coating on the plates is thinner. I also am not sure a generic cell would work with automation.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the timely reply. I am impressed with this forum after only one post. I'll get started on my profile, etc. shortly...thanks again.
Barry
 
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Hey Krusty and Welcome !! One thing to add to your planning is if you do go vertical, the flow switch needs to be mounted in an upward position of flow so that gravity cant accidentally turn the unit on. Chlorine gas will build up in the chamber if that happens and while not common, explosions have happened. It’s not a huge explosion that would level your house, but it will damage some of the equipment area, and at the very least it will take out the nearby plumbing. Keep us posted. :)
 
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Thanks for the welcome. My current IC-40 SWG is mounted horizontal and I think it is going to stay that way. Seems like a lot of cutting and gluing to achieve a questionable benefit. My system is automated with an EasyTouch control panel so unless I do something really stupid, it should be just fine. I hear what you are saying on the potential explosive problem...long story short, when I first moved in I had a problem with my firebowls/water features that caused a mini-explosion when water was introduced to the igniter. I took the fire bowls out and now sleep well at night :) Problemo.jpg
 
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I think generally the vertical setups get used for retro-fits where there isn’t enough space to add them easily. Usually when it’s planned from the beginning it’s easier to add in.

Glad you either weren’t around, or were far enough away when the bowls blew. Kinda like the SWG, just because you weren’t injured doesn’t mean you wanted to clean up the damage. Keep it horizontal and the internal switch will be fine. :)
 
Something to consider... If your ET includes ScreenLogic (or will someday), or another form of remote control, you'll lose any control of the SWG by the ET if you go with any other brand. Since I regularly adjust my IC40 based on seasons, and then have to re-adust it several times after that to fine tune the setting, it's very convenient to do so from my computer or iPhone.

There are a lot of good reasons to use an SWG other than Pentair's, unless you also happen to have Pentair automation...
 
Dirk said:
Something to consider... If your ET includes ScreenLogic (or will someday), or another form of remote control, you'll lose any control of the SWG by the ET if you go with any other brand. Since I regularly adjust my IC40 based on seasons, and then have to re-adust it several times after that to fine tune the setting, it's very convenient to do so from my computer or iPhone.

There are a lot of good reasons to use an SWG other than Pentair's, unless you also happen to have Pentair automation...
Click to expand...
My understanding is that the aftermarket/generic SWGs have only 2 pins vs the 4 pin connectors because all the readouts and adjustments are right on the SWG itself...
not a big problem for me as I need the exercise walking out to the equipment pad. I am concerned about the Ruthenium oxide coating on the generics.
Sorry, must have forgotten to save signature last night
 

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Green Krusty said:
My understanding is that the aftermarket/generic SWGs have only 2 pins vs the 4 pin connectors because all the readouts and adjustments are right on the SWG itself...
not a big problem for me as I need the exercise walking out to the equipment pad. I am concerned about the Ruthenium oxide coating on the generics.

Sorry, must have forgotten to save signature last night
Click to expand...
FYI...
I don't know anything about a generic IC40. I would question if the following would be true for it. If my IC40 is not connected to a Pentair automation controller (any of several different types and models), it's output can no longer be adjusted in increments of 1%. Instead I'd only be able to adjust output to the following percentages:
0,2,4,6,8,10,20,40,60,80,100. If you needed chlorine production, say, between what 20 and 40 produces, then you'd have to adjust runtime.
 
Vertical vs horizontal. Maybe not a valid correlation, but I've learned that an A/C evaporator coil mounted with upward vertical air flow stays cleaner than one with a horizontal air flow. I don't have a SWCG, but can there be stuff precipitating out or settling when water flow stops? If so, could that accumulate in the cell and shorten its life? I periodically consider, then abandon the idea, of getting one. From my equipment layout, I would think a vertical installation would be much easier, so if it is also preferable, that would be a plus.
 
No debris collects in the cell. Scale can build up on the plates but is shed when the polarity reverses and is swept to the pool with flow of water.
 
Sure. Auto clean is just reversing polarity on the cell plates. Happens every so many hours of operation. With your IC, I think it is 4 hours.

If you are getting significant scale out of your returns and especially enough to have to clean the cell, your water chemistry is not being managed properly. Keep your CSI between 0 and -0.3 and your TA under 80 ppm.
 
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In May 2019 installed an IC60. After 4 months the flow switch thermistor failed, and the Pentair rep sent me a new 3 wire one. In conversation with the rep, he asked if I did a vertical or horizontal install and I told him I did a veridical one because of space restrictions. At that time, he said that a vertical install was favored because when the pump is shut off, residual water would not remain in the SWG plates. I cannot verify this of course because if I undo the SWG with the pump off and air bled, I do not have any water falling out.

Anyway, after a year and a half of running, my IC60 is running great, and no issues except replacing the flow switch after only 3 months and having to blow out a small amount of calcium with a hose a while ago (I have super high water calcium).

With the vertical install, super easy to see the SWG lights just by glancing at my equpment pad.

IMG_0098.JPG
 
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Looks great. Give the new PVC a coat of paint. Helps with the UV exposure. Don't paint the SWG or its black unions.

What is that black gizmo sticking out of the pipe just below the actuator on the left?
 

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