Pentair SWCG IC40

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waterwhole

waterwhole

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2023
153
DFW
Pool Size
16000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Hi,

New pool owner and trying to understand how the salt generator makes chlorine. It's been really hot and I am using the TF100 kit along with pool math to make the right adjustments.

Yesterday my FC was around 1 and my CYA was around 20, this was last night testing around 2am. This morning I added 4lbs of CYA even thought recommendation was around 6lbs just to make sure I don't overdue it (tshirt method). I haven't measure again because it hasn't been 24 hours.

I used the recommendation last night to run my SWG at 20 percent to bring my FC up tp 3. I checked using the daily method and my test didn't register any chlorine. Right now Pool math is telling me to run at 40 percent at 12 hour run tome but I bumped it up to 80 to see how things look in the morning.

The sensor is registering salt, earlier it was 3950 later in the day it was 3900. The SWCG does sit out in the sun and it is less than a month old.
 
Waterwhole,
Without your signature filled in I haven't a clue of your pool set up except for the IC40. With "59" messages I'll assume you're testing with one of the recommended test kits. You need to get CYA in immediately to a solid 30 and not higher only because I want you to make sure you have nothing growing in the water yet via a OCLT tonight first. Hopefully you pass and then you have to bring it up to the 70-80 territory but in the mean time you absolutely need to get the FC up with liquid chlorine since the cell is a maintainer and it won't bring your level up fast enough. Keep the FC on side hot for the next week to protect you from the infamous algae which hopefully didn't start.
 
WH,

I agree with wireform, that you want to make sure you don't have algae before raising your CYA..

That said, a SWCG pool in the DFW area needs to have a CYA level of 60 to 80 or the sun will consume the FC in a heartbeat.

Also, it appears that you are trying to keep your FC way too low.

With a CYA of 20 your very minimum FC is 2 and your target is 3 to 5
With a CYA of 30 your very minimum FC is 2 and your target is 3 to 6
With a CYA of 70 your very minimum FC is 3 and your target is 5 to 10

No matter what your CYA is, your goal is to stay at your target or above. It is NOT to try and stay between the minimum and your target.

This time of year, I'm running my IC40 at about 45% 24/7... I try to keep my FC at 8 ppm. If you are only running 12 hours a day, you should be running at 80 or 90% output. This is why we always recommend that a cell be rated at 2 x the volume of the pool.

Do you have an automation system???

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Signature updated, yes I have Pentair ic8ps, my pool is 16k and my salt cell is an ic40.

I also have a chlorine feeder should add a few tablets and adjust the dial or should I pick up some liquid chlorine and get to it right away.

I already added the CYA so I'll test and see where it is at and then report back.
 
waterwhole said:
I used the recommendation last night to run my SWG at 20 percent to bring my FC up tp 3.
Click to expand...
One more point...the app tells you the percentage in order to generate x amount of FC over a set number of hours when using a SWCG. You'd have to add what you lose in a day if you want to end up at 3.

For example, if your starting is 1ppm, you lose 2ppm per day, and you want to end at 3, you'd plug in 4 as an ending. This is different than liquid chlorine which you add all at once.

But, I agree with the other posts as well, liquid chlorine is best for raising chlorine quickly.
 
Thanks team, my CYA is at 40 and I am going to get some liquid chlorine. I am going to perform the OCLT today.
 
Last edited:
I added a gallon of bleach around 4pm local time, poured it by the return Jets in a few areas real slow, tested at 630 pm still barely registering chlorine. Is that a reasonable time to retest?
 

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It was 102 and it was 7.1 liquid hdx bleach from home depot. I just dropped another 61ish ounces of 10 percent chlorination liquid from Walmart and brushed again it was 102 and pool temp is registering at 88.

Also CYA is registering at 50 now.
 
Air temperature, nor water temperature, has little effect on FC loss.
I would suggest targeting 10 ppm FC, circulate a full hour, test, and then test again before sun up in the morning.
 
mknauss said:
Air temperature, nor water temperature, has little effect on FC loss.
I would suggest targeting 10 ppm FC, circulate a full hour, test, and then test again before sun up in the morning.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the clarification.
 
Just performed another test and I am at 7ppm, should I shoot for another 3? Also salt cell is set to 1% as 0 was invalid.
 
Tested before sunlight hit and I am back down to 0. The 870 powder didn't even turn pink.
 

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