Pentair IC-60 and zero salt reading

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JamieP

JamieP

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Platinum Supporter
May 16, 2011
1,180
TX (~30 miles south of Dallas)
Pool Size
28000
Surface
Plaster
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
My salt cell has been turned off for the winter but my temperature is at 57 and I am no longer receiving a cold water cut off warning. My ScreenLogic phone app was giving me a low salt alert, so I tested the salt using my Taylor test and it came in at 2600. I add the two 40 pound bags of salt that I had on hand and the salt cell temporarily started putting out bubbles. However, later in the day it stopped and I got a low-salt warning again. Thinking that I need to add more salt, I added two more bags that I picked up today which should put me over 3200 but the salt cell is still not putting out bubbles and I am getting a low salt reading on the salt cell and my Screenlogic app salt reading says zero.

I went back into the history of the site and saw that JoyfulNoise discussed a similar problem and solved it by replacing with a flow switch. I have one on hand, and ran the diagnostic test he mentioned. However, the test came back consistent with water temperature and life of the cell so right now I'm not going to do anything with replacing the flow meter.

He had also mentioned something about "disabling" the SWG so I did a search on how to do that and used my control panel at the pad to go into settings and turn the IntelliColor to off. However, that did nothing to affect the operation of the salt cell. Even with this turn to "off" it is still running with its lights as normal, even though it isn't putting out bubbles (red "low salt" light is on). Is there something I am missing about disabling the cell? Should it have had a different effect than what I experienced?

Finally, this is the cell that I had replaced in the spring but that got a leak under the panel cover and temporally stopped working (no lights would turn on). I dried it out inside and got it working again until winter hit. It wasn't under warranty, but with some persuasion Pentair sent me a replacement cell but I am reluctant to use it if I can get this one up and running again.

My next thing to check is the cell blades and do an acid wash (I don't have time at this particular moment) but it seems like a bigger problem than that. Does anybody have some words of wisdom for me, please?



Over the winter, and during this time the salt reading on my ScreenLogic app said zero.

Using the drop test I tested the salt at 2600 I turned it back on yesterday.
 
Jamie,

The accuracy of the IC40/60 salinity test goes way down when the water is cold..

I never try to use the SWCG, or adjust the salt level in the pool, until the water temp is consistently above 60 degrees.

Keep in mind that the cell only tests the salt at start up and then every 12 hours. So, the salt test can fail early in the morning and then pass late in the day.

It is your pool and you can do what you want, but I find it a waste of my time to try to use the cell this time of year.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jimrahbe said:
Jamie,

The accuracy of the IC40/60 salinity test goes way down when the water is cold..

I never try to use the SWCG, or adjust the salt level in the pool, until the water temp is consistently above 60 degrees.

Keep in mind that the cell only tests the salt at start up and then every 12 hours. So, the salt test can fail early in the morning and then pass late in the day.

It is your pool and you can do what you want, but I find it a waste of my time to try to use the cell this time of year.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Thanks Jim! I'm trying to save myself some worry when going on a 10 day vacation I'm leaving my kids home in charge of the pool. We do have jugs of bleach which will be my back up plan regardless. It just seems strange that I can't get a higher reading than zero.

I have been turning off power to the breaker multiple times at various intervals to cycle the cell to see if I can get it to give me any reading at all. But always the same thing. I just unplugged the cell from the control panel to see if that would have any effect since I couldn't figure out how to "disable" at the panel. That didn't seem to change anything either.

You may be right that this is an unnecessary endeavor considering the time of year.
 
Jamie,

When ScreenLogic displays zero, it has nothing to do with the actual salt reading. It is a timing issue between the EasyTouch and the cell..

Changing the flow switch fixes this about 75% of the time, but it has also been fixed by replacing the main card in the EasyTouch, the Surge card (cell power supply) and of course the whole cell..

It is just a reporting problem, not an actual salt problem.

If the cell itself shows a green salt light, then the cell will work, just fine even though ScreenLogic shows zero.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Jimrahbe said:
Jamie,

When ScreenLogic displays zero, it has nothing to do with the actual salt reading. It is a timing issue between the EasyTouch and the cell..

Changing the flow switch fixes this about 75% of the time, but it has also been fixed by replacing the main card in the EasyTouch, the Surge card (cell power supply) and of course the whole cell..

It is just a reporting problem, not an actual salt problem.

If the cell itself shows a green salt light, then the cell will work, just fine even though ScreenLogic shows zero.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Hi Jim,

Thanks again for your insight. The red light is currently illuminated on the cell itself, plus my ScreenLogic app says low salt. I know enough salt is in the pool, so it might be a cold water error. Since I saw bubbles coming from my return yesterday upon reengaging the cell I was hopeful that I could use the SWG during our trip. I guess should just resign myself to committing to bleach and find out what happens with the cell when the water temperatures rise in the spring. At that point I can try switching out the flow switch if nothing else has improved.
 
JamieP said:
I guess should just resign myself to committing to bleach and find out what happens with the cell when the water temperatures rise in the spring.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't trust the cell during this time of year. You have a couple of warmer days at the end of the week and then it's back to questionable at best for SWG production. If it's not the water temp it's the wonky conductivity test that the cell runs. It'll probably fail one of the 2 daily tests everyday. Or it runs the test in the rain and the sample.is watered down before it mixes throwing a low salt error that way.

On the plus side, your daily demand is about as little as it will be all year, so you have that going for you, which is nice. :)

Bring the FC to SLAM before you leave and have the kids check to make sure there's any FC left a week later. This is 2024 and you can FaceTime to walk them through the test. SLAM FC burns off faster, but with little daily loss besides that, it'll likely be elevated still when you return.

swcg_chart.jpg
 
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