Circupool Core55 or RJ60?

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SoCalDIYWannabe

Active member
Mar 14, 2025
31
Orange County, California
Pool Size
20000
Surface
Plaster
I keep hearing that if you can afford, go big and use at lower power. So, since this is a new investment, that's what I'm aiming for. Pool is roughly 20K gallons, so either are enough overkill.
I have a new pentair intelliflo 3 pump with relay, currently just on intermatic timer 24/7, using pump for schedule. No other fancy automation. I will probably wire the SWCG it up to the pump relay.

Core55 seems good, it takes up less room in the plumbing and doesn't need wall space, which I like. My equipment pad is pretty cramped. The dowside used to be the Core went in I guess 25% increments with only 4 settings, now they have 6 settings, so you can do 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, 75%, 90%. I mean, I don't really need 5% increments or tighter, I don't see much advantage to that. The Core series seems much less common than the RJ. But I like it's all-in-one design, at least in theory. It only needs about 7" of space, but needs some above/below clearance.

RJ60, I see the RJ45 is hugely popular, I imagine there is not any downside to going the 60 other than slight price increase. The RJ45 needs 16" and another 4+ for the relay. I saw with the RJ that if you run at low GPM, you should invert it (so it flows --\_____/-- instead of --/`````\-- ). I also see there is a vertical space saving option, not sure how that would be affected by the extra low GPM though. With the RJ, you have a separate control panel, you have wiring from source to control panel, and from control panel to flow switch, and from control panel to cell. But you also have some cool information available, such as water temp, cell voltage, current, salinity.

Price - the same, or within a close enough range.
So, which would you go with? How useful are those pieces of info? Useful enough to outweigh the longer installation run?
Do you think there's any difference with regards to pump flow / efficiency? Any other pros or cons to weigh in on? Appreciate it!
 
I when RJ60 because my pool is 32K gallons and it was a free upgrade from the RJ45 at the time. The RJ60 is only $70 more than the RJ45. The CORE55 is also about the same cost as the RJ45. In theory the RJ60 should be the lowest cost over time since it can output more chlorine. If you are not aware the output of these is a constant when they are running and the percentage is just a duty cycle. At 50% its running half the time (30minute per hour). The RJ60 is rated for 3.2 lbs/day for 15000 hours. The CORE55 is 2.0 lbs/day for 8 years (doesn't list the hours).
 
SoCalDIYWannabe said:
I keep hearing that if you can afford, go big and use at lower power. So, since this is a new investment, that's what I'm aiming for. Pool is roughly 20K gallons, so either are enough overkill.
I have a new pentair intelliflo 3 pump with relay, currently just on intermatic timer 24/7, using pump for schedule. No other fancy automation. I will probably wire the SWCG it up to the pump relay.

Core55 seems good, it takes up less room in the plumbing and doesn't need wall space, which I like. My equipment pad is pretty cramped. The dowside used to be the Core went in I guess 25% increments with only 4 settings, now they have 6 settings, so you can do 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, 75%, 90%. I mean, I don't really need 5% increments or tighter, I don't see much advantage to that. The Core series seems much less common than the RJ. But I like it's all-in-one design, at least in theory. It only needs about 7" of space, but needs some above/below clearance.

RJ60, I see the RJ45 is hugely popular, I imagine there is not any downside to going the 60 other than slight price increase. The RJ45 needs 16" and another 4+ for the relay. I saw with the RJ that if you run at low GPM, you should invert it (so it flows --\_____/-- instead of --/`````\-- ). I also see there is a vertical space saving option, not sure how that would be affected by the extra low GPM though. With the RJ, you have a separate control panel, you have wiring from source to control panel, and from control panel to flow switch, and from control panel to cell. But you also have some cool information available, such as water temp, cell voltage, current, salinity.

Price - the same, or within a close enough range.
So, which would you go with? How useful are those pieces of info? Useful enough to outweigh the longer installation run?
Do you think there's any difference with regards to pump flow / efficiency? Any other pros or cons to weigh in on? Appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Look around at some threads for the core models. They seem to have sealing issues at the cell.
 
SoCalDIYWannabe said:
Price - the same, or within a close enough range.
So, which would you go with?
Click to expand...

more-power.gif


The RJ series is the most robust, not that the Core is terrible, but still. For a 5k difference in rating, the RJ60 puts out 35% more FC, needing that much less runtime, getting that much more lifespan. So to be a wash the RJ has to be 35% more cost, and the RJ still wins being more robust. If the RJ costs less than the core55+35%, the RJ60+ is a double win.
 
I'm a very satisfied owner of a 4-year-old RJ45 plus. When the cell goes, I'll replace it with an RJ60 plus cell. Not necessarily because I need it, but because of the value the large cell provides. The vendor provides outstanding customer support.
 
SoCalDIYWannabe said:
I keep hearing that if you can afford, go big and use at lower power. So, since this is a new investment, that's what I'm aiming for. Pool is roughly 20K gallons, so either are enough overkill.
I have a new pentair intelliflo 3 pump with relay, currently just on intermatic timer 24/7, using pump for schedule. No other fancy automation. I will probably wire the SWCG it up to the pump relay.

Core55 seems good, it takes up less room in the plumbing and doesn't need wall space, which I like. My equipment pad is pretty cramped. The dowside used to be the Core went in I guess 25% increments with only 4 settings, now they have 6 settings, so you can do 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, 75%, 90%. I mean, I don't really need 5% increments or tighter, I don't see much advantage to that. The Core series seems much less common than the RJ. But I like it's all-in-one design, at least in theory. It only needs about 7" of space, but needs some above/below clearance.

RJ60, I see the RJ45 is hugely popular, I imagine there is not any downside to going the 60 other than slight price increase. The RJ45 needs 16" and another 4+ for the relay. I saw with the RJ that if you run at low GPM, you should invert it (so it flows --\_____/-- instead of --/`````\-- ). I also see there is a vertical space saving option, not sure how that would be affected by the extra low GPM though. With the RJ, you have a separate control panel, you have wiring from source to control panel, and from control panel to flow switch, and from control panel to cell. But you also have some cool information available, such as water temp, cell voltage, current, salinity.

Price - the same, or within a close enough range.
So, which would you go with? How useful are those pieces of info? Useful enough to outweigh the longer installation run?
Do you think there's any difference with regards to pump flow / efficiency? Any other pros or cons to weigh in on? Appreciate it!
Click to expand...
If you get the RJ60 and want to mount it vertically, be sure that it is in a pipe that has upward waterflow to be sure the plates are covered at low RPM. If it is on the pipe with downward flow the cell may not fill completely and the plates not be covered. That's why you invert that cell with a VSP running low speeds. Its the same as a Hayward.
 
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