Hi again,
Thanks to the people and info here at TFP, I’ve had good success since I converted the five pools I care for to the BBB method. Keeping my water balanced is quite simple, and the benefits far outweigh the ease of throwing tablets in a floater. I’ve learned a great deal reading on the TFP website, and am in search of advice and/or critical opinions.
I’m currently working on a project for one of my clients - with the pool listed in my signature. The pool is large enough that a lot of the year my client adds chlorine midweek. She’s happy to do it, but she’s getting older and I want to relieve her of that chore, so we made a deal for installation of a chlorine injection system. I’ve read just about everything here on the topic, seen some excellent pictures on TFP of setups, and have come to decisions that I’d like to share. I’d appreciate it if any of you would feel free to make any suggestions if you see anything wrong - or any way you think I might make a better system. I’m at the stage where I’m ready to order the pump/tank/timer, and I’d like to run this by the forum first.
I’ve chosen to go with a 120V Stenner 45MPHP10 fixed output pump ($208 from Locke). I picked the 100 psi version because the 25 psi pump is closer than I want it to my max pressure, and the 100 comes with the check valve. I also picked the 10 gal./day pump to run shorter times. The main pump runs about 8 hours a day. I’ve spoken with Pentair, and apparently there is no reasonably affordable way for me to have the Stenner slaved to the Intelliflo as far as having the injection pump running only when the main pump is on. Since I have to have a timer anyway (Intermatic ET1125CR - $97 at Amazon), I took the advice of several members to go with the fixed pump and eliminate the potential problems (and the ‘click’) with the adjustable version.
The current pool equipment is exposed and uncovered, so for appearance’ sake, I’m going with the Stenner 15 gallon tank ($139/no shipping at PoolWeb; better price at Locke but a huge shipping charge), on which the pump will be mounted. I plan to drill and tap the 2” return elbow fitting for extra wall strength at the injection site. I elected not to put a shutoff valve there, as I don’t think the plumbing sets up well for another fitting, but I’ll have a 1/4” plug stored with the equipment should the Stenner pump fail.
I do have a few 'unknowns' at the moment:
1. I realize it’s important to keep the chlorine as cool as reasonably possible. So, it seems I should go with the translucent white Stenner tank, but I prefer the look of the UV gray model. Does this make sense, or does it not make that much of a difference?
2. Is there a "best" time to inject the chlorine, or perhaps I should split it up? I expect to be injecting between 40 and 50 oz. of 12.5% chlorine per day in the summer. Currently, the Pentair pump runs from 0200 to 1000. I saw one setup where the owner put all of the chlorine in fairly quickly at the start of the pump cycle. I’ve seen others where part of it is injected just after sundown and part maybe an hour before the pump cycle ends. I’ve seen some where it’s injected slowly the length of the pump run time (adjustable pump or several start/stops on a fixed pump). Perhaps there’s no “best” time? I’m flexible about the main pump run times, but SDG&E is happier if it runs night/early morning.
3. Slightly off topic: Has anyone come up with a drop test for borates yet? I find the strips pretty vague.
Many thanks in advance for your help/advice. I promise to post pictures of the finished product.
Thanks to the people and info here at TFP, I’ve had good success since I converted the five pools I care for to the BBB method. Keeping my water balanced is quite simple, and the benefits far outweigh the ease of throwing tablets in a floater. I’ve learned a great deal reading on the TFP website, and am in search of advice and/or critical opinions.
I’m currently working on a project for one of my clients - with the pool listed in my signature. The pool is large enough that a lot of the year my client adds chlorine midweek. She’s happy to do it, but she’s getting older and I want to relieve her of that chore, so we made a deal for installation of a chlorine injection system. I’ve read just about everything here on the topic, seen some excellent pictures on TFP of setups, and have come to decisions that I’d like to share. I’d appreciate it if any of you would feel free to make any suggestions if you see anything wrong - or any way you think I might make a better system. I’m at the stage where I’m ready to order the pump/tank/timer, and I’d like to run this by the forum first.
I’ve chosen to go with a 120V Stenner 45MPHP10 fixed output pump ($208 from Locke). I picked the 100 psi version because the 25 psi pump is closer than I want it to my max pressure, and the 100 comes with the check valve. I also picked the 10 gal./day pump to run shorter times. The main pump runs about 8 hours a day. I’ve spoken with Pentair, and apparently there is no reasonably affordable way for me to have the Stenner slaved to the Intelliflo as far as having the injection pump running only when the main pump is on. Since I have to have a timer anyway (Intermatic ET1125CR - $97 at Amazon), I took the advice of several members to go with the fixed pump and eliminate the potential problems (and the ‘click’) with the adjustable version.
The current pool equipment is exposed and uncovered, so for appearance’ sake, I’m going with the Stenner 15 gallon tank ($139/no shipping at PoolWeb; better price at Locke but a huge shipping charge), on which the pump will be mounted. I plan to drill and tap the 2” return elbow fitting for extra wall strength at the injection site. I elected not to put a shutoff valve there, as I don’t think the plumbing sets up well for another fitting, but I’ll have a 1/4” plug stored with the equipment should the Stenner pump fail.
I do have a few 'unknowns' at the moment:
1. I realize it’s important to keep the chlorine as cool as reasonably possible. So, it seems I should go with the translucent white Stenner tank, but I prefer the look of the UV gray model. Does this make sense, or does it not make that much of a difference?
2. Is there a "best" time to inject the chlorine, or perhaps I should split it up? I expect to be injecting between 40 and 50 oz. of 12.5% chlorine per day in the summer. Currently, the Pentair pump runs from 0200 to 1000. I saw one setup where the owner put all of the chlorine in fairly quickly at the start of the pump cycle. I’ve seen others where part of it is injected just after sundown and part maybe an hour before the pump cycle ends. I’ve seen some where it’s injected slowly the length of the pump run time (adjustable pump or several start/stops on a fixed pump). Perhaps there’s no “best” time? I’m flexible about the main pump run times, but SDG&E is happier if it runs night/early morning.
3. Slightly off topic: Has anyone come up with a drop test for borates yet? I find the strips pretty vague.
Many thanks in advance for your help/advice. I promise to post pictures of the finished product.
