Input on new equipment planning

[billyz]

My pool is currently a traditional chlorine configuration but I am going to transition it to a SWG this spring.

With that in mind, I'm considering purchasing the Hayward Goldline PL-Plus with 40k gallon cell (Amazon.com : Hayward Goldline PL-PLUS ProLogic 40, 000-Gallon Electronic Pool Chlorinator : Swimming Pool Timers : Patio, Lawn Garden)
By my understanding this will give me the salt cell, pump control, heater control and remote/wifi control of those features.

In the future I'll be picking up the pH/Orp sense & dispense to assist in basic chemistry monitoring/control. (Amazon.com : Hayward AQL-CHEM pH/ORP Sense and ORP Dispense Chemistry Kit 1 : Swimming Pool Maintenance Kits : Patio, Lawn Garden)

My questions:
What am I missing or doing wrong here?
Those of you with this same unit; will I actually be getting the kind of control I'm expecting?
The unit comes with a 40k gallon cell. My pool is just under 14k gallons. It seems like overkill, but the next smallest unit is on 15k, which seems like cutting it too close. Am I ok with the 40k gallon cell?

Any other thoughts or comments on my plan?

Thanks, I've gotten a ton of information from this forum. It's been a huge help already, and I haven't even taken the winter cover off of this new pool...

 

[billyz]

Sorry to bump my own post, I'm just hoping to get some feedback from anyone familiar with the above equipment. As the cost is nearly double a basic Hayward SWG cell and timer, I would like to be sure i'm going to get the features/use out of it that i'm hoping for (automated/remote control of pumps, heater and basic chem).

I'm probably going to be opening the pool in a few weeks so I want to be sure i have everything ordered and delivered in time.

All feedback/comments are welcomed. I take constructive criticism quite well. if someone thinks i'm making a mistake or wasting money, please feel free to suggest alternatives!

 

[Pool Tool]

I just bought the same unit, but have yet to install it. One thing that I know for sure is that like the pH sensing the automation are add on accessories as well. I think about another $500 for the antenna for the unit and the home network. The unit as is controls the heater, lights, pump, salt cell and actuators from its panel only. Here are a couple of automation options I compared. For now, I am just wiring an additional to the house for indoor control. I would like wifi access, but it's not a priority for me now.

Hayward Residential and Commercial Pool Products - Compare Products

Update - I dont think is almost double the cost tho. A stand alone AQR-15 (with T15 cell obviously) was ~$900, with this about ~$100-200 more. I still have to buy breakers, wire, etc. which will add a little more the total cost. But will give me a lot of flexibility on everything now.

 

[billyz]

When i mentioned "double the cost" I should have mentioned that my fallback plan, if I don't buy the PL-Plus, is to pick up the Amazon.com : Hayward AQ-TROL-RJ AquaTrol Salt Chlorination System for Above-Ground Pools up to 18, 000 gallons : Swimming Pool Chlorine : Patio, Lawn Garden which is only about $500.

Thanks for the heads up on the wifi antenna. I thought it was part of the base unit (as it's pictured as part of it on Amazon). That's particularly annoying. Do you know if the add-on is literally just an antenna or does it include other controller hardware/circuits required for wifi?

 

[Pool Tool]

Nah, it gets expensive quick. The extras:

Wireless 900 MHz Antenna; Item #AQL2-BASE-RF; ~$150
Wireless Tabletop Remote (not wi-fi); Item #AQL2-TW-RF-P-4; ~$350
AquaConnect Home Network Device; Item #AQ-CO-HOMENET; ~$400

You would need the antenna and the home network device to use wi-fi and control via internet. I think this is how is supposed to work, but I could be wrong.