Autopilot Check Flow- off

SweetPotato · May 11, 2009

I started having problems with my SC-48 Autopilot this weekend. The red light started blinking and the display said "Check Flow". The purifier is "Off". We checked all the baskets (skimmer, pump, filter in SWG) and found no blockage. The salt was reading was 2400 ppm earlier today but 2 days ago it read 2900 ppm. I came on here and looked around at older post and found one that talks about this. Following the directions in those responses, we checked the cell and found it shiny as brand new. We checked all the plumbing connections and all are in good shape, flow seems perfectly good for or 2 HP pump. My gauge dies over the winter again so we do not have a reading on this. We checked the flow gasket and it seems to be working correctly, no obstructions, closing when pump is shut off and opening when turned on. We disconnected the tri-sensor cable and the cell cord. Both are fine. My husband is an electrician with a lot of experience in wiring pools and has went over the electrical system and found no problems. We reconnected the cords and the salt now reads 200 ppm. The temperature has always been a little off but we dismissed this as the pump sits in the sun a lot. Now I'm not so sure. I'm using bleach to chlorinate for now and we checked the salt with strips, it is reading 2280 ppm. My sc-48 was installed in at the end of the season of 2007. My water balance is perfect so that is not a problem. I need any other ideas on what to check before we call for service tomorrow. As of now, my purifier is off due to the "check flow" error, the temperature is reading about 8 degrees higher than the thermometer is reading in the pool and I am going to check if I am still under warranty when I finish this post. Any help is appreciated.

Stacy
Virginia- 18'X32' ingound with 2 skimmers 2 returns and bottom drain, Autopilot sc-48, sand filter, 2 HP pump

JasonLion · May 11, 2009

Have you tried cleaning the strainer screen in the manifold? That is the most likely cause of check flow errors, though it doesn't account for the salt reading.

Also, check both ends and the entire length of the tri-sensor cord for bent pins, lose connection, and nicks or crimps or cuts in the cable.

Poolsean · May 12, 2009

Jason, a blocked manifold screen will not allow enough water to saturate the tri-sensor properly and can result in a low salt reading if the two metal blades that measure salt, don't have conductivity between them, which the water does.

SweetPotato · May 12, 2009

Thank you for the replies. We did check the manifold screen and it didn't have anything in it. My husband went over the whole length of cord and connections at both ends and could not find anything wrong with it. He thinks the problem is in the tri-sensor itself because we have checked everything we can think of, everything in the manual and a lot of posts here and still haven't found the problem. Even though there is no visible wear and tear on the cord and the connections seem strong, I wonder if replacing the cord would be recommended before having a service call. If so, then where would a find a replacement cord? I did find that my SWG is still under warranty, so that is good. Again, any suggestions are welcome.

Stacy
Virginia- 18'X32' ingound with 2 skimmers 2 returns and bottom drain, Autopilot sc-48, sand filter, 2 HP pump

JasonLion · May 12, 2009

If you are under warranty, I would call AutoPilot tech support at this point. They are fairly good and are able to send out replacement parts quickly when they think the situation calls for it.

SweetPotato · May 12, 2009

Thank you for all your help. I will definately post wht the problem was once it is found to help anyone else.

Poolsean · May 14, 2009

Check also your tri-sensor pins. There should be 6 pins. If any are bent, you can get the error messages. Be very careful trying to straighten a bent pin.
If they are straight, call for warranty service.

lurch · May 20, 2009

SweetPotato said:
I'm using bleach to chlorinate for now and we checked the salt with strips, it is reading 2280 ppm.

Outside of the AutoPilot problem, this is very low, right? I have the same system and keep mine at 3500ppm

Poolsean · May 22, 2009

lurch,

This is correct. At around 2400 ppm, the unit will automatically prompt a low salt display, but continue to generate chlorine. At 1900 ppm or below, it will turn the purifier off.