Wanting to add a SWG - can you check my plan?

[Technikal]

Hi,

I'm looking to add a SWG to a 25k pool in Austin TX. I want to do a self install and am currently leaning towards a Circupool SJ40 or SJ55 chlorinator.

On determining the size, I used the Pool Math calculator and it tells me I'd need 10oz of chlorine gas to raise FC by 3 ppm / day (my pool has shade about half the day so I figure 3 ppm/day would be near worst case). I'm on an older single speed pump that I don't want to run 24x7 (and don't want to replace until I need to). Looking at the daily outputs, the SJ40 generates 1.7lbs of chlorine and the sj55 2.3lbs. So if I'm running my pump 12 hours per day, I'd need to run the SJ40 @ ~73% and the SJ55 @ ~ 54% - correct?

On install, my pool pump and filter sit below pool level.:


My pad:

My plan, after killing power to the equipment circuit, would be to:

1. Lift the handle on the 3 way valve on the suction side and turn it 180d to prevent the pool water from coming in on suction side:

2. Turn the handle on the pressure side to prevent pool water from coming in on the pressure side:

3. Turn the filter pump to 'Boost' to essentially shut the filter off and retain the water in it:

4. Cut the PVC pipe:

- Any reason to retain the tablet feeder?
- If not, should I cut between the feeder and the elbow and add an adapter/coupler there, or should I cut out the elbow and replace the whole run?

5. Glue the SWG in place
6. Wire the SWG control panel into my timer on the same switch as my primary pump
7. Connect the SWG to the control panel
8. Add whatever salt is needed
9. Done?


link to album in case direct links don't work:

Pool - Google Photos

Thanks!

 

[Jimrahbe]

T,

Your plan looks ok to me... You will also need to increase your CYA to 70 or 80...

I see no reason to keep the tab feeder.

We always recommend a SWCG that is 2 x the size of your pool, so that eliminates the 40K model. especially here is Texas.. Go with the larger 55K model.

I think your numbers are a little on the optimistic side. With the bigger SWCG, I think you should plan on running 50% for 12 hours to get enough FC to replace what will be used by your pool. But all pools are a little different and I'm being a little pessimistic...

Thanks for posting and good luck with your project...

Jim R.

 

[Philo]

If you are interested in saving a bunch on electricity costs, check out:

3/4 HP Full Rate Two Speed Motor W/ Timer - Round Flange (B973T, B2973T) 115V. $315.

Running the pump motor for the SWG 12+ hours per day could be your biggest electrical expense.

San Diego is expensive, my bill instantly dropped $100/month when I used this cheap 2 speed motor.

 

[Rossterman]

Keep the chlorine feeder so you can add pucks when away or in the winter when pool is too cold for SWG to operate.

 

[Technikal]

Thanks for the feedback. I ordered the SJ55 this morning and will update with how the install goes.

I do plan to upgrade the pump motor at some point. It seems that the current pump is adding $50-$60/mth to my power bill. Adding the SWG is first priority as it allows me to quit the expensive pool service (I travel regularly for work). I also need to dig into the pump itself a bit more to understand if I need to replace more than just the motor.

Thanks again!

 

[BPKlein]

I installed Circupool SJ55 over the winter. At the same time I re-did all of the plumbing, took out my tab feeder, and re-did all of the electrical from the ground up. It was the perfect oppurtunity to replace and redo a bunch of old stuff. It's only springtime, and chlorine demand is going to go up....but my SJ55 is on 25% and 6 hours runtime a day this week. Install went without a problem.

Bryan

 

[Technikal]

That was easy...





It took a lot longer to think about what I was going to do than it did to just do it. And despite all the thinking, planning and measuring, I still screwed up by not accounting for the inability to overlap junctions and elbows , so I had to cut out one brand new junction and connect straight to the elbow... Even with my screwup, it took about 45 minutes to mount the SWG, and 10 minutes to mount the control panel and wire it up. Seems to be working fine - will keep an eye on the chlorine levels over the next few days to make sure.

The control panel is a lot larger than I thought it would be. That's a Intermatic t10404r double clock timer to give a comparison.

I purchased from DiscountSaltPools and it was trouble free. They are just a couple of hours away from me so I got the shipment next day.

I got a couple of quotes from local pool companies to do a swg install before trying it myself. I saved around $900 for an hour's work. Not a bad way to spend my lunch break!

Thanks to all for the help and guidance!

 

[Rossterman]

I thought salt cells were supposed to be mounted in a way that water cant drain out of them? It looks like that would allow air to rise to the top of the loop with the cell?

 

[Technikal]

I followed Circupool's instructions. They want it mounted on minimum 6" risers above the return line.

The Cell must be oriented horizontally with portsfacing down. The Cell should be located above the highest plumbingpoint, and raised at least 6" from the return line.

Circupool Salt Chlorine Generator Help


Not sure why they recommend that, but they do.

FWIW - on my pool, with the pad below pool level, the cell stays immersed even when the pump is not running. I also excluded the filter and related parts from the 'highest' calculation, otherwise I would have had 20" risers...

 

[Rossterman]

That's interesting. Must be due to how the flow switch operates. Jandy's manual is 100% opposite- says to always install cell so that no air can get trapped in the cell which can lead to explosive gas mixture being generated and possible fire/explosion incident.