SWG operationg cost?

[Strannik]

How long you need to run the pump varies dramatically from pool to pool. Don't count on being able to run the pump for only 2 hours on a different pool. It might work out that way, or it might not, depending on the relative size of the pump and the pool. Likewise, the minimum pump run time required to keep the SWG happy varies from pool to pool rather dramatically, depending on the relative size of the SWG and the pool. Some SWGs will be fine with short run times, others won't.

So, not knowing how the SWG will work prior to installing the system on any given pool suggests that the system is for those who would rather have the ease of generated chlorine no matter the cost versus someone installing one because neighbor Jones has one and his pool costs went down then finding out his system needs to run 3 times as long at a higher cost than Jones' pool.

Also, if a pool builder sells an SWG with a pool to be constructed, will he mention the possibilities that JasonLion describes as well?

i think you misinterpeted Jason's comment a lil bit.
You usually do know how SWG will work on your pool, if you do the calcs before you buy SWG, and not after it's been installed On established pools it's not a problem at all, on new pools it's harder to pick SWG because you usually don't know how much of any source of chlorine is required. But you can still estimate fairly accurately and tweak run time/percentage later.

What Jason meant, is simply that every pool is different, so you cannot simply go to a different pool/SWG combination and apply same settings as you had on your previous pool.

the pool builder should size SWG according to your pool needs

 

[Poolsean]

Well said Strannik.

Another thing to realize is that wherever the information was read/found that you need to run the pump, as ntrsandman said,
"The SWG, from what I have read, needs to run 4 to 5 times longer to create the proper levels of chlorine."
then again in another post,
"So, not knowing how the SWG will work prior to installing the system on any given pool suggests that the system is for those who would rather have the ease of generated chlorine no matter the cost versus someone installing one because neighbor Jones has one and his pool costs went down then finding out his system needs to run 3 times as long at a higher cost than Jones' pool."
are not the more prevalent salt systems used. Depending on chlorine output of the system, and the chlorine demand of your pool, as EVERYONE has stated, make sure you size the system properly. It should be that the unit is sized to accomodate your pump run times and not the other way around.
Undersized systems will only result in the need to run the system longer than normal, therefore do not undersize. My recommendation is to go with the largest cell you can afford.