To any who are interested, this is something I figured out I could do to save a lot on my monthly power bill. I realized my 1 HP pump draws 7 amps, but the SWG only 1 amp. I was initially running my pump 8 to 12 hrs a day, and my SWG on 30%. I figured out I could run the SWG up to 100%, drop my pump time back to 4-6 hrs (4 in cooler weather, 6 when it's really hot), and cut my energy use in half.
I'm still getting the same amount or more chlorine into my pool (12 hrs @ 30% = 4 hrs @ 100%), and the reduced circulation time has not been a problem for me. Only downside is that I have a lot of trees & leaves, and the reduced skimmer time means I have more time with leaves floating on the surface. But if you don't have a lot of leaves where you are, that won't matter much.
I know there are those who will insist 4-6 hrs is not enough circulation time, but I have been testing this out for nearly 3 yrs now. I run it on 4 hrs/100% almost the entire year, and always have beautiful, crystal clear water, usually with a very beefy chlorine level. During the 90-100 degree periods in the summer, I will crank it up to 5-6 hrs a day if I see the slightest sign of algae formation, and maybe superchlorinate it for a while once every weekend or two.
I split my pump time up into 3 cycles, about 8 hrs apart (usually 10 am - noon, 7-8 pm, and 3-4 am). Depending on your swimmer load and other unique conditions, your required pump time and results might not be exactly like mine, but this could give you something to think about. Be sure to maintain a proper level of stabilizer!
Affect on my SWG cell? Well, it still operates about the same total time each day as when it was set on 12 hrs/30%, and it's been fine for 3 yrs....
My setup: 16x32x8' vinyl liner, 1 hp Water Ace, Goldline Aqua-Rite SWG (T-15 cell).
I'm still getting the same amount or more chlorine into my pool (12 hrs @ 30% = 4 hrs @ 100%), and the reduced circulation time has not been a problem for me. Only downside is that I have a lot of trees & leaves, and the reduced skimmer time means I have more time with leaves floating on the surface. But if you don't have a lot of leaves where you are, that won't matter much.
I know there are those who will insist 4-6 hrs is not enough circulation time, but I have been testing this out for nearly 3 yrs now. I run it on 4 hrs/100% almost the entire year, and always have beautiful, crystal clear water, usually with a very beefy chlorine level. During the 90-100 degree periods in the summer, I will crank it up to 5-6 hrs a day if I see the slightest sign of algae formation, and maybe superchlorinate it for a while once every weekend or two.
I split my pump time up into 3 cycles, about 8 hrs apart (usually 10 am - noon, 7-8 pm, and 3-4 am). Depending on your swimmer load and other unique conditions, your required pump time and results might not be exactly like mine, but this could give you something to think about. Be sure to maintain a proper level of stabilizer!
Affect on my SWG cell? Well, it still operates about the same total time each day as when it was set on 12 hrs/30%, and it's been fine for 3 yrs....
My setup: 16x32x8' vinyl liner, 1 hp Water Ace, Goldline Aqua-Rite SWG (T-15 cell).