Quick Question on Chlorinators

[aho.lwi]

Can anyone tell me why i cant put cal hypo briquettes/tabs into a chlorinator that is meant for TCCA? I seem to find that Cal Hypo feeders sell for more.

Is this to do with scaling or are there other issues involved?

 

[JohnT]

Cal Hypo tablets dissolve much more easily than trichlor pucks. As such they can't use the same chlorinators.

Don't add either product to a chlorinator that has been used for the other.

 

[loop_pea]

I think this is also to do with the fact that trichlor and cal hypo don't get along.

I live a few miles from a pool chemical manufacturer, a few years back they had a big fire when two chemicals came together.

 

[Melt In The Sun]

Mixing chlorine types is dangerous. I'm not sure exactly what bad chemical reactions would take place, but I wouldn't want to find out first-hand.

Also, trichlor tabs dissolve nicely, staying hard and crunchy as they slowly dissolve. Cal-hypo tabs sort of turn into a mushy mess, so the feeder has to be designed differently to work with them.

 

[bk406]

The isocyanurates (stabilized chlorine) in the trichlor are acidic. When that acid hits the basic cal hypo;

BOOM!

 

[aho.lwi]

Oh right, now i see. Cal Hypo feeders seem rather expensive.

 

[Beez]

This thread: Mixing Chemicals illustrates the reaction nicely.