Seriously getting sick of paying a pool company to screw up my pool's chemistry :x and just can not seem to find the time to check and add beach everyday. I actually bought a Harward chlorinator and cell which is still in the box, but then realized I think I would be better off getting one of the automation units which would also do the SWG ... this is where the confusion starts. I just can not seem to get reliable information on the differences between the units (even from the tech support).
My pool (no spa) is pretty basic:
1 pump & filter
1 suction line (floor and skimmer)
3 returns (wall, bench seat, old-school whips (not used, but during a remodel, I decided to keep this circuit in case I ever needed it) with on/off valves
1 waterfall with butterfly valve on branch after filter
Solar heater
Gas heater (currently plumbed BEFORE the solar ... )
Electric robot cleaner (since there was not a return for a suction cleaner without loosing the skimmer)
So, I can imagine needing:
3 valve controls (solar on/off, waterfall on/off, wall/bench 3-way).
1 relay for the pump (although I guess I would need 2 if I switch to a variable speed pump)
1 relay for the pool light (maybe ... would require a re-wire)
1 relay for an external spa (totally theoretical at this point)
1 relay for landscaping lights (again, already on a switch, but could rewire to make them remote)
Looking at the available units, here is what I think I have figured out:
Pro Logic P4: 3 valves, 4 relays
Aqua Plus: according to Hayward tech: identical to P4 with added salt cell
Pro Logic PS4: 4 valves, 4 relays
Pro Logic PS8: 4 valves, 8 relays
1. Do you agree that P4 and Aqua Plus are identical controllers (price seems similar for P4+cell OR Aqua Plus)?
2. PS4 seems to be significantly more expensive than the P4 for just 1 added valve. What else is different?
3. Again PS8 is significantly more that the PS4. Is there more than just the 4 extra relays? Do I need that many (I know hard for YOU to answer for ME, but looking for advice :-D )?
4. Given that I think my pool is around 20k gallons ... is there an advantage to getting the 40k cell over the 25k cell?
Thanks for any info you can supply.
My pool (no spa) is pretty basic:
1 pump & filter
1 suction line (floor and skimmer)
3 returns (wall, bench seat, old-school whips (not used, but during a remodel, I decided to keep this circuit in case I ever needed it) with on/off valves
1 waterfall with butterfly valve on branch after filter
Solar heater
Gas heater (currently plumbed BEFORE the solar ... )
Electric robot cleaner (since there was not a return for a suction cleaner without loosing the skimmer)
So, I can imagine needing:
3 valve controls (solar on/off, waterfall on/off, wall/bench 3-way).
1 relay for the pump (although I guess I would need 2 if I switch to a variable speed pump)
1 relay for the pool light (maybe ... would require a re-wire)
1 relay for an external spa (totally theoretical at this point)
1 relay for landscaping lights (again, already on a switch, but could rewire to make them remote)
Looking at the available units, here is what I think I have figured out:
Pro Logic P4: 3 valves, 4 relays
Aqua Plus: according to Hayward tech: identical to P4 with added salt cell
Pro Logic PS4: 4 valves, 4 relays
Pro Logic PS8: 4 valves, 8 relays
1. Do you agree that P4 and Aqua Plus are identical controllers (price seems similar for P4+cell OR Aqua Plus)?
2. PS4 seems to be significantly more expensive than the P4 for just 1 added valve. What else is different?
3. Again PS8 is significantly more that the PS4. Is there more than just the 4 extra relays? Do I need that many (I know hard for YOU to answer for ME, but looking for advice :-D )?
4. Given that I think my pool is around 20k gallons ... is there an advantage to getting the 40k cell over the 25k cell?
Thanks for any info you can supply.