Salt reads 2300, actual salt is 3000, but cell is good?

Jun 26, 2011
1
Greetings everyone,

The pool is 16,000gal, running a Aqua Rite SWG with a -15 cell. The whole install is just a few months past 3 years old (and therefore just out of warranty).

The LCD on the control panel indicates the salt content of the pool is at 2300. This seems to be below the threshold at which the system believes there is not enough salt in the pool, and stops generating FC.

A water sample was taken to the local pool shop, and they claim the salt is at 3,000. They put the cell through some test, and handed it back to us claiming the cell is fine.

So, is there a way to get the cell to read the salt more accurately? Or, even a way to let the system keep generating even though it thinks the salt is too low?

Thanks!
 
Welcome to TFP!

The only things you can do are to either add more salt, or replace the cell. As the cell ages, it tends to read the salt level lower and lower compared to actual. This is usually only obvious near the end of the cell's life, when this process accelerates significantly. You can compensate for this by raising the salt level, but eventually the cell will fail and you will be left with a very high salt level.

On the other hand, keep in mind that pool store salt tests are unpredictable. They are often just fine, but they are also often wildly wrong.
 
Welcome to TFP!!

I don't disagree with Jason (because he's right).

The cells can test up to +/- 500 ppm and the salt tests IIRC are +/- 200 ppm. If the cell is good, add salt to keep it happy and generating - the cell won't produce if it 'thinks' the salt is too low! If your test is ~1500 ppm off, then it's time to see if the cell is bad.

One more thing, have you visually inspected the cell for scale and debris?
 
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