I just need to figure out the right generator for my pool at this point. Any master thread that discusses this or obvious recommendations?
All the rest of your kit is Pentair. Do you also have EasyTouch or Intellitouch control panel? The only reason I ask, is if you're wanting to stay "in the family," there's one solution for you: Pentair Intellichlor 60. You and I have almost identical setups (I don't have the waterfall, do you have a spa?)
I installed it myself over 2 days, probably could have done it in 1 but took my time and walked to the garage for the miter saw to cut each PVC segment. If you're at 2800ppm salt already, you're really only needing about $25 worth of salt (4 x 40lb bags at Home Depot, $6.50 ea). Now, the disclaimer: I live on unincorporated county land in Oklahoma and literally zero permits and inspections are required except termites every time the house sells and the septic system when it was installed. Your local regulations may require a permit, inspection, qualified installer. Pentair won't honor a warranty on this unit I installed, as I'm not in their system as a qualified installer. Other SCG manufacturers will, if that's important to you.
Here's the salt I used. Make sure it's very close to 100% pure sodium chloride.
Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals Water Softener Salt Crystals have a white, opaque appearance. They minimize the accumulation of brine tank residue. Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals Water Softener Salt Crystals
www.homedepot.com
Here's the install thread:
Howdy! I've not done a ton of combing thru this forum, so forgive me if these have already been answered elsewhere. I need help and advice sizing and selecting SWG gear. Our PB doesn't recommend them, and they won't install or warranty anything I go out and buy on my own. So not a lot of...
www.troublefreepool.com
"You’ll need to install some type of automation so that the pump and salt system are linked together so that the salt can’t run when the pump isn’t on."
This is often accomplished simply by wiring the SCG power supply to the same relay that turns your pump on and off, further eliminating the need for a separate dedicated GFCI breaker. Happy to show you photos of the guts of my install, mine's a little different, but not important to get into the weeds right now. If you've got an EasyTouch or Intellicenter, your wiring might be similar, as you've got a "smart" pump.
"You’ll have more fun keeping your water chemistry in check as well and it doesn’t work in the winter time."
If you'll forgive my language, that's hogwash. Doing things the TFP way, I have exactly the opposite of fun trying to keep my water chemistry in check. I've only been here a couple months, and honestly, I'm bored. I fixed my pool and it stays within parameters, and I've gotten forgetful and gone 2-3 days without even doing a check on my pH. I do have more fun, but it's practicing golf or making sawdust in the shop, or just swimming. It's not keeping my water chemistry in check. To the winterizing comment, it's my understanding algae basically won't grow in a cold pool, and nobody's going to be swimming in it anyway. So there's very little demand for chlorine. Most users here seem to get by just fine manually dosing their pools in winter every few days. There's even a Pentair bypass tube of the identical dimensions to remove the SCG for cleaning and winterization.
edit: I notice you have a pool cover. I recall reading a thread earlier today where the user mentioned in the wintertime they only add chlorine once a week to their covered pool.