AquaRite not displaying t-xx and getting inspect cell and check salt

[envycycles]

Hey guys,

I have a Aquarite but I do not recall the mode version as I am not home. Might be an older unit as its been installed for over 15 years. I replaced the generator with a new as I was told the previous was bad.
But when I ran the salt for 24hrs and then turned it on, it keeps coming up with Check Salt and Inspect cell. When I tried to see what cell type was on the board there is no cell type menu on this board. In the past I had a 3 so thats what I purchased. Ive been messing with this for several days now on and off and can not figure this out. I did put 250 pounds of salt to start with as that was what the pool place told me.
Today I decided to disconnect the cell unit from the board and try and see and its the same result. So can it be that the board is not reading the cell?

Any help is greatly appreciated as this is a headache.

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Hayward Aquarite SWG - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Pressing the diagnostic button sequentially will display:

• Default salt display
• Pool temp
• Cell Voltage - When not generating, the voltage is about 30 to 32 volts dc. When generating, the voltage drops about 1 volt per amp of current.
• Cell current
• Desired output (% of the knob)
• Instant salinity
• Product name
• Software revision (r.XX)
• Cell type

The Hayward Aquarite Troubleshooting Guidelines explains each reading.

 

[JamesW]

Revision 1.50 added the ability to select the T-cell type in the settings.

Prior to revision 1.50, the system was preset to take a T-5 or T-15.

The earlier boards have a jumper on the board to select the cell type of T5 or T15.

In some cases the jumper is adjustable and in some cases it requires that you solder the points together to select the T15 option if the board originally came set to T-5.

As long as the generic is a T5 or T15, and the jumper is set correctly, the cell will work.

 

[envycycles]

So I checked and its v1.40
I'm almost 100% sure I had a 3 cell.
Not sure what to do. From what I have read and watched videos it shows that it should still work even is the wrong cell but readings would not be right? Not sure where to go with this.

Video of board

New video by Darwin Rodriguez

photos.app.goo.gl

Pics also attached

 

[envycycles]

Its been such a while that I had the original T-Cell there that now I am questioning what number it was. Maybe it was a 5 or a 15.
So my question now is, can I get it the 1.40 board to work with the cell 3 or do I have to upgrade the board or buy another cell?
Sucks because I do have 2 cell 3 generators.

 

[envycycles]

Can the software versions be updated on these panels?

 

[JamesW]

There is almost no amperage, so the cell is probably dead.

The cell was made on the 322nd day of 2020, so it is almost 2 years old.

Is this the new cell?

 

[JamesW]

Can you show a picture of the board?

 

[envycycles]

There is almost no amperage, so the cell is probably dead.

The cell was made on the 322nd day of 2020, so it is almost 2 years old.

Is this the new cell?

View attachment 451777

This is new cell that was sitting on shell

 

[envycycles]

Can you show a picture of the board?

Will take picture tomorrow

 

[JamesW]

You're getting almost no amperage.

Have the cell tested at a store that tests cells.

Do you have the original box for the cell?

 

[envycycles]

You're getting almost no amperage.

Have the cell tested at a store that tests cells.

Do you have the original box for the cell?

I'm pretty sure I still have it.

 

[envycycles]

Here is the board and also I have been reading and read that the system should work if I remove the jumper and turn the board into a T5. So I did this and now the board shows between 2200 and 2300 when before removing the jumper it read about 1100.
Still inspect cell and check salt. I'm going to bring a water sample to the pool store to check the salt content.

Also a video clip in this link. It shows 1600 but it did change to 2200 after.

New video by Darwin Rodriguez

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[envycycles]

And I did find an old picture I took of the old chlorinator and it was a T15. I think that with out looking into the board issues of v1.50 and before I decided to go with a 3.

 

[Saturn94]

And I did find an old picture I took of the old chlorinator and it was a T15. I think that with out looking into the board issues of v1.50 and before I decided to go with a 3.

You could replace the main board with an updated version that would allow you to use your T3 cell. I’m guessing that would be less expensive than buying a new cell. However, a T15 cell would last much longer than a T3 cell, so it may be worth paying more.

 

[JamesW]

You can use the current cell if you add enough salt to make it read above 2,400 ppm salt.

 

[envycycles]

So I didn't get a chance to swing by the pool store but did put another hag of salt in and the ppm went to 2400 and now when I turn it on then after a couple of minutes it gives me flashing check salt and flashing inspect cell

 

[envycycles]

So I got the chlorinator to work, I added 2 more bags of salt and it went up to 2900. I was curious how high it really was and bought amazon salt water tester and the reader says 3960ppm. I was lucky enough to find a new v1.5 board on ebay and bought and just came in and I will install it tomorrow morning and set it to a cell 3 type and be done with all this. Thank you for the help

 

[envycycles]

Anything I should know before swapping in the new board?

 

[ajw22]

Anything I should know before swapping in the new board?

Nope. Just get the wires correct.