AutoPilot Nano, working or not working, can it be fixed ??

[fredinstl]

Hello all, hoping I can get some directions on what is my next move.
Specifically
(i) how can I test that my SWG is generating enough chlorine
(ii) is 170F too hot or normal in BOOST mode for my capacitator ?
(iii) should I buy a new unit $600 (from saltpoolguys), send it for repair ~$280 (to saltsolutionsinc), or just continue using this one as is ?

More details

• AutoPilot Pool Pilot Digital Nano 75041A, starting its 4th season. We are in St Louis, and our pool is open from early May to late September. Amp-hrs = 26842, salt = 3g/l. The cells look fine to me but I don't really know how bad cells look.
• soon after opening, I got the flashing red light and a message about the unit being too hot. I opened the unit, indeed the capacitor was very hot, and a few wires were half melted. See pictures attached
• I contacted saltpoolguys.com (authorized dealer and support for autoPilot). They told me to run the following testing: BOOST mode reading 18v and 4.6A, then FORCE REVERSE still in BOOST mode and I get same reading 18v and 4.6. Contact thermometer reading is 170F on the capacitor.
• Their diagnosis is that the malfunction happened with a power surge and changing the wires should fix it. They shipped me a replacement kit STK0066, which I installed.
• The capacitor is still running hot 170F when in BOOST and I don't think it's producing much chlorine at all as I am testing low free chlorine and I need to add liquid chlorine every other day... Even though when testing, it says 19v and 4.6A.
• the other thing is that the UP arrow is not working anymore. I don't know when that started (before or after changing the wires).
• I found another company in Tampa that claims they can repair the unit for a fixed fee of $235 + tax and shipping Salt Solutions Inc. – Salt Solutions provides a proven repair option for customers with broken salt chlorinator equipment.. Tempting...

thanks ! Fred

 

[ajw22]

Have you done a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to confirm there is no algae consuming your chlorine?

If you pass the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test then do a Overnight Chlorine Gain Test running your cell at 100% and see how much FC rise you get in 8 to 12 hours overnight.

Report your results.

 

[fredinstl]

Have you done a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to confirm there is no algae consuming your chlorine?

If you pass the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test then do a Overnight Chlorine Gain Test running your cell at 100% and see how much FC rise you get in 8 to 12 hours overnight.

Report your results.

thanks @ajw22.

Overnight loss of 0.5 ppm from 5 to 4.5.
I decided to not slam yet and run my SWG 100% last night: I got 0.5 ppm gain .
If I assume 0.5 loss like previous night (water is cristal clear), that seems to show my SWG is producing 1ppm over 8h, that doesn't seem much..

thoughts on next step ?

1. slam and then confirm SWG is not really working/dying
2. send controller for repair (~$280 1 year warranty)
3. buy a new controller ($600 2 year warranty)
4. take this opportunity to buy a new/different SWG. Recommendations ?

thanks !
Fred

 

[ajw22]

1 PPM overnight is within the bounds of testing error. I say your SWG is dead. I can't say if it is the controller or the cell but I suspect the cell.

If you don't want to keep on throwing money into your Autopilot system then consider the Pureline or Circupool SWG systems.