Hello, I am in Canada and pool been open about a month. water temp today is 55F. It was actually 65 a month ago at opening. Am mentioning temps in case it affects salt readings. At opening, the equipment reading for salt was 2900ppm(in servic emode). The target is 3600ppm. Through the backwashes and opening procedures(SLAM)I lost salt mainly due to topping up lost water while vacuuming to waste. Was down to 2450ppm salt last week. Went to pool store. I know you all mostly despise the pool stores. I do mostly follow TFP procedures and additives for water. I went because I cannot test my own CYA, and I needed calcium which is not easy to source outside of pool supply shops. I cannot order a tfp100 test kit because they do not ship to Canada! Anyway, pool store did their water test and they matched the SWCG reading for salt levels last week. I was to add 2 bags. I added a bag and a half.
Today, salt is actually showing 0, but even after adding the 1.5 bags, the salt reading never changed at the equipment. it remained at 2450 all week. So today I am back at the pool store to get another salt test. Despite equpiment showing 0 salt, their test was 4800ppm! a bit over!
They told me I need a new cell, which is about $1000 CAD. I told them I'd acid wash it first. They also told me the cell itself is the salt measuring device (I always thought the flow switch was the salt reading device). So they want to sell me a new cell. They agreed I should try an acid wash first. Usuallly when I inspect my cell, it is spotless. We shall see. The cell is 9-10 seasons old. I normally run the cell at 30-50%, never higher. 35% is the norm. The store said cells usually last 6 seasons around here.
My questions for gurus:
oddly, I seem to be generating chlorine. was a solid 3ppm. Store thinks its residual from opening process. maybe.
Let me know your thoughts, ideas and opinions. It is a pentair ic20 unit (the SWCG). I am well aware I probably cannot generate chlorine at these temps.
I dont wanna spend a thousand bucks if I can do other testing or other parts replacements to rectify.
I am attaching a photo i just took 1 minute ago of my indoor panel diagnostic on the chlorinator. Looks strange! do I have a loose wire? is this normal when everything is "cold".?
Today, salt is actually showing 0, but even after adding the 1.5 bags, the salt reading never changed at the equipment. it remained at 2450 all week. So today I am back at the pool store to get another salt test. Despite equpiment showing 0 salt, their test was 4800ppm! a bit over!
They told me I need a new cell, which is about $1000 CAD. I told them I'd acid wash it first. They also told me the cell itself is the salt measuring device (I always thought the flow switch was the salt reading device). So they want to sell me a new cell. They agreed I should try an acid wash first. Usuallly when I inspect my cell, it is spotless. We shall see. The cell is 9-10 seasons old. I normally run the cell at 30-50%, never higher. 35% is the norm. The store said cells usually last 6 seasons around here.
My questions for gurus:
- is the cell itself the salt measuring sensor?
- is water temp messing with readings at the equipment? should I run the heater or wait til it warms up a bit?
- is too much salt causing a 0 reading?
- is there any other diagnostics I should do before buying a new cell?
- when equipment sees salt 0, does it also essentiallly shut down the cell?
oddly, I seem to be generating chlorine. was a solid 3ppm. Store thinks its residual from opening process. maybe.
Let me know your thoughts, ideas and opinions. It is a pentair ic20 unit (the SWCG). I am well aware I probably cannot generate chlorine at these temps.
I dont wanna spend a thousand bucks if I can do other testing or other parts replacements to rectify.
I am attaching a photo i just took 1 minute ago of my indoor panel diagnostic on the chlorinator. Looks strange! do I have a loose wire? is this normal when everything is "cold".?
