My flow switch just went bad, and I ordered another one that'll arrive tomorrow. Is it OK to wire it closed until the new one comes in? I realize the danger of having the cell running without water flow, but the salt system is timed to only run with the pump, so the risk is low.
Can I hardwire/bypass my flow switch?
- Thread starter Seadweller
- Start date
Thanks, that's a direct enough answer for me not to do it...
Is it to avoid the risk of explosion if the pump were to stop?
Is it to avoid the risk of explosion if the pump were to stop?Are they designed to fail open? I just put a new PCB in my system, and the flow light immediately came on, so I don't know how long the flow switch has been bad. No indication on the unit, and it was producing chlorine until the board failed.
It doesn't know that there is no flow; that's the problem.
If it is closed, the system assumes flow and generates and then this happens:
Just shut it off and use liquid chlorine until the new one comes in.
Understood....But what concerns me is there's no safeguard if the flow switch fails open. I have my salt system scheduled to start one hour after the pump starts, and 3 hours before the pump turns off. An electrical interruption will impact both timers equally, so there's really very little chance that the system would run without the pump running. Problem is, if the pump were to stop, and the flow switch failed closed, then you'd have a real issue. I'm surprised it's not designed to stop chlorine production whether the switch fails open or closed.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,884
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,068
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Circupool chooses not to follow the safety recommendations of others SWG manufacturers to have the SWG powered only when the pump is running and the flow switch as a secondary safety.
They have been asked about it and say it is not necessary. We disagree.
I suggest you discuss it with Circupool.
How will it know if the switch has failed?
The switch is simply open or closed.
The SWG only knows if the switch is open or closed.
The only way it would know is if it had a different way to know if the pump was on or off like automation etc.
You can put a current sensing relay on the SWG as an extra safety if you want.
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