Thanks for the answers!
As far as I know there is no iron anywhere in my pool.
Do I need to take a look at my current circulation pump before installing a SWG.
And talking about automation.... what automation would it do or what would I need it to do?
At its core, pool automation is a fancy timer. But instead of "on and off" once or twice a day, you can get more granular, especially with a variable speed pump. And the more things you have that are controllable, and schedulable, the more automation can shine. For example, I have eight schedules, and a few "egg timers" (one-off schedules).
My pool gets circulated for eitght hours a day at 1600RPM.
My vac runs just before that, at 2200.
When the sun is ready, my controller turns on my solar heater and adjusts the pump from 1600 to 2300, then back to 1600 when the pool reaches temp.
If I want to extend heating time, I push an "egg timer" button and the solar heater will stay on until 8:00pm.
If I get some extra leaves in the fall, another "egg timer" button will ramp up the pump for two hours to 2800.
All those RPM numbers have been determined to be the very best and most efficient for each of those tasks (specific to my pool and setup).
And all those "button presses" can be done at my pool pad, or on a controller mounted on a wall inside, or on any of my computers, or on any of my smart phones or iPads! Even while I'm on the other side of the planet.
In the winter, when I change up that scheduling quite a bit, I can do that from my computer or my phone while away.
My controller can also operate my SWG scheduling and chlorine output amount (and again, from anywhere). I can also schedule and operate my pool light, as well as the shut-off valve to my auto-leveling system. In the winter, when it gets very cold, my controller will sense the air temp and run my pump so that my pipes won't freeze.
And you can run and schedule virtually anything that plugs in to low voltage or 120V or 240V as well: a yard fountain, bistro lights, garden lights, etc.
If you have a spa or water features or a gas heater or heat pump, then automation can schedule and control those functions, too. I have both solar and gas heaters, and my controller can determine on the fly which would best heat my pool at any given time, and turn each on and off, while adjusting the pump for each heater type! I only use solar, but if a cloud passes overhead, and my solar heater would no longer heat the pool efficiently, my controller will shut off the solar heater and adjust the pump back down to 1600 until the cloud passes by!
Stuff like that there. Automation does add a level of complexity, and sometimes maintenance, while at the same time adding an amount of convenience. You weigh your tolerance/necessity for each, and then do some fancy "math" (including cost) to factor in how that math "calculates" with you and your significant others in your household.
I would never want to own a pool without automation. Others love the simplicity of a one-speed pump and an Intermatic timer. A valid case can be made for either.
