Cheap liquid chlorine injection system (stenner alternative)

[JohnFoe]

Parts needed:

1. A chemical pump
2. A Stenner injection valve ( with or without checkvalve)
3. A chemical storage tank
4. Timer to run it

My Parts:
1. $83.20 Ebay does coupons for 15% or 20% off events once or twice a month. https://www.ebay.com/itm/DISHWASHER...201273?hash=item4b27f95e79:g:0FQAAOSwORVZznDh
2. $10.93 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DUS1C7S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
3. $18 5 gallon tank, might not be the best option but it works so far http://www.bigr.com/vp-racing-sportsmans-container-/265574.html using 20% online coupon can be found using google
4. $40 smart switch which I schedule using "smartthings" https://www.amazon.com/GE-Appliance...ocphy=9016385&hvtargid=pla-307093604147&psc=1

My Schema:
Chlorine Tank -> Injector Pump -> Chlorine Tablet feeder drain plug (tablet feeder is set to full flow to get it to the pool a quick as it gets into the feeder) Tablet feeder has no pucks as well. They say mixing liquid chlorine with trichlor is bad and I don't care to find out.

My Installed Images:
1. Pump:

2. Injection valve:

3. Tank: ( Modified with a one way duck valve to keep fumes in so when sucking if it draws negative pressure it sucks in fresh air, but doesn't leak any air)

4. Smart switch: (on a GFI outlet)

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO9hJRA5yJo&t=6s

 

[Jravenstine]

This is awesome. Is it still working well? Did you drill into your tablet feeder?

Parts needed:

1. A chemical pump
2. A Stenner injection valve ( with or without checkvalve)
3. A chemical storage tank
4. Timer to run it

My Parts:
1. $83.20 Ebay does coupons for 15% or 20% off events once or twice a month. https://www.ebay.com/itm/DISHWASHER...201273?hash=item4b27f95e79:g:0FQAAOSwORVZznDh
2. $10.93 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DUS1C7S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
3. $18 5 gallon tank, might not be the best option but it works so far http://www.bigr.com/vp-racing-sportsmans-container-/265574.html using 20% online coupon can be found using google
4. $40 smart switch which I schedule using "smartthings" https://www.amazon.com/GE-Appliance...ocphy=9016385&hvtargid=pla-307093604147&psc=1

My Schema:
Chlorine Tank -> Injector Pump -> Chlorine Tablet feeder drain plug (tablet feeder is set to full flow to get it to the pool a quick as it gets into the feeder) Tablet feeder has no pucks as well. They say mixing liquid chlorine with trichlor is bad and I don't care to find out.

My Installed Images:
1. Pump:

2. Injection valve:

3. Tank: ( Modified with a one way duck valve to keep fumes in so when sucking if it draws negative pressure it sucks in fresh air, but doesn't leak any air)

4. Smart switch: (on a GFI outlet)

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO9hJRA5yJo&t=6s

 

[JohnFoe]

This is awesome. Is it still working well? Did you drill into your tablet feeder?

Has been working for a month or so. I use it to do around 20 ounces of 12.5% liquid chlorine daily. Which keeps the FC around 6ppm and my CYA is 30.

I did not need to drill into the CL feeder. It has a drain valve for winterization that is the same 1/4 inch thread as the stenner valve. The stenner injector is in there hand tightened, no plumbers tape or goop and it does not even drip. So the chlorine goes directly into the reservoir where the tablets would typically be, at full flow it basically gets diluted and goes directly into the pool almost instantly.

 

[Jravenstine]

Thank you for the response. Once I get my pool back in working order I will have to try this. I travel with work too much to put chlorine in daily and I don't want to use the pucks anymore due to CYA. I might have more questions about this in a month or so. Thank You again.

 

[Sminor]

Nice setup! Let me know how that pump works for a while. I got a used Blue-White pump from work but when it craps out I might go that route...

Here's a couple links to similar cheap accessories I used in my setup:

Injector: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZTMG28/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Chlorine tank: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QC31G6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Timer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006LYHG42/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Steve_in_C]

Since chlorine is sensitive to light, anything you can do to protect it from light would be a benefit: dark tubing, dark storage container, shade, etc..

 

[slickraft]

I've been running close to a year on a $17 disposable 12VDC peristaltic pump from Amazon and a old Rainbird sprinkler timer from a yard sale. Using a 5-gallon jug and a few accessories I have just under $50 into mine and keep a spare pump in the shed for the day the first pump dies. Works like a champ.

I inject bleach twice a day while the main pool pump is running. The Rainbird sprinkler timer easily lets's me set up to 4 start times a day and run duration by the minute. I can quickly dial a percentage plus or minus of the normal feed rate using the sprinkler timer dial and also do a special "water one zone" to do a quick boost after dust storms without affecting the normal program settings. I inject on the suction side of the pump so any problem with my pump or feed hose only results in a small air leak into the pump basket and not a leak on the pressure side of the pump.

 

[JohnFoe]

I've been running close to a year on a $17 disposable 12VDC peristaltic pump from Amazon and a old Rainbird sprinkler timer from a yard sale. Using a 5-gallon jug and a few accessories I have just under $50 into mine and keep a spare pump in the shed for the day the first pump dies. Works like a champ.

I inject bleach twice a day while the main pool pump is running. The Rainbird sprinkler timer easily lets's me set up to 4 start times a day and run duration by the minute. I can quickly dial a percentage plus or minus of the normal feed rate using the sprinkler timer dial and also do a special "water one zone" to do a quick boost after dust storms without affecting the normal program settings. I inject on the suction side of the pump so any problem with my pump or feed hose only results in a small air leak into the pump basket and not a leak on the pressure side of the pump.

Yeah the inside of my pump is a 12vDC motor as well so if it fails I can get a new motor cheap.

All in all I'm all for cheaper solutions when it comes to something simple like this. I just wanted to provide my solution since visually it helps people understand. Plus it lets me use the tablet feeder and if someone isn't a plumber pro then this allows them to use equipment they have using the better option of liquid chlorine instead of tablets.

 

[ashtonfitzgerald]

Nice! I played with something similar last year using a sprinkler timer and some odd bits--all gravity fed by a siphon. It worked but I didn't trust it --for no reason except there were too many things that could go wrong with my siphon setup.

I may revisit it using a peristaltic pump if I can find one (in Canada) that's a good price. I've seen four pump setups in the Aquarium hobby for dosing fertilizers and such that are smartphone controllable and programmable. They run about $100 and for the built in programmability may be good value.

How do owners of Stenner systems and diy systems find the silicone tube in the pump last for? I used to be a dishwasher in a commercial kitchen. We would have techs come in monthly to service the equipment including replacing the pump tubes.

 

[RonsPlc]

The Stenner tubes are made of Santoprene, not silicone. I usually change mine at the beginning of the season (when I open my pool).

This year, I decided to see how much longer it would go for, and left it in there from last year... it is still going strong.

 

[Dirk]

This is the coolest thread. By the way, I'm thinking of selling my IntellipH acid pumping gizmo. Only $500.

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$400?

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OK, how 'about 3 bills. Come on, that's a steal!

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$200?

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Geez.

 

[Pollock]

This is the coolest thread. By the way, I'm thinking of selling my IntellipH acid pumping gizmo. Only $500.

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$400?

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OK, how 'about 3 bills. Come on, that's a steal!

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$200?

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Geez.

Count me in when you say free!!

 

[ashtonfitzgerald]

The Stenner tubes are made of Santoprene, not silicone. I usually change mine at the beginning of the season (when I open my pool).

This year, I decided to see how much longer it would go for, and left it in there from last year... it is still going strong.

Awesome, thanks! I figured it was something like silicone, but wasn't sure either way. One season sounds reasonable to me. More than one, is better still!

 

[Jravenstine]

This is what I currently have for my tablets which I don't use for tablets anymore unless on vacation. Could I use this to do the same setup as above for liquid Chlorine?

Zodiac Fusion Nature2 Chlorine Feeder Mineral Sanitizer

 

[rphpool]

RonsPlc,
I have been running the same black Stenner tubes for 4 years. I just flush them once a year with acid to get the build up of salt out. I change the Stenner dosing tube once per year. Hope this helps.

 

[woodyp]

Does that listed dishwasher pump come with a 2 or 3 prong plug already on the end of it? Can't tell by the pic.

 

[JohnFoe]

Does that listed dishwasher pump come with a 2 or 3 prong plug already on the end of it? Can't tell by the pic.

Good question, I forgot all about that part.

It was a 2 prong. (no ground)

I replaced it with a 3 prong plug that I already had and tried to ground it on the motor inside. However the motor is 12v so I honestly don't necessary know the ground is doing anything of value and I likely should have left it alone.