Circupool RJ45 start/stop running

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L

locky

0
Dec 4, 2016
56
san jose / ca
Just let me share the lately info on RJ45 (with software version R6.10).
I noticed during RJ45 cycles running (I set it at 50%), it stopped (after 2 or 3 hours, I'm not sure) and then it start running (after it stopped for 1 or 2 hours, I'm not sure). ?
I called and talk to tech support and they said with new firmware version (R6.10), it is set like that stop and start to save cell's life. If set to Max (100%) then it will not stop/start.
Now, facing the problem how to set time to run in order to produce enough FC, even tech support did not know how RJ45 start/stop duration.
Is anyone knows this ? and what is exact start/stop duration ?
 
locky,

I truly doubt that is the way your cell works as it make no sense. In general, all cells work the same way.. The percent of output does not actually adjust the amount of chlorine the cell makes, it just adjust the time the cell is on.

So if you run a cell at 50% it will only produce chlorine half the time it is on. Most cells are on for a few minutes and then off for a few minutes... it would not make sense at all for the cell to be off or on for hours at a time.

I think there is just some misunderstanding going on...

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Nice to meet you via TFP :)

I tried to find out the cycle time for Circupool online and haven't been able to find it. I'll message one of our Circupool owners and see if they know. You could also call discountsaltpool who have tech support available, or try their chat function on their website. They are reported to be very helpful.

But for example, Hayward SWGs use a 180 minute cycle time. If they are set for, say, 20%, then they're on for 36 minutes, and then off for 144 minutes. At 180 minutes they reverse polarity and start a new cycle, so would run for another 36 minutes (if still set at 20%). They also reverse polarity each time they're turned off and then on again. Perhaps the Circupool is similar in this respect, but it sounds like we need to find out.

In contrast, my SWG uses a 10 minute cycle, so it's 2 minutes on and then 8 minutes off for a 20% setting.
 
Hey everyone... I have wondered the same thing, mine always seems to be on.. I can see if someone knows... :)

Let me check...
 
I just did a test run on my RJ45, to find out the cycle time. I set at 5% (minimum allowed), and wait for stop time. It run exact 9 minutes then stop, so it's cycle time is 180 minutes which look like the setting for Hayward cell ?
 
Sounds like it, yeh. Hey, thanks for timing it to help us all learn!

But let's see what Casey finds out, just to be sure. Yours is one data point, so just in case it's unusual, we'll track it down if we can.
 
Not sure why they would pick 3 hour cycles instead of 1 hour. Not logical or intuitive. So a 4 hour run @30% would be equivalent to a 6 hour run @ 30%. Odd and something to keep in mind. I have my pump set for 4 hours and RJ-45 set @ 70%. Dropping to 60%, for example, will not really drop it by a full 10%. 2 hours @ 70% is approximately equivalent to 3 hours @ 70%.

Yes, I just recently installed my SWG so this is timely info and something to keep in mind as I go forward.
 
I think it's so they can share the run-time % coding with polarity reversal. If it was an old-school decision maker, they might have said "people run 8 hours a day anyway, it makes no difference" and on an 8 hour run time, the error is only around 10%. But with good pool care and 2 hour run time, a 50% setting delivers for 75% of the time. Worse yet, if you break up your pump run time into 3 runs of 90 minutes each, and set the SWG to 50%, it would be delivering FC 100% of the pump run time. This could be part of why some people see higher than calculated FC delivery from an SWG.
 

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Now I understood the logic behind the cycle setting on my RJ45. Physically the SWG always runs at 100 % output (max) , in my case I set 9 hours @50% swg running to replace FC lost; actually RJ runs only half of the time which runs
4,5 hours (@100%) and stop 4,5 hours (break time). Look at voltage & current, they are remain the same disregard % value output.
 
Yep, you got it!

At 3 hrs run time, and also 6, 9 or 12 hours, actual FC delivered will match the 50% setting. (provided of course we're right about the 180 minute cycle time for the RJ circupool chlorinators, which your test appears to bear out).
 
Sorry, nothing yet, it is a holiday weekend so.....

The lowest I can set mine (the SJ model) is 25% I do wonder if its the same algorithm for all of the cells.
 
Nice, I also got an answer back :) Now I see why I always see chlorine being made whenever I run mine... (SJ 45)

The CircuPool SJ model has full time power to the cell and it modulates the output by decreasing the low voltage current to the cell.

The CircuPool RJ model (since 2013) does it the other way; power to the cell cycles on and off to regulate the amount of chlorine production. The duty cycle is 200 minutes so for example, an output setting of 75% will deliver full current to the cell for 150 minutes, followed by a 50 minute idle period.
Both methods are effective, reliable ways to control SWG production and it’s important to understand the difference when doing any diagnostics.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the details locky and cowboy. My 4 hour pump run time with SWG @ 70% is actually yielding 75%. ((.7 x 200) + (1*40)/240.
SWG @ 60% (same pump run time) would yield 67%
SWG @ 50% (same pump run time) would yield 58%

In reality it is all relative until... Splitting pump run time to 2 hrs AM & 2 hrs PM would result in 100% over 4 hours regardless of the SWG setting at 60% or above. In this case, until the selected SWG on-time is less than 60% there would be no change. Fundamentally, you must pay attention to pump run-time/SWG on-time to understand how you can skew actual chlorine generation calculations and impact/limit the granularity of the selected % on-time of the SWG.
 
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