Confirming a dead salt cell

steveg_nh

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LifeTime Supporter
Oct 7, 2013
839
Southern NH
Pretty sure I have a dead cell, but want to confirm a few things, if you all don't mind checking things out. First off, the Hayward T-CELL-15 is in it's 9th season. You read that right, 9. If it is dead, it owes me noting. But this season, it has been reading lower salt levels, and gradually fading down. I've noticed a bit more a struggle keeping the pool as clear as usual, and more brushing being required to keep things agitated. Chlorine readings with the DPD drop test weren't noticably off though, until recently. Actual salt reading with the reagent test kit is a wee high at 3800 (because I broke the cardinal rule of adding salt based on the salt cell reading on the controller). The salt cell is now saying "check system, very low salt." I did clean it with muriatic acid two weeks ago too, and plates were already very clean. I've never got much build up on them over the years.

Readings when I fire it up from diagnostics are in the screen shot, but they are:

Voltage: +30.85V
Amps: +0.19A
Temp: 75
Salt Level: 0000

Salt reading in default menu of this aqualogic system was just showing 1300, now with another restart, showing 700ppm.

The numbers on the cell are 3E13233-200095.

Two years ago the plug on the salt cell did look like it got hot at one point. A bit brown, but no issues since then an the control board connector was/is fine.

Anyway, cell is junk right? Now to decide with less than 2 months left in the season if I replace it now, or just manually treat with bleach and buy the cell over the winter and start the season fresh. I do have the inline dummy cell I can put in the plumbing over the winter.

Thank you!
 

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That's likely my plan, liquid chlorine/bleach. What is this cell sale you speak of? ;)
What does chlorine cost in your area? Around here it's $4.98 per gallon of 10% from Home Depot and $5.49 from Lowe's. Bleach is even more expensive, even at Costco.

At those prices I burn through $4 - $5 a day during swim season and about half that in the off season, depending on chlorine demand. An IC60 cell that died the day after it fell out of warranty would still only cost $1.64 per day. Looks like the Hayward T-CELL-15 is priced similarly.
 
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The cell is likely toast. As u said, it was a really good run. The logic for waiting until closer to the beginning of next season is not only for possibly getting a good deal but also so that part of your warranty isn’t eaten up by the upcoming winter period of non use. This is assuming u will go with another Hayward oem cell.
 
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