DIY Saltwater Chlorine Generator

usangira

In The Industry
Jul 25, 2022
4
Dar es Salaam
Hi,
I am new in this forum and also a new pool owner.
I am thinking of doing a DIY for a chlorine generator.
My pool will have a volume of 380K liters.
I just wanted to get to learn from anyone who has done it successfully
Thanks
Innocent
 
That's about 100k gallons. A giant pool. Maybe you mean 38k? I'll assume that.

I'm not an expert, but have re-installed my own SWG to fix a problem that was there when we bought the house..

Picking a SWG for a ~10k gallon pool will be straightforward. Example: If you lose 3 ppm on a hot, sunny day, the SWG must make 10k gal * 8.34 lb/gal * 3 ppm/day / 1m = ~.25 lb/day of chlorine per day to keep up. It must do that during the time the pump runs. Say that's 8 hours, then capacity must be .25 lb * 24/8 = 0.75 lb over 24 hours, which is the way most SWG specs are stated. It's good to have at least a 2x margin, so look for one with about 1.5 lb/24 hours. That way you'll use its 50% setting, prolonging its life greatly. More is better. Adjust accordingly if 3 or 10k are not the right numbers.

Plumbing and wiring are usually pretty easy if you're handy. But study the manual to get it right. There can be requirements like a straight run of pipe on the input side, limits on location and orientation of sensors to keep them in water at all times, check valve between heater (if any) and the SWG, etc. The controls are pretty basic wiring, though it will be 120 or 240v, so be sure or get an electrician.

Read the manual, plan it, consider posting your plan here for experts to review, then execute. Unless there are space limitations that mean reorganizing to make room, the plumbing is an hour or two even if you've never done it before. Same for the electrical, but there I'd recommend this not be your first wiring project.

If you search TFP for "salt water generator install" there are many questions and discussions about SWG DIY for learning. I'd sum them as "If you already have an automation system, use the compatible SWG. Otherwise shop for good reviews on reliable service life at the capacity you need."
 
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Lots on the forum have done this, including myself a few months ago. With support of this forum, it is easy even if you have minimal experience with pvc.

But, what is available to you in Tanzania? I'd love to see a pic of your pool.
 
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