Hayward Aquarite S3 Reduced Chlorine Output

[Maward]

This site has been so helpful I thought I would ask here first. Filled my pool in February, added salt/started SWG 30-days later. Initially only had to keep the output at 20-30% to keep chlorine residual around 4-6. Once temps got hotter and we had more swimmers, had to bump up output. But now even at 90% output chlorine drops a little every day. Usually gains 1-2 ppm at night and loses 3-4 during the day. Thought maybe I had an invisible algae bloom, but I passed the OCLT (lost 0.5 ppm in 9 hours). Salt reading on display has stayed very consistent over the last 3 months, around 3400-3500. Saw some scaling on the cell, so I cleaned it per Hayward's recommendations but it didn't seem to change the chlorine output. I still only gain 1-2 ppm at night even though Pool Math says I should be gaining 4-5ppm at night with the 40,000-gallon Turbocell (1.47 lbs max chlorine output). If it helps, at 90% output diagnostic screen is showing 5.6 amps and 22.2 volts. I live in FL and don't have a cage, so pool gets full sun all day and water temp is 90. Water is crystal clear and never had any evidence of algae. Is it normal to have to supplement with bleach 2x per week when the cell should be able to add 10+ ppm of chlorine every day?

Test results using Taylor K-2006
FC - 8
CC - 0
pH - 7.4
TA - 80
CH - 430
CYA - 60
Salt - 3100

 

[Mdragger88]

That doesn’t seem right - so we can help you troubleshoot,
This is the basic information we need to know in diagnosing a problem:

• Report all diagnostic readings when you..
  • Move the switch from auto to off and check all of the readings.
  • Move the switch back to auto and recheck the readings.
  • Move the switch to off for a minute and then back to auto and recheck the readings.
• What are the first seven characters of the cell and box serial numbers?
• What is the actual salinity and how are you measuring it?

 

[Newdude]

The cell appears to be having issues but your CYA is also very low for a non caged Tampa pool. Many by you need 80 and some even go to 90.

I'd get a second OCLT pass making sure the cell was off, just in case the first one was a fluke.

Then I'd raise the CYA to add some protection while we figure the rest out.

 

[Mdragger88]

Do you have a local place that can test the cell? Kinda sounds like you’re making 1/2 the fc you’re supposed to -
Perhaps when the cell reverses polarity and maybe that 1/2 is dead?
Having the unit tested would prove or disprove this hypothesis
Post in thread 'Hayward Aquarite SWCG cycle times'
Hayward Aquarite SWCG cycle times

 

[Maward]

That doesn’t seem right - so we can help you troubleshoot,
This is the basic information we need to know in diagnosing a problem:

• Report all diagnostic readings when you..
  • Move the switch from auto to off and check all of the readings.
  • Move the switch back to auto and recheck the readings.
  • Move the switch to off for a minute and then back to auto and recheck the readings.
• What are the first seven characters of the cell and box serial numbers?
• What is the actual salinity and how are you measuring it?

Photos below are: Reading, reading immediately after turning off, reading immediately after turning back on, reading after about 5 minutes once it started making chlorine again. The actual salinity is 3100 measured with the Taylor kit.

 

[Maward]

The cell appears to be having issues but your CYA is also very low for a non caged Tampa pool. Many by you need 80 and some even go to 90.

I'd get a second OCLT pass making sure the cell was off, just in case the first one was a fluke.

Then I'd raise the CYA to add some protection while we figure the rest out.

I was targeting a CYA of 70 but recent rains have diluted it a little bit.

 

[Mdragger88]

All these are on the same polarity.
Can you switch to pol 1?

 

[Maward]

All these are on the same polarity.
Can you switch to pol 1?

Pol 1 looks similar.

 

[Mdragger88]

I am perplexed
Are you certain of your pool volume?
Certain its a t15 cell?
& certain its set to t15?
Just trying to cover all the bases.

 

[ajw22]

What is your daily pump schedule?

What is your pump RPM schedule?

 

[Maward]

What is your daily pump schedule?

What is your pump RPM schedule?

Pump runs 24 hours per day. 3pm to 8am at 1200 RPM. Flow meter shows that is ~40gpm. Pump runs from 8am-3pm at 1800 RPM to help with skimming. Flow meter shows that is ~60gpm.

 

[Maward]

As an update, I must have had something eating my chlorine. I passed 2 OCLT so I thought it wasn't something organic. However, we had a poop-incident from my 3-year-old and I ran the chlorine up to SLAM levels over night and cleaned my filter. For the last 3 days my SWG has been maintaining good levels of chlorine at 50% output whereas before it couldn't maintain it at 90%.