Hello, New to TFP and have a quick question about converting my pool from chlorine to salt

[Jer Bear]

Hello,

I am new here and really love what I see. I am really excited to be part of this group. I am an Electronics Engineer/Technician and work with high end simulators and amusement park equipment.

Sorry if this has been asked, which I am sure it has been. I had a hard time searching and finding a "quick guide" or something similar to converting my chlorine pool to salt. I was wondering if there is a handy document or post that covers ALL the steps in converting. I have a 18k +/- pool and was told to get a 40k SWG. I am looking at the HAYWARD unit. Shocked to see that it costs 2k! Wow. Just Wow. Anyways. After I install the cell, which i can do no problem, do I just pour bags of salt into the pool and let it run for a day? How much salt to we add? Is there anything else that we need to do?

Also, I ready that the pool pump needs to run 24/7? This is not ideal and would basically kill my electric bill. I redy that switching to a VS pump will greatly reducy my monthly electric bill and would require the pump to run less?

Again, Sorry if this was covered in prior posts, just was hoping to get a "ALL IN ONE" guide or post on this process.

Thanks and I am really looking forward to ditching our weekly pool service company that failed to vacuum my steps, leaving nasty stains on them.

 

[reggiehammond]

All chlorine pools already are "salt pools" in that they have measurable salt.

You need a K-1766 Taylor Salt test to understand your starting point, and then can use PoolMath to calculate any additional salt you need to add. Once the salt is added, it's recommended to not turn on the salt water chlorine generator (SWCG) for 24 hours to give the salt time to mix properly.

Other than that, you'll want to manage your CYA levels per FC/CYA Levels for a salt pool. The guarantee of FC production from a SWCG allows you to run lower FC levels, lengthening the life of the consumable SWCG cell plates.

A variable speed pump (VSP) is recommended for a SWCG but can typically pay for itself in the first year. Most of us run our pumps at lowest RPMs necessary to keep SWCG flow switch on, 24/7. My pump uses ~190 watts, barely a blip on the electrical bill. By running 24/7, I can make FC all day and night, skim the pool constantly, and filter constantly.

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Do you have automation? You aren't required to get a Hayward cell, but if you have automation, might be worth it. TFP recommends a cell at least 2x larger your pool volume.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Jer,

Having a saltwater pool does not 'require' you to run your pump 24/7..

Like almost anything there are several options..

The people that run 24/7, all have VS pumps, and find that they like making a little chlorine all the time, and skimming all the time. The electrical cost to do this with a 3 HP VS pump is less than $20 bucks a month.. When you run 24/7 you set your salt cell to run at a low output percentage.

When you have a single speed pump, the opposite is true.. You will want to run your pump for the shortest period of time you can, and will have to cell set to a high output percentage.

Running a saltwater pool is really a math problem.. It is not magic.. You have to run your pump/cell long enough to generate the amount of chlorine that your pool will use each day.. How long it takes, is based on the size of the cell, and why we always recommend that a cell be rated for at least 2 x the volume of the pool.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jer Bear]

All chlorine pools already are "salt pools" in that they have measurable salt.

You need a K-1766 Taylor Salt test to understand your starting point, and then can use PoolMath to calculate any additional salt you need to add. Once the salt is added, it's recommended to not turn on the salt water chlorine generator (SWCG) for 24 hours to give the salt time to mix properly.

Other than that, you'll want to manage your CYA levels per FC/CYA Levels for a salt pool. The guarantee of FC production from a SWCG allows you to run lower FC levels, lengthening the life of the consumable SWCG cell plates.

A variable speed pump (VSP) is recommended for a SWCG but can typically pay for itself in the first year. Most of us run our pumps at lowest RPMs necessary to keep SWCG flow switch on, 24/7. My pump uses ~190 watts, barely a blip on the electrical bill. By running 24/7, I can make FC all day and night, skim the pool constantly, and filter constantly.

Fill out your signature - Create Your Signature - Further Reading

Do you have automation? You aren't required to get a Hayward cell, but if you have automation, might be worth it. TFP recommends a cell at least 2x larger your pool volume.

Thanks for the update. What is automation? I might like the idea of that. Is it basically being able to control the pool by my phone?