Help with New Chlorine Generator

Jump to latest Follow Reply
T

Turniptruck

Active member
Aug 17, 2023
44
Macungie, PA
Pool Size
28000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
Greetings. I have a 24x40 inground vinyl liner pool. I purchased it from Pool Warehouse and installed it myself. Therefore I don't have a "Pool Guy" to ask for help. All is well and the water is crystal clear. The only problem I am having is with the chlorine generator. It's an Excel brand system, rated for 40K gallons. My pool holds 28K. The output of the Excel system is set for 95%. It's all about 2 months old.

The chlorine generator does not seem to add any free chlorine to the pool. As I test, I started with an FC of 2 using cal hypo shock. I ran the pump and chlorine generator for 48 hours with a solar cover over the pool the entire time. After the 48 hour period, FC was darn near zero.

Water balance is:

pH: 7.6
TA: 120
CyA: 60
Salt: 3400
Calcium: 220

The results above were made from both a Taylor test kit and strips and the results of the two methods were very close. Phosphates are at 70 as per a water test from a reputable local pool store.
All readings on the chlorine generator are normal. Tech support from Excel verified them for me. As an electronic engineer, I believe that the readings are accurate and it seems to me the device is indicating normal operation.
Can anyone suggest a reason why a chlorine generator with normal indications of output voltage and current would produce no free chlorine?

Thank you!
 
Have you don’t an overnight loss test to rule out the chlorine being consumed? A SWG can’t overcome algae due to the chlorine trickling in all day versus all at once.

Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

Turn off the SWG, manually add chlorine anfree sunset and wait 30 min then start your test.
 
Turniptruck said:
Greetings. I have a 24x40 inground vinyl liner pool. I purchased it from Pool Warehouse and installed it myself. Therefore I don't have a "Pool Guy" to ask for help. All is well and the water is crystal clear. The only problem I am having is with the chlorine generator. It's an Excel brand system, rated for 40K gallons. My pool holds 28K. The output of the Excel system is set for 95%. It's all about 2 months old.

The chlorine generator does not seem to add any free chlorine to the pool. As I test, I started with an FC of 2 using cal hypo shock. I ran the pump and chlorine generator for 48 hours with a solar cover over the pool the entire time. After the 48 hour period, FC was darn near zero.

Water balance is:

pH: 7.6
TA: 120
CyA: 60
Salt: 3400
Calcium: 220

The results above were made from both a Taylor test kit and strips and the results of the two methods were very close. Phosphates are at 70 as per a water test from a reputable local pool store.
All readings on the chlorine generator are normal. Tech support from Excel verified them for me. As an electronic engineer, I believe that the readings are accurate and it seems to me the device is indicating normal operation.
Can anyone suggest a reason why a chlorine generator with normal indications of output voltage and current would produce no free chlorine?

Thank you!
Click to expand...
If you have zero chlorine, you likely have an algae bloom starting. Get some liquid chlorine in there ASAP.
 
Chuckiechan said:
When the generator is on as in making chlorine, take a water sample at the outlet and test it.
Click to expand...
I did that by pool noodling water from a return into a bucket. Al least with test strips, I saw no difference in free chlorine between the pool water and the water captured in the bucket. That is why I suspect the SWG.
 
It looks like my problem was quite simple. See the attached pic.

The design of my salt cell has its plates in a hump well above the centerline of the water flow. I suspect that air was being trapped toward the top and not allowing water to be in full contact with the plates. I turned the unit upside down as pictured and it's now making the amount of chlorine that I would expect.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20230827_213527262.jpg
    PXL_20230827_213527262.jpg
    547.5 KB · Views: 8
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Newdude

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Turniptruck said:
It looks like my problem was quite simple. See the attached pic.

The design of my salt cell has its plates in a hump well above the centerline of the water flow. I suspect that air was being trapped toward at the top and not allowing water to be in full contact with the plates. I turned the unit upside down as pictured and it's now making the amount of chlorine that I would expect.
Click to expand...
I’m surprised that’s not in the user manual. The circupool models which look identical mention that orientation.
 
Bperry said:
I’m surprised that’s not in the user manual. The circupool models which look identical mention that orientation.
Click to expand...
The user manual is an Asian-written English document. The information provided is very general.

I had never heard of Excel Pool Products. I bought the whole pool kit from Pool Warehouse and this is what they suggested. It's half the price of the name brands. Now that it's working, I have no complaints.
 
Turniptruck said:
Sure enough! I downloaded the manual for a Circupool as you mentioned. Above is the directive you referenced. I'm quite certain that the Circupool is the same product as my Excel.
Click to expand...
The cell shape is kinda generic. Supposedly you can swap between a Hayward as well, but I never checked that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply