Higher output needed this year - is there an issue?

[sande005]

New RJ45+ last spring. I've been bad at logging my changes to the output settings, so no hard numbers to go by, but it seems I have to be running it at higher levels this year as opposed to last. Seem to remember needing only 15-30% for most of the season, and this year 30% is too low, and have currently bumped it to 45% to see where it goes.
Cell was taken off for indoor dry storage over the winter. I run lowish on CH (200, or less). Plates looked pristine when I re-installed it this spring. Salt is about the same as last year (3400 vs 3500), although unit reports 3800.
Water in the unit seems "hazy", but have not disassembled to see if it is deposits on the inside of the clear plastic. Plates seen through it still seem great. Should I have kept it wet over the winter, to prevent evaporation deposits on everything?
Pool has been slow to warm due to cool spring- finally made it to 76 yesterday. Hovered in the high 60's for a long time. Am I just seeing an artifact of low water temps? Do not intend to prematurely clean it - will wait for that more harsh step only if the setting has to go a lot higher....

 

[Bperry]

New RJ45+ last spring. I've been bad at logging my changes to the output settings, so no hard numbers to go by, but it seems I have to be running it at higher levels this year as opposed to last. Seem to remember needing only 15-30% for most of the season, and this year 30% is too low, and have currently bumped it to 45% to see where it goes.
Cell was taken off for indoor dry storage over the winter. I run lowish on CH (200, or less). Plates looked pristine when I re-installed it this spring. Salt is about the same as last year (3400 vs 3500), although unit reports 3800.
Water in the unit seems "hazy", but have not disassembled to see if it is deposits on the inside of the clear plastic. Plates seen through it still seem great. Should I have kept it wet over the winter, to prevent evaporation deposits on everything?
Pool has been slow to warm due to cool spring- finally made it to 76 yesterday. Hovered in the high 60's for a long time. Am I just seeing an artifact of low water temps? Do not intend to prematurely clean it - will wait for that more harsh step only if the setting has to go a lot higher....

Dont clean it based on how much power is required. It only needs to be cleaned if there are visible deposits on it.

Theres too many variables in weather, temperature, UV index, environment to try and match previous years settings.

One thing you can do is rule out brewing algae by doing an overnight chlorine loss test (OCLT) and seeing if your chlorine is getting eaten up by something.

 

[PoolStored]

How old are your salt reagents? They tend to degrade fairly fast. Mine were unexpired and results were 200 higher than the fresh reagents purchased this year. Your salt may be lower than you think if you have old reagents.

 

[sande005]

How old are your salt reagents? They tend to degrade fairly fast. Mine were unexpired and results were 200 higher than the fresh reagents purchased this year. Your salt may be lower than you think if you have old reagents.

Delivered in May! Hated to throw out last years, but...

Good point about the OCLT. No visible growth at all, water crystal clear, but I was gone for a week, and my wife reported lots of storms moving through...so what I thought was just lots and lots of tree debris, worms and dirt when I vac'd yesterday may have been hiding dead algae also. Either of which would explain the settings needed to keep the FC up. I like to run at the top of the recommended range, and have not seen it dip below, but seems harder to get to the high point.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Sande,

For me, every time I think the cell is not making that amount of chlorine I think it should be making, it has always been just because my CYA is lower than I thought..

I don't test my CYA very often, and the cell "not making enough chlorine" is my key to test it..

Just going from say 70 down to 60 is enough for me to notice the difference.

Thanks,

Jim R.