Home Assistant Automation

[SirSwimAlot]

I would like to integrate my pool with home assistant. Ultimately, I'd like to get a Stenner pump to chlorinate and monitor with automated free chlorine and ph measurements.
I have seen a few options, but I question how accurate they are.

Anyone doing something like this? I saw a very interesting (yet very complex) project on Reddit using ESP32 devices that I really liked but wondering if there is anything off the shelf that doesn't suck.

 

[reggiehammond]

ORP for chlorine measurement is not possible when following TFP principles.
I'll tell you what really works - a salt water chlorine generator!

Most that go down the Stenner route end up with a SWCG, as the convenience and reliability is so great.

 

[SirSwimAlot]

ORP for chlorine measurement is not possible when following TFP principles.
I'll tell you what really works - a salt water chlorine generator!

Most that go down the Stenner route end up with a SWCG, as the convenience and reliability is so great.

I have thought about SWG a lot, but I'm afraid I just won't like it. Do any of the SWG setups allow you to remotely monitor them?

 

[reggiehammond]

I have thought about SWG a lot, but I'm afraid I just won't like it. Do any of the SWG setups allow you to remotely monitor them?

Yeah - some automation systems allow to see SWCG status, etc. But once you set-up a SWCG properly, they're fairly set-and-forget.
That's the real draw...

I would simply choose to not have a pool if I could not have a SWCG. It's frankly one of the best things I've ever purchased.

 

[SirSwimAlot]

Yeah - some automation systems allow to see SWCG status, etc. But once you set-up a SWCG properly, they're fairly set-and-forget.
That's the real draw...

I would simply choose to not have a pool if I could not have a SWCG. It's frankly one of the best things I've ever purchased.

What system are you using? Did you have a local company install it or do it yourself?
You don't have issues how it feels swimming?

 

[reggiehammond]

What system are you using? Did you have a local company install it or do it yourself?
You don't have issues how it feels swimming?

If you could tell it was a salt-water pool, it'd only be a net positive. The idea that salt water pools are "bad" is just a myth. If anything, the water feels softer. The amount of salt in a typical pool is not that different than a salt pool, as almost everything you add contains salt.

I use a Circupool RJ60+. Installed myself - it's very simple and easy to use.

 

[SirSwimAlot]

If you could tell it was a salt-water pool, it'd only be a net positive. The idea that salt water pools are "bad" is just a myth. If anything, the water feels softer. The amount of salt in a typical pool is not that different than a salt pool, as almost everything you add contains salt.

I use a Circupool RJ60+. Installed myself - it's very simple and easy to use.

why do you have the 60 (60,000 gallon) one with a 30K pool? I believe my pool is around 39K, would the 60 offer any benefit over the 45 that handles 45K?
With this setup, how often do you need to add liquid chlorine?
How often do you need to add physical salt?

What do you think about CircuPool CORE55?

 

[ajw22]

SWG How It Works - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

We recommend that your SWG capacity be at least 2X your pool volume. Published SWG capacity is based on the pump and SWG running 24/7 at 100%, which you may not want to do. It is best to have excess chlorine generation capacity.

Salt - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Salt is lost by draining, backwashing a filter, or splash out of water. How often you add salt depends on your pool setup and usage.

 

[SJPoe]

With this setup, how often do you need to add liquid chlorine?
How often do you need to add physical salt?

I have much the same setup as @reggiehammond - slightly smaller pool, vinyl not plaster, but same SWG, similar variable speed pump that I run 24x7.
I haven't added Liquid Chlorine this season other than the day I opened the pool after the winterizing. I use some in the hot tub, but that's all.
At most, I might have to push a button to increase or decrease FC production depending on demand - I check maybe 3 times a week now.
I added 4 bags of salt this year after opening - mostly because the pool was drained below the returns for winterizing, and refills with rainwater, diluting everything.
If you taste the water, you may be able to pick up on the Salt, but most people can't, and don't know unless I tell them.

When I first converted to Salt, there was over 1700ppm of salt in the pool due to FC breakdown already - my SWG is happy running at 2800ppm. Ocean levels are closer to 30,000ppm. I have never had anyone complain about feeling crusty or anything like you would sometimes after an ocean swim.

 

[reggiehammond]

why do you have the 60 (60,000 gallon) one with a 30K pool? I believe my pool is around 39K, would the 60 offer any benefit over the 45 that handles 45K?
With this setup, how often do you need to add liquid chlorine?
How often do you need to add physical salt?

What do you think about CircuPool CORE55?

As Allen mentioned - go for 2x your volume. This allows the SWCG to work less, and gives you more flexibility in how you run your pool.

I run my Variable Speed Pump (VSP) 24/7 at low RPMs (~150-200 watts) which costs about $20 a month in electrical costs. I run my SWCG 24/7 as well, but at a lower % (% controls how much time it's on, versus off.) This setup works really well.

I add salt generally once per year - usually about 2-3 bags in Spring. This is mostly dependent on how much spring rains caused dilution during overflow. Further, 1-2 times during swim season (late March-late September here) I'll add CYA based on same overflow, but also degradation.

For my pool, I never use liquid chlorine during swim season, once salt and CYA are in a good place to start swim season, the SWCG does the rest. I do add quite a bit of muriatic acid to control pH, but that's due to my well water being high in TA.

In a normal week, I will empty the skimmer baskets, robot basket and adjust pH. I don't think I spend 10 minutes on pool care when everything is working normally. It's the best.