IC-20 low flow error

[DrivenPT]

Came home from work today to a red light and low flow error on my pentair IC-20 salt cell. At first only the solid red low flow light was on but the salt level light was green.

I shut the system down and restarted, now I have no flow and it’s flashing a low salt error as well.

Just checked with the TF100 salt and my salt level is 3400 (IC-20 thinks it’s 2900).

Cleaned my filters 2 weeks ago but I have no idea how to check the salt cell or where to even start. Its only been in operation for about 4 months FWIW.

Thoughts?

 

[ajw22]

Clean your filter again.

Then do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test and check for algae.

What speed are you running your pump?

Increase your pump RPM.

 

[DrivenPT]

So I have been running my pump at 1000rpm until two days ago when I bumped it up to 1600rpm to help the skimmers with the leaves blown into the pool by the wind. I turned it back down to 1000rpm earlier today…maybe that’s it?

Not relishing the idea of cleaning the filters again but I’ll do it if needed.

I did an OCLT on Saturday night and it passed. Have been checking FC nightly since and have been at 6.0 each time without adding any bleach since Sunday.

 

[ajw22]

1,000 RPM is too low. Up the RPM until the flow light is green then add 200 RPM.

 

[DrivenPT]

That seems to fix it.

for some reason my system wants to default to 1000rpm/30gpm. If I toggle from RPM to GPM in the app it automatically goes back to the default.

Is there a way to create a new default through the app or do I need to do it on the panel?

Also, are GPM and RPM interchangeable or is there a reason to raise one relative to the other?

 

[ajw22]

What panel is the pump connected to?

It works best not to mix RPM and GPM settings. Make everything RPM.

 

[DrivenPT]

It’s connected to a pentair easy touch control panel that gives both RPM and GPM settings just like within the app. Looks like the default was set to 1000rpm and 30gpm.

Any reason why rpm is the preferred metric? I would think that as RPM’s go up flow would go up as well? I’ll try to read up on this as well, just curious.

 

[ajw22]

Any reason why rpm is the preferred metric? I would think that as RPM’s go up flow would go up as well? I’ll try to read up on this as well, just curious.

GPM hides problems.

With GPM if your filter is getting clogged or your skimmer has a problem you are telling your pump to ignore it and work harder to deliver the GPM.

With RPM if your pool performance deteriorates the pump will not try and compensate and you should should see it to take action.

If you are the Ostrich type who closes their eyes to not see problems then use GPM.

 

[DrivenPT]

No I definitely want to see the problems and learn how to work with what I have!

My ScreenLogic app shows GPM by default so I assumed they were the same but after reading a few threads here I can see it’s more complicated than that. I’ll play around with the settings tonight and find out what my minimum flow rate is for the SWG and add 200. Thanks!