So I went out to check my levels and darn near zero reading on chlorine. Though maybe my reagent was bad so I took a sample to the pool store and same result. I cleaned my SWG a couple weeks ago and it looked fine. Salt level is 3300 and one of my returns spits out little bubbles when the SWG is "on" (tested this theory by turning it off and the bubbles stop). Don't the bubbles mean it's working? Any other way to test it? Thanks!!
IC-40 Dead???
- Thread starter Gnarbrah
- Start date
G,
What lights are on the cell???
At 50% output the 'Cell' light should be on for about 2.5 minute and then off for about 2.5 minutes.. If that works as it should, then most likely your cell is working like it should.
The next thing to do is an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test.. OCLT..
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
Thanks,
Jim R.
What lights are on the cell???
At 50% output the 'Cell' light should be on for about 2.5 minute and then off for about 2.5 minutes.. If that works as it should, then most likely your cell is working like it should.
The next thing to do is an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test.. OCLT..
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
Thanks,
Jim R.
All the lights are green - I've never noticed the cell light being off. I'll go babysit it for a while and see if it cycles on/off. If it's always on is that a bad sign?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
At your 80% setting the cell light will be on for 4 minutes and off for 1 minute. Odds are you never caught to 1 minute it is off.
Ok - I just turned off the SWG and sure enough the "cell" light and the "sanitizer output" lights turned off. Turned it back on and they all came back on.
Am I looking at the overnight chlorine loss test? Pool store guy (I know I know...) said to crack open the return side union and get a water sample there. Make sense in theory but sounds messy...
Am I looking at the overnight chlorine loss test? Pool store guy (I know I know...) said to crack open the return side union and get a water sample there. Make sense in theory but sounds messy...
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Waste of time. When the Pool Guy tells you your cell is working or sells you a new cell what will you do?
Do the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
You likely have algae consuming the chlorine being generated.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,672
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
- May 27, 2021
- 1,278
- Pool Size
- 17000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Algae suspect #1….perform the OLCT….if your CYA is low enough or not present, it’s possible (although remote) UV and normal sanitization is degrading the chlorine faster than the cell can keep up…it shouldn’t happen in a 16k gallon pool with an IC40 this time of year at 80% production……
Thanks all - I’m in central FL and it’s been hovering around 90° and ZERO rain for a couple weeks. Pool temp is 84° (couple more degrees and it’s go time!) so maybe UV is a factor? Doing the sock method as we speak to get my CYA up. Will do the overnight test tomorrow and see what that tells me. Did I mention how great this site is??? Thank you all!
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,872
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Take the sock out and put it in a bucket, you can use it later. Do the OCLT. If you fail OCLT, SLAM will be MUCH easier with CYA of 30, than any CYA higher.
Rule out algae before raising CYA, if CYA is at least 30.
G,
When I start seeing my FC demand increase, it is almost always because my CYA is a little low...
If you allowed your CYA to get really low, then your FC would not last long..
I'd still do the OCLT just to make sure, but if you pass the OCLT, then my next guess would be a very low CYA.
Thanks,
Jim R.
When I start seeing my FC demand increase, it is almost always because my CYA is a little low...
If you allowed your CYA to get really low, then your FC would not last long..
I'd still do the OCLT just to make sure, but if you pass the OCLT, then my next guess would be a very low CYA.
Thanks,
Jim R.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,872
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
@Jimrahbe is spot on.
Order of likely historical operations:
- You cell was set up for the cya level that you had.
- CYA degraded (which it does about 5-10 per month), got low and cell could not keep up with the higher FC demand due to lower CYA and increasing spring UV.
- With or without algae, your cell cannot keep up.
Order of operations from here:
- Do not add CYA. That will only make a SLAM more difficult, longer and more expensive. Remove the sock, store for Post OCLT/SLAM, it will still be good.
- Restore proper FC for your current CYA with liquid chlorine. Link-->FC/CYA Levels
- Perform the OCLT to determine if you have algae. Link-->Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
- You fail, you SLAM. Link-->SLAM Process
- You pass, THEN raise your CYA, and adjust cell output/pump runtime.
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