I'm not sure if my SWG is generating chlorine or not (easy question)

[SuperR0ck]

I move to a house with salt pool last year. My first experience with chlorine generators.

I ALWAYS had a thick white cloud while generating chlorine AND a prime issue (filter lid cracked putting air into the system).
I fixed the lid crack this year, now when my generator is running I no longer see the thick white cloud.

Is the water return transparent while generating chlorine?

I don't know if is generating chlorine or not because I no longer see the white cloud water (I know, it's stupid).

Cell cleaned and tested by 3rd party company.
Main board (Hayward Swim Plus) looks fine, with no LED warnings/issues.

This photo is not my pool, but the symptom is the same.
A post in reddit claims the that issue was caused by air into the chlorine generator.

https://www.reddit.com/r/pools/comments/v2h053

I left a message there too.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

As a byproduct of the electrolysis process, the SWG will create hydrogen gas bubbles. When the SWG is generating chlorine, you should see tiny champagne size bubbles entering the pool through the return jet(s).

Air leaks in the system can mimic these tiny bubbles. So, if you see these bubbles, turn off the SWG to make sure it is the source of the bubbles.

 

[drsipe]

If you are using the SWG as your only method of adding chlorine to the pool, your pool is sparkly clean, and you regularly perform water testing, you would know if the SWG was not generating, your chlorine level would decline at a rate of 3-5ppm per day.

To test the amount of chlorine produced, you would need two overnight tests. First pass an overnight chlorine loss test to eliminate the possibility of biologicals in the pool, the night after passing the over night chlorine loss test, you can perform a chlorine production test.

Chlorine production test:
1. Night one, pass an ONLT
2. Night two, test chlorine level after sundown and record results
3. Run pump/circulation with the SWG at 100%
4. Before sun up test chlorine level and record
5. Subrtact results in step 2 from results in step 4, this is the ppm of additions from the SWG (you could add the chlorine lost on a PASSED ONLT)

You can use this result to check in "Pool Math" "Effects of Adding" to see if your SWG is performing close to expected levels (understand that manufacturers test their equipment and publish those results under the perfect conditions, and real world is rarely ever going to be as good as perfect conditions).

 

[SuperR0ck]

As a byproduct of the electrolysis process, the SWG will create hydrogen gas bubbles. When the SWG is generating chlorine, you should see tiny champagne size bubbles entering the pool through the return jet(s).

Air leaks in the system can mimic these tiny bubbles. So, if you see these bubbles, turn off the SWG to make sure it is the source of the bubbles.

But that is the point. I see nothing.

 

[Brian PacNW]

drsipe gave a way for you to check if your chlorine generator is actually working. I don't own one, but the method makes sense to me.

 

[ChasPro]

My generator produces a very fine stream of bubbles, so faint that you have to be looking right at the stream from an angle to detect it. In contrast to a big cloud of Cl, it would seem like almost nothing coming out ... but it is working none the less. Turn the setting to Off, observe the return jet, then turn to Superchlorinate and look again after the generator clicks on. You should see a faint difference.

Then, also do the smart test mention above ... to be confident.

 

[ChasPro]

My generator produces a very fine stream of bubbles, so faint that you have to be looking right at the stream from an angle to detect it. In contrast to a big cloud of Cl, it would seem like almost nothing coming out ... but it is working none the less. Turn the setting to Off, observe the return jet, then turn to Superchlorinate and look again after the generator clicks on. You should see a faint difference.

Then, also do the smart test mention above ... to be confident.

Another thing that shows it is working is to turn it on (Super...) and then turn the pump power off (assuming you don't have a flow detector that cuts the generator off ... I have an aboveground pool so my AquaTrol RJ doesn't have a flow detector). With the generator running and no water flow, the cloud of Cl is quite visible.

 

[wireform]

Another way to check is put it on max whatever that may be for your unit then after running a minute or two grab a empty water bottle and catch the water right in front of the return jet then test that water to see if it lots higher.