Hi, my name's Mark. I've been a member since 2014 and have posted a few times, but have never started a thread before. I've been maintaining my salt pool for about seven years, and am pretty knowledgeable about everything related to it. I'm always watching eBay for used IC-40s that either work or can be repaired (I know, it's very rare that you can repair one).
I purchased an IC40 on eBay recently that was being sold for "parts or repair". The seller said that he had put a new flow switch in it (turns out it was a Compool aftermarket one) but it still showed "Very Low Salt" after booting up. I got it (including shipping) for the cost of the new flow switch, so it was a no-brainer.
Here's the issue:
I installed a new Pentair flow switch in the non-working IC40, just in case the "new" Compool one that came with the unit was bad. I still get the Low Salt reading light on the cell itself, and my handheld controller reads 1,050 ppm from the cell. With the Compool flow switch still installed, it showed 1,050 ppm salt, as well. I'm thinking that 1,050 ppm could be the default reading if the cell is unable to calculate the true salt level. If it's zero, please let me know.
When I have my"working" IC40 installed, it shows a salt level of 2,850 ppm and my Oakton electronic Salt Tester reads about the same. I know 2,850 is a bit low, but my good IC40 is producing chlorine at that salt level (water temperature is about 65 F).
I've read as much as I could find on TFP about how the Intellichlor calculates salt levels using a combination of temperature and conductivity.
Having tried two different (new) flow switches, I can assume that the temperature reading coming from the flow switch is not at fault.
So, that leaves an internal problem with the unit being unable to calculate salt levels.
So, finally, my question:
Would there possibly be a way (maybe by splicing a resistor into the temperature circuit between the flow switch and the cell) to trick the cell into thinking the water is a much higher temperature and therefore allowing the salt level calculation to take place?
I only ask this because it's reading 1,050 ppm salt, as opposed to zero ppm, and increased temperature calculates to higher salt levels.
If not, what might be the fault inside the cell to cause its inability to calculate salt levels? I know these cells are not repairable.
If so, any idea on what size resistor to try? If higher resistance doesn't equate to higher temperature, let me know. That's another assumption I've made.
P.S.: Jim Rahbe, if you're reading this, I probably live a couple of miles from you, as I'm on the border of Bedford and Colleyville (Texas).
I purchased an IC40 on eBay recently that was being sold for "parts or repair". The seller said that he had put a new flow switch in it (turns out it was a Compool aftermarket one) but it still showed "Very Low Salt" after booting up. I got it (including shipping) for the cost of the new flow switch, so it was a no-brainer.
Here's the issue:
I installed a new Pentair flow switch in the non-working IC40, just in case the "new" Compool one that came with the unit was bad. I still get the Low Salt reading light on the cell itself, and my handheld controller reads 1,050 ppm from the cell. With the Compool flow switch still installed, it showed 1,050 ppm salt, as well. I'm thinking that 1,050 ppm could be the default reading if the cell is unable to calculate the true salt level. If it's zero, please let me know.
When I have my"working" IC40 installed, it shows a salt level of 2,850 ppm and my Oakton electronic Salt Tester reads about the same. I know 2,850 is a bit low, but my good IC40 is producing chlorine at that salt level (water temperature is about 65 F).
I've read as much as I could find on TFP about how the Intellichlor calculates salt levels using a combination of temperature and conductivity.
Having tried two different (new) flow switches, I can assume that the temperature reading coming from the flow switch is not at fault.
So, that leaves an internal problem with the unit being unable to calculate salt levels.
So, finally, my question:
Would there possibly be a way (maybe by splicing a resistor into the temperature circuit between the flow switch and the cell) to trick the cell into thinking the water is a much higher temperature and therefore allowing the salt level calculation to take place?
I only ask this because it's reading 1,050 ppm salt, as opposed to zero ppm, and increased temperature calculates to higher salt levels.
If not, what might be the fault inside the cell to cause its inability to calculate salt levels? I know these cells are not repairable.
If so, any idea on what size resistor to try? If higher resistance doesn't equate to higher temperature, let me know. That's another assumption I've made.
P.S.: Jim Rahbe, if you're reading this, I probably live a couple of miles from you, as I'm on the border of Bedford and Colleyville (Texas).
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