Is a SWG switch worth it?

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mavrick6382 said:
For CircuPool in particular, any major differences between their models (CORE vs RJ PLUS vs EDGE vs Universal)?
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There are. The RJ-series have a separate module you mount on the wall for settings and such while some of the other models are an all-in-one self-contained product on the plumbing with the SWG itself. The features and adjustments can vary a little between the models. You can see my SWG install link in my signature. My RJ-45 supports our ~18K pool very well.

Discount Salt Pools has a nice comparison chart of reach model, but I can't pull up their website at the moment.
 
We also have lots of previous discussions like the one below as one example.

CircuPool RJ-30 PLUS vs CircuPool CORE-35, how to pick?

Hello! I have a 10,000gal pool in the Phoenix area that I am planning on installing a salt water chlorine generator in. I'm currently debating between the CircuPool CORE-35 Salt Chlorine Generator and the CircuPool RJ-30 PLUS Salt Chlorine Generator. My main considerations are ease of...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
mavrick6382 said:
I already have a Pentair filter and VS pump. Would these be advisable?

IC40 - Pentair Intellichlor Salt Chlorine Generator | 40,000 Gallon Complete System | IC40KIT
IntelliConnect - Pentair IntelliConnect Control and Monitoring System | EC-523317
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If you wish to have remote access, yes that will work. Be sure you have the VS pump that will communicate with the IntelliConnect. Not all Pentair VS pumps do.

If not, then a Circupool unit with a SmartPlug so it is not powered on when the pump is scheduled to be off line will work.
 
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mavrick6382 said:
I have the Pentair 011018 IntelliFlo Variable Speed High Performance Pool Pump, 3 Horsepower, 230 Volt, 1 Phase
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That will work with an IntelliConnect and the IntelliChlor IC40 just fine.
 
I bought a fixer-upper house down the street - It's been three years and I'm still fixing it! I've made plenty of mistakes along the way, but adding a SWCG to the pool has been the best decision yet! The only drawback is that it has made me lazy and I can forget checking water chemistry as often as I should. I used to be a liquid chlorine guy on my previous pools and daily checked my chemicals to keep things in balance. Now, every now and then something happens - like a lot of leaves unexpectedly blow into pool and slow the water flow and thus the amount of chlorine generated and the pool becomes cloudy - I often don't see the pool for several days at stretch. Again, I've become lazy and this shouldn't happen! But I just run the SWCG at 100% for a day and voila - the pool is beautifully blue again! This is also a great reason for employing a larger cell - fast chlorine generation when you need it - like when thunderstorms roll through - I turn it up! I purchased a 40K Blue Works unit (not loved on this site), but I have to say it has been trouble free and has saved me a ton of money - plus. it has eliminated the many trips required to purchase chlorine. I paid $715 back in March 2020.
 
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I have attached a picture of my current pump/filter plumbing setup. I have circled where I "think" the SW cell would need to be installed. If it's the correct location, it's definitely too tight for a horizontal installation.

CircuPool sells a vertical installation kit that might work well. Again, referencing the area I circled...the 3-way t-fitting could be turned so that the middle part is facing upwards, and the 90-degree elbow on the other side could be removed. That would allow the vertical kit to slide onto both of those straight pipes at the bottom, so long as the top elbows were spaced far enough apart. It would basically be a long upside down U, with the cell on the side closest to the filter.

Curious what everyone's thoughts are on installation design?A - image_67233793.JPG
 
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So that's the right spot. The best part about the 'vertical kit' is its really just a loop. It can be horizontal or on 45s or however it fits. You may need to make or at least add some of your own parts, but I'd go off the bottom of the vertical pipe. If it still didn't have the clearance you could angle it closer to the front T instead of the back 90 on the top.


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Any TFP'ers in the Phoenix, AZ area willing to help me with a SWG install? I am about 80% confident I can get the job done. But having never done it before, I worry that if I am not able to get it completed, I'll have an inoperable pool pump/filter until I can get things fixed. My plan would be as follows:

1. Purchase CircuPool CORE-35 (or RJ-45) from Discount Salt Pool
2. Drain pool (calcium hardness is currently 750-800 range) and restart chemicals,
3. Add salt and let dissolve for 48 hours
4. Replumb return manifold, install SWG, wire up power source (contractor said to tie it into old time clock)

My pool contractor quoted me $500 for the install and I'd like to be able to save that money and learn something in the process. Anyone willing to help? Thanks in advance!
 
mavrick6382 said:
Any TFP'ers in the Phoenix, AZ area willing to help me with a SWG install? I am about 80% confident I can get the job done. But having never done it before, I worry that if I am not able to get it completed, I'll have an inoperable pool pump/filter until I can get things fixed. My plan would be as follows:

1. Purchase CircuPool CORE-35 (or RJ-45) from Discount Salt Pool
2. Drain pool (calcium hardness is currently 750-800 range) and restart chemicals,
3. Add salt and let dissolve for 48 hours
4. Replumb return manifold, install SWG, wire up power source (contractor said to tie it into old time clock)

My pool contractor quoted me $500 for the install and I'd like to be able to save that money and learn something in the process. Anyone willing to help? Thanks in advance!
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I'd encourage you to just go for it. Dry fit all the PVC together to make sure you're happy. If you mess up, who cares, start over.
There's a number of install videos on YouTube that do a nice job.

I did my own - trust me, if I can do it, you can too. I'm a moron.
 
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reggiehammond said:
I'd encourage you to just go for it. Dry fit all the PVC together to make sure you're happy.
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I re-plumbed mine to fix the professional install, which had the SWG before the (very expensive) heater. Not great.

A tip is to dust pipe and sockets with baby powder when dry-fitting PVC joints. They're designed with a taper. When you push them together without glue, they can be very difficult to pull apart. But if you don't push them all the way, the fit can be wrong. Baby powder makes for much easier separation. Just blow it off before gluing.
 
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I'm going to give a go at the install myself. I'm not too worried about the re-plumb. I have a couple of ideas, and it'll be easy enough to dry fit the designs before committing and gluing it all up. My main questions are around the electrical.

The pool contractor I had asked to give me a quote was suggesting we wire the SWG Control Module to my old pump timer clock (pictured on the wall below); this has not been in use since I purchased my variable speed pump, which has its own timer. My pump is wired into that timer for power only.

Based on what I have read, the goal is to ensure that the SWG is tied into the pump so that it only runs when the pump runs. CircuPool provides the following diagram in the manual. It says I need to wire the control module into the pool timer as shown below (black to black, white to white, and ground). What is my option if that timer (pictured below on the wall) is not in use?

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mavrick6382 said:
Based on what I have read, the goal is to ensure that the SWG is tied into the pump so that it only runs when the pump runs
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Preferably it gets its own timer so that it operates with a 5 min buffer within the pump timer. You want it to start 5 mins later and stop 5 mins before the pump. This is to account for the two timers being a hair off over time.

You have the 2nd timer already, you might as well use it.
 

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