Just ordered the RJ 45

[MA5177]

Bought this house last year, first day in I had to replace the pool pump as we had a big storm and the old single stage wasn’t sealed and shorted out.

Anyways it was old and it had a sand filter so $2700 later I have a cartridge filter and a Pentair VS pump.

When he installed it ( I did t have the time) I had him add plumbing for a SWG , I am draining and refilling the pool right now because of mega high calcium and CYA. Not sure of the gallons of the pool yet I’m thinking about 15k we will see after it fills and I check the water meter.

Did I buy too big of a unit? Here in Phoenix it gets hot so I figured bigger is better no?

 

[mknauss]

Did I buy too big of a unit? Here in Phoenix it gets hot so I figured bigger is better no?

Perfect size. How are you going to control power to it? Do you have an existing timer from the old pump?

 

[DanF]

I bought the same unit for my 13K gallon pool in October of 2020, and love it so far. Perfect size like Marty said; I've never had to run it more than 6 hours/day at 50%. You will need to determine how to power it on/off like Marty said also.

 

[Jimrahbe]

M,

When it comes to Salt cells, VS pumps, and Filters, there is no such thing as too big.

Without an automation system you need to ensure that your cell can't come on without the pump running. The cell needs a Primary and Secondary safety device. The Secondary device is the flow switch, the Primary device needs to remove the power from the cell when the pump is not on.

The easiest thing to do is run the pump 24/7 at a low RPM. That is what I do as I like making a little chlorine all the time and skimming all the time. The cost to do this is less than $20 bucks a month. Another option is to use a time clock to control the power to the salt system that is in sync with the pump run time.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[MA5177]

Perfect size. How are you going to control power to it? Do you have an existing timer from the old pump?

I installed the same unit for my son a few months ago , after a major fail with the SJ. They actually gave us the RJ 45 for the same price we paid for a smaller SJ 35 I think. His was $800 mine was $1350

As far as the timer? No you just direct wire these the flow switch will turn the cell on and off , this is how tech support told me to do it as I have the nice Pentair VS pump

 

[MA5177]

I bought the same unit for my 13K gallon pool in October of 2020, and love it so far. Perfect size like Marty said; I've never had to run it more than 6 hours/day at 50%. You will need to determine how to power it on/off like Marty said also.

I think my pool will be closer to 13k when it’s done filling

 

[MA5177]

M,

When it comes to Salt cells, VS pumps, and Filters, there is no such thing as too big.

Without an automation system you need to ensure that your cell can't come on without the pump running. The cell needs a Primary and Secondary safety device. The Secondary device is the flow switch, the Primary device needs to remove the power from the cell when the pump is not on.

The easiest thing to do is run the pump 24/7 at a low RPM. That is what I do as I like making a little chlorine all the time and skimming all the time. The cost to do this is less than $20 bucks a month. Another option is to use a time clock to control the power to the salt system that is in sync with the pump run time.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Circupool told me to wire it direct with the VS pump , also here in AZ our power company SRP has hourly schedules for cost, so pool companies here set the VS up to run from 8pm to 8 am at different RPM

 

[mknauss]

As far as the timer? No you just direct wire these the flow switch will turn the cell on and off , this is how tech support told me to do it as I have the nice Pentair VS pump

We highly recommend you reconsider this. Jim laid it out above. The flow switch is a secondary safety device. Do not rely on it. Remove the power from the SWCG when the pump is off. The cells can explode. It does not happen often, but it does happen.

 

[MA5177]

I bought the same unit for my 13K gallon pool in October of 2020, and love it so far. Perfect size like Marty said; I've never had to run it more than 6 hours/day at 50%. You will need to determine how to power it on/off like Marty said also.

Good to know especially your run times

 

[MA5177]

We highly recommend you reconsider this. Jim laid it out above. The flow switch is a secondary safety device. Do not rely on it. Remove the power from the SWCG when the pump is off. The cells can explode. It does not happen often, but it does happen.

I have an old mechanical timer, but it just stays on all the time.

I’m sure I can rewire that to work but it will be a pain, we installed my sons and it’s been working fine for 6 months plus this is how the recommended I do it. I will call them again to reassure it’s under warranty

 

[mknauss]

Explosion near the SWG

We were watching TV and heard a major explosion after exploring in the backyard I went into my pool equipment should and found about a 16 in PVC pipe shredded 8in on one side 8in on the other side of where my SWG Is located. I have no Idea what to think. It appears the SWG somehow was not...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Texas Splash]

My pump runs 24/7 (low) so my RJ-45 is happy unless power goes out.

 

[Newdude]

+1. Mine also ran 24/7 and was wired to the pump breaker. If the pump lost power, so did the SWG. However, my $#!+ SVRS would disable the pump at times leaving the SWG on. In *those* rare times, the flow switch was my failsafe. To rely on it around the clock was one glitch from a problem.

It's not an everyday occurrence, but a very real one nonetheless. Please listen to all those above and install it in a way that the flow switch is a secondary protection.

 

[MA5177]

Explosion near the SWG

We were watching TV and heard a major explosion after exploring in the backyard I went into my pool equipment should and found about a 16 in PVC pipe shredded 8in on one side 8in on the other side of where my SWG Is located. I have no Idea what to think. It appears the SWG somehow was not...

www.troublefreepool.com

I just got off the phone with circupool, he said on the older models they recommended using a timer but with the new RJ you absolutely do not need a timer. The new one isn’t a shut off switch, it’s a true flow switch that makes it not work unless it has flow.

This is the recommendation from the manufacturer and the way it’s told to install in the manual so I see no reason to do it any other way

 

[mknauss]

Your call. Good luck.

 

[MA5177]

Explosion near the SWG

We were watching TV and heard a major explosion after exploring in the backyard I went into my pool equipment should and found about a 16 in PVC pipe shredded 8in on one side 8in on the other side of where my SWG Is located. I have no Idea what to think. It appears the SWG somehow was not...

www.troublefreepool.com

I just got off the phone with circupool, he said on the older models they recommended using a timer but with the new RJ you absolutely do not need a timer. The new one isn’t a shut off switch, it’s a true flow switch that makes it not work unless it has flow.

This is the recommendation from the manufacturer and the way it’s told to install in the manual so I see no reason to do it any

Your call. Good luck.

I see you have a Pentair not a circupool, maybe yours needs a timer ? Manufacturer recommendation >internet recommendation thanks again

 

[Newdude]

The new one isn’t a shut off switch, it’s a true flow switch that makes it not work unless it has flow.

So it uses a spring to close the switch. It's entirely true that these style ones are beefier and less prone to failure. It's also true that all springs fail given enough time, especially submerged springs.

They say that knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, but wisdom is knowing not to use it in fruit salad. Let the wisdom of those above give you extra protection. A timer is cheap, it's not like they are recommending you add a sun shelf.

 

[DanF]

They say that knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, but wisdom is knowing not to use it in fruit salad.

Never heard that before. That's beautiful!
@MA5177 Search for my thread on wiring mine up. Ended up with an inexpensive outdoor timer that has worked flawlessly. Only need to reconfigure the RJ45 to run off 120V instead of 240V (easy) and ensure that your pump's clock stays synched with your timer's. I compare the 2 once a montth and adjust if necessary.

 

[MA5177]

Never heard that before. That's beautiful!
@MA5177 Search for my thread on wiring mine up. Ended up with an inexpensive outdoor timer that has worked flawlessly. Only need to reconfigure the RJ45 to run off 120V instead of 240V (easy) and ensure that your pump's clock stays synched with your timer's. I compare the 2 once a montth and adjust if necessary.

My existing timer is 240 I would just use that, but will have to deal with power outages and I’m trying to make this as trouble free as possible, I appreciate all the advice but I’m going to listen to the manufacturer and direct wire it.

 

[Newdude]