Looking for a replacement Circupool SI-45 cell.

[Propbndr]

My Circupool SI-45 cell is on its last legs. Has anyone dealt with Salt Pool Store - The Experts in Salt Water Chlorine Systems ? If so, what is your opinion of them?
They list replacement cells at a much lower cost than Discount Pools.

 

[Newdude]

They've come up from time to time. Make your own judgment call from these.

Google search results

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

How many years did you get out of your existing cell?

 

[Propbndr]

5 years. It is struggling to generate enough chlorine. I bought it from Discount Pools.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

It sounds like you got your money's worth out of the Circupool cell. I don't think I would consider an off-brand replacement. 5 years is a pretty good run!

 

[Propbndr]

I just saw the BBB rating on the Salt Pool Store. They have a “F” rating. Forget them.

 

[Newdude]

It is struggling to generate enough chlorine

Overnight Chlorine Loss Test with the cell off to prove organics aren't consuming what you produce. (Even with clear water)

Then run an overnight test to see what the cell produces.

If the cell produces with no UV loss overnight, we look at your CYA

If the cell doesn't produces overnight, we look at the cell/controller.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

You might also consider upgrading a 60k cell. You get 50% more chlorine production for under 20% more in price. You'll have to ensure that the 60k cell is compatible with your controller.

CircuPool® Si-60 Replacement Cell-Si60-RC

www.circupool.com

 

[Propbndr]

FC 12 (drifting down from slam last week for possible mustard algae)
CC 0
PH 7.6
Salt 3200
TA 80
CH 75
CYA 70

 

[Propbndr]

I had the control unit repaired last fall. Basically, they replaced everything but the led panel. Will do “ocl” then test as suggested.

 

[Propbndr]

Had an OCL of 2.0. No visible organics.
FC in 8.0
CC is 0.0.
Am going to run it again tonight to see if it was a fluke. I put the SWG up to 100%. I will be happy if the FC stays 8.0.

 

[Propbndr]

Some good news (for me anyway). This morning‘s OCL was .5. The only thing that could account for the loss yesterday was the large amount of rain we had during the night. The other good news is that I had an increase of 1.5 - 2.0 FC after I set the SWG to 100% and ran it for 11 hours during the day yesterday. Given that my pool is in the sun from 7am to 6:30 ish pm, I am happy with that increase. I plan on running it over night to see how much it generates without UV depletion.

 

[Propbndr]

So…with my SWG at 100%, my FC increased by 4.5 overnight, 8.5 to 13. CC still 0. The generator is working but, I don’t think it is working at what I think its full potential should be. All control panel numbers are within manufacturer’s specifications. It looks like I will be buying a replacement cell this winter. Fingers crossed it lasts the rest of the season.

Full numbers,
fc 13.0
cc 0
ph 7.8
ta 80
ch 125
cya 70 - 75
salt 3200
temp 86

I need to bring my ph down. It is higher than I like it to be.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Use the pool math "Effects of Adding" tab to calculate how your unit should be performing. If run at 24/7 100%, your SWG should raise FC in your pool by 10 ppm.

 

[ajw22]

So…with my SWG at 100%, my FC increased by 4.5 overnight, 8.5 to 13. CC still 0. The generator is working but, I don’t think it is working at what I think its full potential should be.

What do you think full potential should be?

How many hours was the gain test run to get the 4.5ppm rise?

If it was 12 hours or less then you get over 9ppm daily 24 hour chlorine production against the 10ppm specifications. That seems to expectation in my opinion.

 

[Propbndr]

The run time was about 12 hours. The reason for my full potential comment is until this year, I ran it at 50% for whatever time I ran the pump. (The size or the cell is over double my pool size.) Anymore than that and I would over chlorinate the pool. Recently, I have had to run it at 85% + just to maintain. At 80% or less, I get the starts of an algae bloom. This year, we have had more rain than the last couple so, I suppose I have a larger organic load. That may account for the swg having to work harder just to keep up.

In any case, I have dialed it back to bring my FC level to a swimmable level. Right now, my sample smells like a public pool.

 

[mknauss]

Right now, my sample smells like a public pool.

That is chloramines. From the chlorine attacking ammonia based organics. High FC does not smell.

 

[Propbndr]

That is chloramines. From the chlorine attacking ammonia based organics. High FC does not smell.

Ammonia Based organics? I wonder where they are coming from. The pool has been closed for 2 weeks for a SLAM because of the start of an algae bloom. Except for the first day of the slam, my CC level has been 0.

 

[mknauss]

The pool has been closed

Does this mean covered?

 

[Propbndr]

Does this mean covered?

No. It has been closed to swimming. My cover is a mesh that doesn’t keep tiny stuff out of the pool.