New Aqua Rite T9 generates but reads high salinity

[SwitchfootFan]

I have a new T9 SWG AquaRite Hayward and it's generating Cl no problem. My issue is that the salinity reading is artificially high, and I've followed instructions for re-calibrating, but the unit/board does not behave the way the instructions state it should. What is happening now is that, when the instructions indicate the "unit should start counting backwards" ... mine never does. So there is no opportunity to re-calibrate. The unit is reading about 600 ppm higher than what my pool store says it is (they test with a small electronic unit - I've found the sticks to be worthless). Before replacing the T9, I had attempted to recalbibrate the board because I thought the problem was that the reading was off - I'm afraid I may have messed up the calibration now. I subsequently found out that the 6 year old T9 was dead. What's the next step to try and re-calibrate?

I guess I could keep schlepping back and forth to my pool store but I rarely if ever need to go there as I've been self sufficient with pool care quite some time. I've looked at getting a small saline testing unit but don't feel like shelling out another $40-50 which looks like the minimum for anything remotely reliable. Also, the SWG is not cheap, and it ought to work correctly! BTW, here's the link that shows the re-calibration technique and my exact unit: How To: Recalibrate the Salt Level on a Hayward Aqua Rite - YouTube (I have *no* association with the company that produced that video.) Any help greatly appreciated! :razz:

 

[BasicTek]

Welcome to TFP,
#1 I'd recommend getting your one taylor 1766 test kit with speedstir so you can actually know the salt level in your pool, #2 I was getting high salt and it turned out I hit a wrong button and changed the t cell # in my case from 15 to 3. In the last diagnostic check that.

Other than that you may want to post your full diagnostics for others to help and is possible fill out your signature so we know the rest of your pool equipment.

 

[SwitchfootFan]

I wound up buying this $38 electronic saline meter from amazon. It was cheaper than the reagents and the stirrer, way less messy and doesn't require purchasing new reagents obviously. I figured the AquaRite had a bad board in the unit as it would not calibrate at all; it wouldn't even run through the sequence (as posted above). So not optimal, but at least I don't have to run to the store every other week and the chlorinator is working like a champ and pool looks great. Now I can spend my time trying to diagnose the broken intellibright light!!!!

 

[JamesW]

You really can't recalibrate the AquaRite. You can update the average to the instant, but that's it.

What are the diagnostic readings?