Pentair ic40 Inspect Cell

[Krisher]

I need some help with my Pentair Salt Cell.

The Salt Cell Inspect Cell green light is flashing. Last summer the flow light was a solid red. What looked like a char’d wire (connection are circuit board) was replaced on the EZ Touch. The end of the season came I just left the cell unplugged when the pool wasn’t in use. I tried again at the start of the season and same thing. Red light. Well, it came time to clean the filter and ended up doing a partial drain. I plugged The SWG back in and it miraculously started getting green lights. I slowly added salt and once salt level was green again, the Inspect Cell light started blinking.

I’ve checked the blades. Clean and smooth. Did a light cleaning anyway. Pool chemistry is near perfect (I’ve been manually adding liquid chlorine and monitoring PH of course).
Checked cell life, consistently gives me 40%.

Does anyone have any ideas? Flow light is green, but could it have “anything” to do with the flow switch since that’s about all I can replace myself?

Any help is deeply appreciated.

 

[mknauss]

When you had your issue in 2018, did you replace the cell or did something else fix it?

 

[Krisher]

When you had your issue in 2018, did you replace the cell or did something else fix it?

I replaced the wire and the red flow switch light was illuminated. So I kind of left it to address later. I didn’t realize how much later it would be.

 

[mknauss]

So the cell has been working the last two years?
Only light not normal is the Cell light, right?

 

[Krisher]

...in all honesty. I thought the cell was dead awhile ago. I never expected lights to turn green, start reading salt levels etc. I really have no idea...,

 

[mknauss]

When was this cell installed?

 

[Krisher]

So the cell has been working the last two years?
Only light not normal is the Cell light, right?

Since I replaced that wire and didn’t have it working, I left it unplugged. So no. It’s been unplugged and I was adding chlorine manually.

When I plugged it in a few days ago, and saw that it was reading salt levels correctly I added salt (after partial drain) hoping that if I brought salt levels back up it might work.

 

[mknauss]

What does the sticker on the bottom of the cell say?

 

[Krisher]

I’m assuming you’re inquiring about the date?

04/04/2014.

although a good year and a half probably no use.

 

[mknauss]

Once we see 5 years, and especially with a cell light that is flashing, it nearly always means the cell has failed.

Let's ask @JamesW if he has any other troubleshooting items to cover.

 

[Krisher]

That’s what I’m thinking too. The 40% life light and time not used just makes me wonder if I’m missing something.

 

[JamesW]

What is the EasyTouch reporting for salinity?

What does your K-1766 salt test kit report for salinity?

 

[Krisher]

I won’t be able to check in person (kit reading) until next week. Remote reading from easy touch is 3900ppm.

 

[JamesW]

The actual salinity might be to low.

The EasyTouch will report the salinity too high if the cell temperature is reading too low.

 

[Krisher]

The actual salinity might be to low.

The EasyTouch will report the salinity too high if the cell temperature is reading too low.

I will check numbers when I get back home. Pool temp is around 90/91. (The mrs. likeS bath temps to swim)

 

[Krisher]

Sorry for the delayed response., wasn’t home. Anyway, Taylor test came out to 16 dropsand 15 drops(1st and 2nd test). So somewhere between 3,200/3,000ppm.

chlorinator is reading the salt level as 3,600.

 

[JamesW]

Try increasing the salinity to about 3,600 ppm.

 

[Krisher]

The actual salinity might be to low.

The EasyTouch will report the salinity too high if the cell temperature is reading too low.

....okay. I’ll try that. Fingers crossed.