Pentair iChlor30 & Pump Runtime Setup?

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M

mettius

Member
Jun 25, 2012
18
Austin, TX
I just had my iChlor30 replaced under warranty. Coincidentally, the pump was on it's last leg so had that replaced, which required uplift to the Intellicenter ($$$).

At any rate, the tech programmed the SWG at 50%, and the pump to run from 8AM - 5PM Daily. I live in Central Texas (Austin metro area). Summer is coming (well, really already here).
Any suggestions.

20,000 gallon, inground pool. Petair VS pump/Intellicenter/iChlor30.
 
M,

The cell and pump run time is something that you will need to determine...

It is based upon using your test kit and testing the pool water.. if your FC is low, you will need to increase your pump run time, or the cell's output.. if your FC is too high, then the opposite is true...

Your Target FC is based upon the level of your CYA (Stabilizer) using the saltwater section of this chart..

FC/CYA Levels

You don't want to micro-manage your cell, so it is much better to run at your target or higher, rather than trying to stay between your minimum and your target.. Running a little hot, will not cause any issues, while running too low can result in a bad case of the algaes... :mrgreen:

A 30K cell in a 20K pool is a little on the small side, so if your CYA is below about 50, the sun will burn off your FC pretty quickly, here in Texas.

I personally run 24/7, mostly at 1200 rpm, for less than $20 bucks a month. I do this because I like to make a little chlorine all the time and I like to skim all the time.. I also like the look of my pool when there is a little motion to the water. At 1200 rpm, the pump is so quiet, that you almost have to touch it to make sure it is still running... :mrgreen:

You just need to decide what is going to work best for you..

Thanks,
Jim R.
 
M,

I might want to add that the minimum speed that you every want to run your pump, is whatever speed closes your SWCG's flow switch plus 100 or so rpm.. For me this is about 1200 rpm, but it could be different for your pool, based on your pump and plumbing.

Running your pump and not making chlorine is just a waste of energy... :mrgreen:

Edit.. and while we are adding stuff.. Your pool will use 2 to 4 ppm of FC per day.. But the actual amount of FC used by the pool changes daily based on the weather, and use, so you can't just pick one number and stick with it.. Your SWCG set-up is not a once and done kind of thing.. I adjust my settings about 6 times a year...

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Thanks. I know now that the iChlor30 is a bit undersized, but unfortunately I didn't do the research and just trusted the pool company to know what to do. Whoops.

I used to run my pump 24/7 but my electric bill was getting crazy. I never did figure out if it was the pump, but now that it has been replaced with brand new, I'm hoping to see electric bills drop.

Jim, I know our pools and equipment are a bit different, but what do you currently have your SWG run percentage set to?
 
M,

In the big picture, our pools are pretty much the same.. No heater, about the same size, saltwater, VS pumps, filters don't matter...

As you know, I run 24/7, mostly at 1200 rpm... My cell is currently set to 45%.. I just increased it last week as it is getting more into summer..

In the middle of summer, I might increase it to 50 or 55%, but it really depends on the weather and the amount of sunshine.

I run my FC hotter than it really needs to be...

When you were running 24/7, was that with a single speed pump?? A single speed pump will bankrupt you... :mrgreen:

If a VS pump, how fast were you running it??

Is your new IntelliFlo a 3 HP version or a 1.5 HP version? Either way, the slower you can run it, the less it costs.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
The old one was a Pentair variable flow pump. I honestly don't remember what it was set for maybe 30 or 60gpm? If I recall it was programmed in gpm as opposed to rpm.

I'm still figuring out this new app. But it looks like my new pump is set to run at 2600 rpm, and 2300 rpm with the waterfall.
there are settings in here for minimum/maximum flow rate (gpm), minimum/maximum speed (rpm).

PS. I just looked at my power bill history, and April '25 is almost identical to April '24. (Granted weather and electric rate could have been different.
 
M,

We believe that you set your speed to accomplish a goal, not to match some magical number in a manual..

As as example... You need to run your pump at a speed that is slightly higher than what will turn on your SWCG in your pool... To determine this speed (or GPM) you just slowly adjust the speed down until your cell reports low flow.. then slowly adjust the speed up until the flow light just turns green.. Add 100 rpm and that will be the slowest speed you ever want to run..

There is no reason to run a specific speed just for the fun of it.. it needs to be a speed that will accomplish a goal.

Running your waterfall is a goal.. usually, for waterfalls to work, the pump needs to run faster, but it all depends on how your plumbing is set up.. Turn the waterfall on and see how it looks.. adjust the speed down until you don't like it, and then adjust the speed up to where you do like.. and that is your waterfall speed..

It is what it is.. Whatever speed makes things work, is the speed you will have to run to accomplish that goal.

The faster you have to run, the more it costs, and the less it makes sense to run 24/7.. :(

See this chart that @PoolGate developed... You can see why I run at 1200, most of the time..

1748142946739.png

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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