Pentair IntelliChlor Hours of Usage

[Dirk]

Every owner of an IntelliChlor knows, or should know, how to check Usage Hours. Like this, from the owner manual:

IntelliChlor SCG Usage Hours Meter
The IntelliChlor® SCG provides a built-in cell “usage hours” meter that reports how many hours IntelliChlor has been operating. The IntelliChlor SCG is designed to operate for approximately 10,000 hours before replacement is needed or roughly five (5) years of average use.
To access the system status mode:

1. Press and hold the MORE button for three (3) seconds until the lights scroll across the unit.
2. One (1) of the five (5) Sanitizer Output LED indicators (20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) will be lit,
   indicating the hours of usage. The Output LEDs are as follows:
   • 2000 hours (20% LED on)
   • 4000 hours (40% LED on)
   • 6000 hours (60% LED on)
   • 8000 hours (80% LED on)
   • 10,000 hours (100% LED on)

But I always seem to struggle with how Pentair manuals and instructions are written.

I performed the test, and I just got one LED (20%). I think that means I have only used 2000 hours (or 20%) of my IC. Not that I only have 20% life left. And that I still have ~8000 hours of chlorine generation to look forward to. Correct?

Put another way, if I ever see all the LEDs lit up (100%), that is signaling at, or near, end-of-life.

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Sidebar: If I had such an Hours Meter, my brain would surely be showing five LEDs...

 

[PoolStored]

I think that means I have only used 2000 hours (or 20%) of my IC

Correct.

Key phrase: "indicating the hours of usage." Those Pentair copywriting rats...

 

[Dirk]

Those Pentair copywriting rats...

It might be just me... but I would have chosen something crystal clear, because "indicating the hours of usage" could sound like "indicating the hours of usage remaining" or "indicating the hours of usage consumed."

Not to mention that "hours of usage" could mean:
(1) "the number of hours the unit has been powered on" or
(2) "the number of hours since the unit was first powered on," or
(3) "the number of hours the IC generated chlorine."

The first paragraph isn't any better, with "how many hours IntelliChlor has been operating." That's misleading as heck. It should read "how many hours IntelliChlor has been generating chlorine," which can be much, much less than how many hours it has been operating.

Most people don't even realize, at least at first, that the generating is cycling on and off while the unit is powered on, and the duration of the cycling is adjustable. They probably think the unit is generating non-stop, and that the concentration of chlorine generated is adjustable. All made all the more clear by the nondescript LED labeled "CELL." Who would know what that means when they first start using an IC, if ever.

I would have gone with:
"indicating the number of hours IntelliChlor has been generating chlorine." Which is all that matters and all that we need to monitor. NOT how many hours it has been powered on, or operating or "used."

So-says-a-me! But alas, they never call me to ask...

 

[Newdude]

IMO it's mostly useless if we don't know the cutoff # to trigger the next light. 0001, 1000 or 1999 might trigger 20%. The same would be for 40%. So your cell has run for between 0001 and 3999 hours.

I hope this helps.

 

[Dirk]

IMO it's mostly useless if we don't know the cutoff # to trigger the next light. 0001, 1000 or 1999 might trigger 20%. The same would be for 40%. So your cell has run for between 0001 and 3999 hours.

I hope this helps.

Right. Does a 20% light mean 0001, 1000 or 1999? Or does it mean it's completed 2000 hours, and is now somewhere between 2001-3999, until the 40% light comes on! So a 20% light could indicate 1 hr through 3999 hrs!?!?! (I think that's what you're getting at.) I'm assuming the SWG knows the actual number of hours, just not how to display it. It really should be reporting to EasyTouch/IntelliCenter the exact hours.

Maybe the new models report actual hours. I know they finally got rid of the "CELL" label. I think it now reads "GENERATING." So that's a little progress.

 

[JamesW]

First look at Pentair's new IntelliChlor Plus30

So after having some issues with Pentair and my old SWG unit I was given the opportunity to give the new Pentair PLUS SWG platform a shot and ended up with an IC30+, which is part of their new model line of salt water generators. I'm not cool enough to do an unboxing video so instead here...

www.troublefreepool.com

Warranty now includes an hour limit and a yearly limit.

The cell tracks hours of production and there should be a way to see this information.

29. What is the warranty of the new IntelliChlor Plus & LT SCGs as TradeGrade Products?

a. Three years for IntelliChlor Plus Salt Chlorine Generators (or 10,000 hours, whichever comes first) and two years for IntelliChlor LT Salt Chlorine Generators (or
6,000 hours, whichever comes first). For more warranty information, refer to www.pentair.com/warranty.