Pool Pilot Digital - AutoPilot Pool Pilot SC-36 (SC36) / RC-35/22 (RC35/22)

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steelbusnole

0
Jul 1, 2016
6
Saint Augustine, FL
We bought this home in June 2016 and have had no issues with the pool or SWG. Yesterday, I got the warning light for check/clean cell (which I had checked and cleaned last week). The water temperature was 65 degrees and it is currently running at power level 1 at 28v 3.2amps. The salt showed 3300 so I added some salt and this morning it is showing 3700 and no warning light. I have a few questions and hopefully someone can help.

1. How long do the cells last? I did the test under the maintenance menu for amp hours and it is showing 098772! Is there any other way to tell how old the cell is?
2. How often should I be cleaning the cell? I used 6 parts water a 1 part muratic acid. Do you (can you) submerge the whole cell or do you just put the solution inside the cell?

When I cleaned the cell last week, I did not inspect the outside blades vs the inside blades so that might be my next step.

Thanks,
Adam
 
Adam,

Just wanted to say Welcome to TFP... A Great resource for all your pool questions... :lovetfp:

I see that no one has answered your questions yet. I suspect that is because although the Autopilot SWCG has a great reputation, not many people here at TFP have them. That, and the fact that a lot of our members close their pools in the winter and won't be back until the spring time..

In general, most SWCG cells last about 4 to 5 years. We have had people that have had the same cell for over 10 years, while others have a hard time getting two years out of a cell. A lot has to due with the percentage of output being used,, run time, and the chemical situation of the pool water.

I did not see any reference to a "normal" life span in AutoPilot's website, but I only skimmed over it. It does appear that the warranty (on most of their SWCGs) is 2 years or 8K amp hours. Are you sure that the reading was 98,772? If so that seems like a lot to me. But, keep in mind that I have no direct AutoPilot background.

Why do you ask? Is your current cell not working, or are you just curious?

Thanks for posting and let's see if we can get one of our members with an Autopilot system to respond..

Jim R.
 
Adam,

I did find a post by JasonLion, from 2013, that says the "Expected amp-hours for a cell is 60,000." So your reading of 98K is not the actual hours run, but rather the hours run x the amps used.

So, if the cell has 98K Amp-hours, and the expected life is 60K, I'd say your cell is just like me... Old as Dirt!! :-?

Jim R.
 
Adam,

I suggest that you call AutoPilot and find a dealer near you. Have them come out and check out your cell.

I "suspect" it has gone to where all old salt cells go to die, but I have no way to know that for sure, and would not want you to go down the wrong road based on bad advice..

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
I have a small pool approx 10000 gallons with the autopilot with copilot nano. Where I am in the Philippines I get quite some scale built up. I have found cleaning the cell every 3 months best for performance. I have around 8500 amp hours.
 
Welcome to TFP! Good to have you here :)

When there's concern about a salt cell going, be sure you're testing FC regularly with a FAS-DPD test and topping up with chlorinating liquid if need be. Regular testing should also reveal if the cell is functioning normally.
 
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