Purchasing a new TCELLS340

[tech135797531]

My TCELL940 is on its last leg after 5.5 years. Some days it works great, some days it doesn't produce, voltage and amperage are all over the place. If I can squeeze more juice out of it, great, I'll run it as long as I can. But either way, I want to be prepared for its EOL, regardless of when the day comes. It looks like a direct replacement would be the TCELLS340. I can get it from my only local pool Hayward authorized retailer (a few Pinch-a-Penny locations) for about $1,400, from Amazon or a couple of other online stores for roughly the same cost, or from eBay, new, for $7-800.

What is the downside of buying from some eBay store with very positive reviews? Could I be dealing with fake cells?
Are there any other alternative, non-Hayward options that would play nice with my OmniPL system?

Thank you very much!

 

[Newdude]

I would not buy a thing until you needed to. In the olden days I was a fan of having spares, but since quality control went to crud, your warranty may be over before you get to try it out the first time. The return window likely will be over.

I'd limp through the winter with less UV demand and squeeze every drop from the cell. Run a higher FC to account for intermittent production.

 

[tech135797531]

@Newdude, thank you so much for your response. I wholeheartedly agree with the spirit of your advice. But even for future reference, do you have an opinion on buying a TCELLS340 on eBay? Are there any risks? This question applies now or in 6 months.

As far as my 940 is concerned, I already have it at 60% production. But the bigger issues are:
1. The instant and average salt readings are all over the place. Sometimes it shows 3300, sometimes it shows 3900, and when it reads that high, it stops producing and throws 3 errors. The actual level of the pool as per proper K-1766 test is 3200ppm and I cleaned the cell.
2. As mentioned above, I get 3 error codes, especially when the pump turns on in the morning. The cell comes on, likely thinks that the salinity is too high (despite it not being high), and then turns itself off:
- CHLOR Relay K1 Stuck Open Chlorinator 1
- CHLOR Relay K2 Stuck Open Chlorinator 2
- T-CELL Current Sensor Short Chlorinator 1

If I turn it off and back again and off again and back again, it eventually starts working and runs through the day.

 

[Newdude]

do you have an opinion on buying a TCELLS340 on eBay?

I wouldn't use Ebay because the cell could be used or difficult to return if defective, but everyone has their own comfort level of risk.

With Amazon you have another layer of protection if there are any issues.

But the bigger issues are:

Sorry man, I don't speak Hayward.

@JamesW and @ajw22 are fluent though.