Pool installed 2016 with Astral Viron SWG system - VX7T chlorinator, 7 series salt cell (newly replaced) and Viron eVo P280 variable speed pump. We are in Nashville and when building out the pool didn't pay attention to the brand of the equipment. The business owner is Australian so he provides this brand here instead of Hayward or Pentair. Had I been paying attention I would have opted to upgrade to something more serviceable by other pool companies. Thanks to having Astral equipment I am stuck going back to the builder for service needs. And their service after the sale is severely lacking.
Just a few weeks ago, our salt cell, on it's 4th season, would not generate above a setting of 3, no matter how balanced the water, how much salt was dissolved, water temp, pump setting, etc. We purchased a OEM replacement cell off ebay from an Astral/Viron dealer in Australia (at roughly 1/2 the cost our local builder wanted.) The cell was super easy to replace using the existing wiring and it worked GREAT for about a day. Then, nothing. Pump still running, water flow great, but no chlorine gas being is produced, even though the chlorinator display reads that everything was running perfectly. The next day, the chlorinator/pump would overheat and completely shut down when the pump was running at 3050 rpm, then start back up by itself after it cooled off. Currently on 2225 rpm and it doesn't cut off/overheat st this speed. The small 12v cooling fan located in the chlorinator seems to have burned out as well as it doesn't turn on.
Called for service from the installed (Pool & Spa Depot in Brentwood, TN - BEWARE!) who tried to tell me it was the cell and refused to come out unless I purchased a cell from them for $600 ahead of time. I told them to come out and diagnose the issue before selling me product and paid $150 for a service call. The Tech brought a new cell from their shop with him, and of course, it didn't work either. He called his boss who insisted it was the cell while he argued that it wasn't. He left stating the problem was either the main power board or the cord connecting the SWG cell to the chlorinator but he didn't have the proper tools to try to diagnose either. We heard NOTHING for 3 weeks.
We had a long-planned trip coming up so I was on the phone with the pool store several times trying to get an answer. Finally they sent their top tech, who I'd met and worked with before just after original install, but he came out while we were gone and before I had a chance to schedule our house sitter to meet with him. Thus, I don't know exactly what he did or tested.
Finally heard from the service department yesterday - they insist the problem is the main circuit board and needs to be replaced at a cost of $500 plus another $150 for the install. Didn't mention the cooling fan at all or the poser cord from the sale cell to the chlorinator, which appears burned where it connects to the PCB.
Thoughts? I know the Astral/Viron isn't common in the US and sourcing the PCB in Australia is difficult because the AUS boards are a different voltage than US version. Hubby would like to ditch this hard-to-service brand and go with Hayward or Pentair, but if we so, will we also need to replace the pump as well? Plus I have this new $300+ salt cell, Ugh.
Attaching pics in thread..
Just a few weeks ago, our salt cell, on it's 4th season, would not generate above a setting of 3, no matter how balanced the water, how much salt was dissolved, water temp, pump setting, etc. We purchased a OEM replacement cell off ebay from an Astral/Viron dealer in Australia (at roughly 1/2 the cost our local builder wanted.) The cell was super easy to replace using the existing wiring and it worked GREAT for about a day. Then, nothing. Pump still running, water flow great, but no chlorine gas being is produced, even though the chlorinator display reads that everything was running perfectly. The next day, the chlorinator/pump would overheat and completely shut down when the pump was running at 3050 rpm, then start back up by itself after it cooled off. Currently on 2225 rpm and it doesn't cut off/overheat st this speed. The small 12v cooling fan located in the chlorinator seems to have burned out as well as it doesn't turn on.
Called for service from the installed (Pool & Spa Depot in Brentwood, TN - BEWARE!) who tried to tell me it was the cell and refused to come out unless I purchased a cell from them for $600 ahead of time. I told them to come out and diagnose the issue before selling me product and paid $150 for a service call. The Tech brought a new cell from their shop with him, and of course, it didn't work either. He called his boss who insisted it was the cell while he argued that it wasn't. He left stating the problem was either the main power board or the cord connecting the SWG cell to the chlorinator but he didn't have the proper tools to try to diagnose either. We heard NOTHING for 3 weeks.
We had a long-planned trip coming up so I was on the phone with the pool store several times trying to get an answer. Finally they sent their top tech, who I'd met and worked with before just after original install, but he came out while we were gone and before I had a chance to schedule our house sitter to meet with him. Thus, I don't know exactly what he did or tested.
Finally heard from the service department yesterday - they insist the problem is the main circuit board and needs to be replaced at a cost of $500 plus another $150 for the install. Didn't mention the cooling fan at all or the poser cord from the sale cell to the chlorinator, which appears burned where it connects to the PCB.
Thoughts? I know the Astral/Viron isn't common in the US and sourcing the PCB in Australia is difficult because the AUS boards are a different voltage than US version. Hubby would like to ditch this hard-to-service brand and go with Hayward or Pentair, but if we so, will we also need to replace the pump as well? Plus I have this new $300+ salt cell, Ugh.
Attaching pics in thread..
