Salt cell not producing

[Brian Jones]

pentair IC 40 2 years Old
Lights all on. Looks perfect.
However. Not producing Chlorine.
All pool chemicals are perfect. No algae in water. It is clear. Cell is clean. I turned off. Reset. Everything.
What is wrong?

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Which lights are on?

How old is the cell?

What is the manufacturing date on the label on the bottom of the cell?

 

[mknauss]

All pool chemicals are perfect.

Welcome to the forum.
Post a full set of water chemistry data from your own test kit.

 

[Brian Jones]

FC 3
CYA 50
Ph 7.4
Alk 100

 

[mknauss]

Are you adding chlorine to the water? A lower CYA can allow faster loss of FC to UV.
Can you answer Allens questions?

 

[Brian Jones]

Welcome to TFP.

Which lights are on?

How old is the cell?

What is the manufacturing date on the label on the bottom of the cell?

 

[Brian Jones]

Welcome to TFP.

Which lights are on?

How old is the cell?

What is the manufacturing date on the label on the bottom of the cell?

Manufacture date is 11/20/2020

 

[ajw22]

Those are normal lights for your cell generating at 40%

You can increase your generating % to get more chlorine.

What is your pump runtime?

How many gallons in your pool?

You may have algae consuming the chlorine as fast as it is being generated.

Do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Brian Jones]

Those are normal lights for your cell generating at 40%

You can increase your generating % to get more chlorine.

What is your pump runtime?

How many gallons in your pool?

You may have algae consuming the chlorine as fast as it is being generated.

Do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

variable speed Pump
15 gal
Have done overnight check
It does not make the bubbles like it always has which is why I know its not working. No algae. Pool is crystal clear. But that is because i am using bleach while I figure this out.

 

[mknauss]

Set it to 100% and check to see if it is creating the hydrogen gas.
If the pump rpm is high, you may not see the bubbles.

 

[ajw22]

variable speed Pump

Run for how many hours per day?

15 gal

How many gallons in your pool?

 

[Jimrahbe]

Brian,

Here is a simple test for you..

Set the cell to 50%.. Watch the cell for a few minutes.. at 50% the Cell light should be on for 2.5 minutes and then off for 2.5 minutes, etc..

If the cell light passes this test, then the cell is making chlorine.. If the Cell light never comes on during the test, then the cell is not making chlorine.

Let me know how the test works...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Brian Jones]

The cell light goes off and on like it is supposed to. BUT…for two years I have watched this. It always makes little bubbles when that light comes on. Now it doesnt. Chemicals are perfect. Phospates are 1000pb but have always been. It isnt making chlorine. But the lights make you think it is

 

[Brian Jones]

Brian,

Here is a simple test for you..

Set the cell to 50%.. Watch the cell for a few minutes.. at 50% the Cell light should be on for 2.5 minutes and then off for 2.5 minutes, etc..

If the cell light passes this test, then the cell is making chlorine.. If the Cell light never comes on during the test, then the cell is not making chlorine.

Let me know how the test works...

Thanks,

Jim R.

The cell light goes off and on like it is supposed to. BUT…for two years I have watched this. It always makes little bubbles when that light comes on. Now it doesnt. Chemicals are perfect. Phospates are 1000pb but have always been. It isnt making chlorine. But the lights make you think it is

 

[Jimrahbe]

Brian,

I have yet to see a IntelliChlor cell with a working cell light that was not be making chlorine.

Yours could be the first, but I doubt it...

Let's assume for a minute, that you are 100% correct, that your cell is not working. What options do you have? Buy a new cell is your only option as you can't fix the one you have. Buying a new cell costs a big bucks.

From my outside point of few, it would be worth adding Liquid Chlorine for a few days and see what your FC demand is.. If it is 2 ppm per day or less, then I would have to agree with you that your cell is not producing. But if your FC demand is 4 or 5 ppm per day, then I'd say the cell just can't keep up.

If you are running your cell for 12 hours a day, at 40% output, then the cell will only produce 2.2ppm of FC per day. This is not much and the sun can consume that pretty quickly.

Keep in mind that our advice can certainly be wrong, but we have no reason to lie to you. We are not trying to sell you anything, so our advice is based on what we have seen with many, many other pools. We can't give you advice based on what you want to hear...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[ajw22]

Set your cell for 100% and run your pump for 24 hours and see what your FC rise is.

I agree with Jim, your cell is generating chlorine.

 

[Brian Jones]

Set your cell for 100% and run your pump for 24 hours and see what your FC rise is.

I agree with Jim, your cell is generating chlorine.

Appreciate all the responses. I’ll keep testing.

 

[Brian Jones]

Update:
The bubbles I didnt see to tell me it was making chlorine…was because i had the speed too high. Lowered the speed. Noticed the bubbles and you were right. Making chlorine.

 

[JamesW]

If you want to verify production in the future, you can use a clamp ammeter to measure the DC current at the red or black wire.

It should be about 6 to 8 amps DC.