salt cell on it's death bed

[need-for-speed]

Hello. My Pentair IC 40 appears to be dead. It is 8 years old. The service light is flashing and my chlorine levels went to zero. My salt is at 3,000. I have been keeping chlorine in the pool by using a floating basket. Before I order a new one I want to try a trouble shooting exercise as advised by the guy at the pool store. I will clean the salt cell, turn it back on, catch a sample directly from one of the pool jets and check for chlorine. The pool store guy told me to take the chlorine basket out for a couple of days so the chlorine level could go back to zero before I try the test and that which makes sense. That way if I get chlorine coming out of the jet, I'll know it's working.

I have heard that a salt cell won't make chlorine if there is zero chlorine to start with , i.e you have add some chlorine first for it to start generating. Is that true, or is it Bull?

thanks. Mike

 

[mknauss]

One, letting your FC to decrease to zero is inviting algae. So do not do that.

You can tell if your cell is making chlorine, there will be bubbles out of one or more returns when it is generating.

The last item is not correct. The cell will make chlorine if the salinity is correct, the water is warm enough, and the SWCG itself is functional.

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[chiefwej]

It’s very difficult for a SWG to bring the chlorine up to level. They are designed to maintain chlorine levels. So it’s always best practice to dump a few jugs of plain bleach or “liquid shock” in to bring it up to the proper level. Then the SWG can take over and maintain the level.

 

[need-for-speed]

One, letting your FC to decrease to zero is inviting algae. So do not do that.

You can tell if your cell is making chlorine, there will be bubbles out of one or more returns when it is generating.

The last item is not correct. The cell will make chlorine if the salinity is correct, the water is warm enough, and the SWCG itself is functional.

Please add a signature. Read Pool School - Read This BEFORE You Post
Information in your signature will show up each time you post and it makes advice more accurate as we know what equipment we are dealing with.

Signature updated. I agree on the zero chlorine level. I didn’t want to do it, but I wanted to know if the water coming out of the jets had chlorine attributable to the SWG.

 

[mknauss]

Your SWCG will generate bubbles that signify it is working. Are you seeing bubbles?

 

[need-for-speed]

Yes, however my pool equipment is almost 100 ft away and at a higher elevation than my pool. There are too many other ways for me to have “tiny bubbles” other than the salt cell. I don’t think I can use that as a diagnostic indicator. However, I do appreciate your input.

Thanks.