Salt cell replacement how often?

[Destroyer4]

Hello, it seems my salt cell went bad. How often should they need to be replaced?? This is my 5th season. The fins have corroded away.

 

[ping]

It varies, but the main factors are the size of cell, gallons of water, length of season, and water balance.

Most owners should expect 3-5+ years out of the cell if everything is sized properly.

 

[Jimrahbe]

D-4,

Obviously depends on how hard they are run, but I'd say the average is about 5 or 6 years...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[mknauss]

Most SWCG have an operating life of so many hours of generating chlorine. So depending on the output of the SWCG versus your pool volume a 5 year life span may be correct.
When you say corroded, do you regularly clean the cell with acid? Is there an inline chlorinator you use near the SWCG?

 

[Destroyer4]

Most SWCG have an operating life of so many hours of generating chlorine. So depending on the output of the SWCG versus your pool volume a 5 year life span may be correct.
When you say corroded, do you regularly clean the cell with acid? Is there an inline chlorinator you use near the SWCG?

I did not know I had to clean the cell until recently. So no it’s never been cleaned. I do not think there is a chlorinator. Pretty sure no. Should I try and clean it before I install new one? The panel shows low voltage fault.

 

[mknauss]

When I search the Pool Pilot website I get no hits for a DIG-220. What model is your SWCG?

 

[ping]

Yes, clean the cell and try it again.

 

[JamesW]

Pool Pilot® Digital Power Supply - AutoPilot Website

Part #: DIG-220 The most reliable and user friendly chlorine generator unit available. With microprocessor controls, digital read-out of pool water temperature, current salt level, purifier production level, soft reverse cell cleaning cycle and boost cycle, the Pool Pilot® Digital is a...

autopilot.com

What happens when you run Test Pool Pilot?

What are the volts and amps?

 

[jblizzle]

Really you should only do an acid cleaning on a cell if there is visible scale that has built up. The acid will reduce the life of the cell by etching the metal plates.
If you keep the water well balanced, there should never be a need to acid clean a cell.

 

[JamesW]

If the blades are visibly corroded, you're probably going to need a new cell.

What model cell do you have?

Is the correct cell type selected in the settings menu?

Is the fault low volts or low amps?

 

[Jnet]

Sorry - I'm no expert, but corroded plates after 5 years in a seasonal pool... Does that sound like a chemistry problem?