Strange SWG issue - 5000ppm in pool, reading 2300ppm - Everything's replaced.

[jmoch]

Hey all, been a long time reading and learner from this community. Thank you for all the years of past knowledge and help!

Here's my issue. I have a 25,000 gallon pool that had a Aqua Rite system with a t-15 that worked perfectly for 5 years. Three weeks ago, it started read low salt (right after hurricane Irma) and we had lots of rain so I started putting in salt. Still low, so more salt and so on until I now have over 5000ppm (according to the pool store in town). Since it was still reading low salt, I bit the bullet and got a new Hayward t-15. Still reads low salt and won't generate.

So, I bit the smaller bullet of buying a new board. Installed it today.... still reading low salt and won't generate. Soooo..... what's up? Is the local pool store wrongly calculating my salt level? Is one of the new components I just bought bad? Is the salt at 5000ppm so high that it's causing the cell to read low?

Both the old and new board and both the old and new cell give me the same results.

I've tried the recalculating procedure and the highest it will read on the instantaneous salt reading is 2400 so that won't help me get the salt into a position where it will generate.

So, bad transformer?

When it's generating (for the few min after I first turn it on) voltage is 26.2 and amps are 4.62 which are in the acceptable range....

I'm totally baffled by this issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!!!

 

[ping]

Welcome to TFP!

Please post all of the diagnostic readings.

Make sure the system is set for a T-15 sized cell.

 

[jmoch]

Temp - 74
Cell Voltage - 26.2
Cell amp - 4.53
Output -100%
Instant salt - 2300
Program code - AL-0
Software - r 1.59
Cell - t-15

The cell I have installed is a turbocell t-15.

Thank you for your willingness to help.

 

[ping]

Verify the salt content somewhere else other than the pool store. I like to use the Taylor K-1766 salt test kit.

 

[jmoch]

I have a sample and will run it in to another store today and see what they say. I'll also purchase a test kit, but here's why I don't think that's the problem. I've added salt.... and the measurement doesn't change. When I got the new cell, it registered 2300 ppm and I put two bags of salt in... didn't change. So, this is why I'm so baffled.

 

[mknauss]

Question -- what is your location? If you could put city/state/province it helps.

Most SWCG will show low salt or something similar when water temperature goes below ~60F. Is this the possible issue?

Take care.

 

[jmoch]

Sarasota FL. Pool temp is in the high 70s.

 

[JamesW]

Does the new cell say t15 on the label?

 

[mknauss]

Sarasota FL. Pool temp is in the high 70s.

Great. Please put that in your personal settings under Location.

Thanks

 

[JamesW]

Also, be aware that there is an average salinity reading and an instant salinity reading.

The instant salinity reading updates right away but the average is a rolling average of the last few salinity readings.

 

[jmoch]

@JamesW Yes, the instantaneous salt reading is 2300ppm. The new board installed today started out reading at 2800 but has gradually dropped due to the low instantaneous reading.

Also, the cell is a Hayward and the exact label says TurboCell T-Cell-15.

 

[JamesW]

Double check the salinity with the k-1766. If it's good, file a warranty claim for the cell.

Also, check the wiring in the box for any burned connections.

 

[jmoch]

Thanks JamesW, I'm picking up the salt test kit tomorrow. Two local pool stores say I'm over 5000ppm so I'm replacing water now to see if I can get it lower. I'll verify with the kit when I get it.

Report back then....

 

[JamesW]

I would hold off on reducing the salinity until you verify the actual number.

 

[jmoch]

Okay, I just figured three different sources all giving the small result meant it must be high. I'll hold then. Thanks.

 

[JamesW]

The Hayward is usually pretty reliable on salinity. So, I'm surprised that the numbers don't match 3 different tests.

If the k-1766 shows high, I would file a warranty claim.

 

[mas985]

Another possibility could be a failing thermistor and/or a bad solder joint. Both can reduce the current to the cell which results in a low salt readout. Look for any burnt spots on the back of the main board.

 

[jmoch]

@mas985, the cell and motherboard are brand new. Both the old and new boards/cells are doing the same thing.

 

[jmoch]

Update: took the new cell and had it tested. It failed. Not sure what that means since it didn't say why it failed.

Hopefully I can return it and get a new one.

Will continue to lower salt once I have a tester.

 

[JamesW]

They should exchange it for you at no cost.