SWCG install orientation

[JamesR]

2 questions;
The Circupool install manual shows proper orientation as having it “upwards” and wires up. Then for variable speed pumps it says to flip it over. I’m just wondering why that is.
For my install, it will be with a standard single speed Hayward super pump and then later this year, it will be converted to a Hayward VSP.
1) How does the pump speed affect the orientation? See screenshot below, bottom right of the picture.
2) They also say to power the unit directly from the load side of whatever is controlling the pump so they both turn on/off together.
That means that it gets powered off during chlorine production and immediately loses flow. Would it be better to put the SWCG on a timer that powers it on shortly after the pump is on and then kills power shortly before the pump turns off. That way any high concentration chlorine gets flushed through.
As an alternative, they also suggest giving it power 100% of the time and letting the flow switch trigger it. Not sure I’d want to rely on the switch in case it fails and reads flow when there is not.
What do you folks recommend?

 

[Texas Splash]

I’m just wondering why that is.

Because with a VPS pump an owner may have water programmed to flow at a very low rpm. Ensuring the cell plates are submerged in water is important at all times when power is applied for safety and efficiency.

Would it be better to put the SWCG on a timer that powers it on shortly after the pump is on and then kills power shortly before the pump turns off.

That is an option many owners do. Or as in my case, the pump is on 24/7, so my module always has power applied and simply controls the cell via the module programming (output).

As an alternative, they also suggest giving it power 100% of the time and letting the flow switch trigger it. Not sure I’d want to rely on the switch in case it fails and reads flow when there is not.

Never rely on the flow switch as an on/off mechanism. It is designed for saftey shut off only.

 

[JamesR]

Thanks for that quick reply! My pool breaker panel has a spare timer in it, so I'll probably use that to control the SWGC at least until get the VSP installed. Then I will run the pump 24/7 and not have to be on a timer.

As far as the orientation.....if the concern is the cell being submerged, why not just mount it downward like that for all installs?

 

[Texas Splash]

if the concern is the cell being submerged, why not just mount it downward like that for all installs?

You are referring to a vertical install correct? I'm not sure. Interesting they don't address it at all unless it's assumed that regardless of water flow the plates are more likely to remain submerged in water at all times regardless of water flow speed.

 

[JamesR]

I’m referring to horizontal install.
Maybe bad choice of words on my part.
The offset faces up or it faces down.

 

[ajw22]

Bump should always face down when horizontal.

 

[Texas Splash]

if the concern is the cell being submerged, why not just mount it downward like that for all installs?

I see what you mean now. You were referring to the hump down versus a vertical install in your last question. Funny thing, because I don't have a VSP, I had mine hump "up" for a couple years. It worked fine, but perhaps that's because my low speed is 1,750 rpm and pushes an adequate flow to keep the plates fully submerged. As to why they wouldn't insist on hump down for all installs I wouldn't know. Perhaps because some PVC lines are close to the ground and the hump might hit the ground.

 

[JamesR]

Apologize for my poor wording originally. Yes…. Hump up or hump down described it better.
I’ll go with hump down.
Thanks guys.