SWG and percent chlorination

[ngc4900]

I am new to SWG’s (3 months new pool), please model in my Sig. I want my FC to be about 6. My pool builder stated I should be running the SWG at about 30% since it is new. Unfortunately, the best I can get using my SWG at 30% (2587 RPM) is a FC of 4. Therefore I have been using supplemental FC to make up the difference. My problem is that I have no sense of where I should be running the SWG in terms of percentage pump run time (8hrs) to achieve a general FC level.

Is there some big mystery and why I can't run the SWG greater than 30% because it is a new unit? When I pinned him down, I did not get an adequate answer. Can someone please point me to somewhere on the TFP that talks about balancing percent chlorination of the SWG versus FC levels? I am confused.

Thanks

 

[Newdude]

When I pinned him down, I did not get an adequate answer

PBs often don't know anymore than the pool store. Which isn't much.


The longer you run your unit, the more it produces. End of story. You can run it 24/7 at 100% if the need arises. The cell doesn't care.

4 hours at 100% is on for 4 hours straight.
8 hours at 50% toggles on/off every few minutes to be on for 4 of the 8 hours.
8 hours at 25% is 2 hours on.
8 hours at 75% is 6 hours on
Etc etc etc.

 

[Jimrahbe]

ngc,

Just to be clear.. The RPM of your pump has nothing to do with the amount of chlorine that your cell produces.

As long as the cell's flow switch is closed, then running faster does not increase the amount of chlorine.

To increase your FC you can increase your cell's Output % or your can increase the run time of your pump or you can do any combination of the two.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[ngc4900]

As long as the cell's flow switch is closed, then running faster does not increase the amount of chlorine

How do I find the minimum RPM for my SWG to meet this requirement? Thanks

 

[proavia]

How do I find the minimum RPM for my SWG to meet this requirement? Thanks

It's trial and error.

Start with a clean filter.
You are essentially at 2600 rpm now and the SWG has adequate flow.
Reduce rpm to 1500 and see if the SWG still has flow or not.

• If the SWG still has flow, decrease by 100 rpm at a time until no flow, then increase by 100 rpm until you have SWG flow. Add 200 rpm to that minimum to account for the filter gettimg dirty.
• If the SWG does not have flow, increase by 100 rpm at a time until the SWG has flow. Add 200 rpm to that to account for the filter getting dirty.

Whatever that final rpm is is the minimum for the SWG. That rpm may or may not be enough to allow your heater to heat.

 

[sande005]

Just to note the fairly obvious - the RJ45+ control box has a red light on it that will come on if the flow switch has turned off the SWCG. So just bump up your pump speed to just a little more than will turn off the red light.

Running as low as you can go 24/7 is a huge electrical cost saver. If you can set multiple times and speeds, you may decide to add one or more shorter periods with higher flow, to increase skimming, so you remove more floating debris.
If you find running slow 24/7 works well, to save even more money, you can cut it to 12/7, and then double whatever setting you arrived at for the SWCG, to get the same effect. I'd have it run during the day though, as that is when you most need the addition of the chlorine. At night, little is generally lost.

 

[proavia]

Just to note the fairly obvious - the RJ45+ control box has a red light on it that will come on if the flow switch has turned off the SWCG. So just bump up your pump speed to just a little more than will turn off the red light.

Running as low as you can go 24/7 is a huge electrical cost saver. If you can set multiple times and speeds, you may decide to add one or more shorter periods with higher flow, to increase skimming, so you remove more floating debris.
If you find running slow 24/7 works well, to save even more money, you can cut it to 12/7, and then double whatever setting you arrived at for the SWCG, to get the same effect. I'd have it run during the day though, as that is when you most need the addition of the chlorine. At night, little is generally lost.

OP has a Hayward SWG. No idea what indication it has for flow or no flow, as I have adifferent brand..
You would still find the minimum RPM to satisfy the flow switch and add about 200 RPM to that to account for the filter getting dirty. A dirty filter will reduce flow and could stop the SWG from producing chlorine.

Many of us can run our VS pumps and SWG 24/7 for less than $20 per month.
We like the continous skimming and adding a little FC 24/7. Some of us run different schedules throughout the day to accommodate IFCS, other automated cleaners, etc.

 

[sande005]

OP has a Hayward SWG. No idea what indication it has for flow or no flow, as I have adifferent brand..
You would still find the minimum RPM to satisfy the flow switch and add about 200 RPM to that to account for the filter getting dirty. A dirty filter will reduce flow and could stop the SWG from producing chlorine.

Many of us can run our VS pumps and SWG 24/7 for less than $20 per month.
We like the continous skimming and adding a little FC 24/7. Some of us run different schedules throughout the day to accommodate IFCS, other automated cleaners, etc.

Oops - looked at the signature list for YOUR equipment, rather than the OP's! I should have gone to bed rather than answer pool questions!

 

[ngc4900]

I am not sure what indicator light/warning light I have that would tell me my flow/no flow status. So other than the control panel and mobile app showing "chlorinating on" while the pump is running, how would I know the SWG is getting adequate flow? I have it running at 1500RPM and the control both on the wall and on the mobile app state the SWG is clorninating. Is that adequate?

I sure do like running the pump continuously at the low 1500 RPM. But the software is more like programming a VCR in terms of archaic software, in other words lets just say APPLE did not code this OmniPL, more like the folks who coded GPS in cars back in the day. Just saying