SWG - Justchlor J100SC - Earth probe covered in deposit?

[YonnyPiscinas]

Hi all

I have a J100SC justchlor SWG - self-cleaning cells.
I have noticed a big deposit on what seems to be an earth probe. The wire leading to it is the typical yellow/green color and seems to be just a grounding probe.
Does it have any other purpose?

I ask this due to the large calcium/mineral deposits stuck on it. Do I need to clean this off? Will it have any effect on the performance of the SWG or is it just for safety grounding?








Many thanks

 

[YonnyPiscinas]

Just found this in a manual online:

3. SC MAINTENANCE PROCESS • Turn OFF the Pump power supply which feeds the chlorinator. • Unscrew the electrode from the housing - cables intact. • With your fingers, remove the calcium deposit (stalactite formation) from the short round pin adjacent to the electrode plates.

So yes looks like mine is completely covered and needs cleaning

 

[YonnyPiscinas]

scraped came off really easily in my fingers luckily

 

[YonnyPiscinas]

I'm beginning to think the cell is at the end of its life now. Water needs 6000ppm for it to work optimally (yes much higher than others I know).

I have test strips that only measure to 5000 and looks like it's more than 5000.
The test button on the equipment only shows 70-75% salt level.

Some mist/bubbles coming from the plates not no way as it used to be when we moved in mid-2018. It had plenty of years of use with the previous owner also.

I guess it's probably not worth buying a new cell for old technology (they do have them available here).

The new SWG's I see only need about 3000 ppm of salt to work.

I'll perform the salt calibration test first - 2.5 litres of water and 3 spoons of salt to measure 6000ppm I believe.

A new cell is around 525 USD

 

[mknauss]

I see a little screen on the left side of your SWCG controller. Can you generate any diagnostics?

 

[YonnyPiscinas]

I see a little screen on the left side of your SWCG controller. Can you generate any diagnostics?

Yes, it has 4 levels, on 4 it should show 100% but only shows 50% output.

It has a test setting for the salt level - If I select that it only measures about 70-75%. But the water has a ton of salt in it, the pentair salt strips (not cheap) only measure to 5000 and it was above that.
If the cell is failing then I assume these measurements will not be accurate.

I think I'll need to perform the salt calibration test in a bottle with 2.5 litres of water and 3 teaspoons.(6%).

http://www.justchlor.co.za/DynamicData/Jasco%20Justchlor%20Testing%20unit.pdf

Thanks

 

[mknauss]

I suspect the cell is failing.

 

[YonnyPiscinas]

I suspect the cell is failing.

yep me too, unfortunately. Well, it's had a good life of about 12-14 years I suspect.

Bad timing also as I just had many car repairs done (A/C compressor among other jobs), plus the house water heater.

Everything seems to fail at the same time.

We're coming to the end of summer here so if I can stretch it out until next Spring at least then invest in new equipment or a cell for this one.

 

[YonnyPiscinas]

I suspect the cell is failing.

Would be rare for the main equipment to fail I assume? Just the cell?
As it has lasted for so many years might be worth staying with the same brand.

 

[mknauss]

Hard to say -- some controllers do have failure problems but they typically are more dramatic than a slow failure like you are seeing.

At that age, it might be wise to get a complete new system. Not sure what is available in your area.

 

[YonnyPiscinas]

Hard to say -- some controllers do have failure problems but they typically are more dramatic than a slow failure like you are seeing.

At that age, it might be wise to get a complete new system. Not sure what is available in your area.

Some common makes like Pentair, Zodiac, Blue works, Laswim,
AutoChlor and JustChlor complete systems.

Pentair, Zodiac Ei2-12 or JustChlor J100SC seem to appear the best quality pieces.

But the Zodiac says their cell lasts for 7500 hours which seems very low.