Thinking about switching to salt....

[Mweltz88]

I’m thinking of converting my in ground 42x20 pool to salt water, I’ve done some research but wanted to ask the experts here on what generator to buy and is the process as simple as just adding salt and the generator or do I need to drain and refill? Also, any opinions or fees back on the Dive systems, they
advertise fast and easy installation with phone ap for controls. Any feed back would be great.
thanks
mike

 

[mknauss]

Re: Think about switching to salt....

Never heard of a Dive system.

For standalone SWCG 's Inyopools has an in house brand ( Crystal Pure I think) or Circupool.

Be sure it is sized for 2x your pool volume.

If you wish to have automation you need to have pump, SWCG, and automation all same brand. You do not show what pump you have.

SWCG must only be powered on when pump is running. So it should be controlled by your pump timer or have its own timer.

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You will not need to drain and refill.

 

[Mweltz88]

Re: Think about switching to salt....

Thank you for the response, I have 1.5hp
Hayward super pump, also, what about the
ionizing systems, as I researched saltwater couldn’t help but be wonder if those are effective and as efficient as advertised

 

[ajw22]

Re: Think about switching to salt....

Lot's of us here have the Pentair Intellichlor. For your size pool you should get the IC60. It is a bit oversized for your pool, so you just run it less %, and it is costs just a bit more than the IC40. More about the Intellichlor here --> IntelliChlor - Pool and Spa Sanitizers - Pentair

There are others on the market. A key tradeoff is the Pentair Intellichlor has the salt cell and all the control electronics in the cell. The other box is just a power supply. When you have a problem you replace the cell and you replace everything. That makes the cell replacements more expensive but problems easier to fix.

Other manufactures split the unit with control electronics in the box with the power supply and a simpler cell. That can be good or bad when you have a problem as you don't always know which part to replace. Getting things fixed can take more trial and error and time.

To switch to a SWG:

- Add salt - Use good quality pool salt. I like Mortons Pool Salt from Walmart. Don't buy the Clorox Pool Salt. It has caused staining with some folks. Get a K-1766 Taylor Salt Test and measure your salt level before you calculate how much salt you need. Some folks have overshot their target salt level in the inital fill. It is easier adding more bags up to your target then dumping them all in and having to drain your water out for too high a salt level.
- Add CYA to up it to 70. Learn what your new FC targets are based on Pool School - Chlorine / CYA Chart
- Install SWG system
- Power up SWG
- Check FC level and fine tune pump run time and SWG %

You don't need to drain the pool. The SWG simply begins generating the CL that you had previously been adding. You still have a CL pool.

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what about the ionizing systems, as I researched saltwater couldn’t help but be wonder if those are effective and as efficient as advertised

Skip the ionizing systems. A SWG generates CL and CL is what does the sanitizing work.

 

[Mweltz88]

I typically circulate my water continuously, I rarely shut my pump off, would I need to change that practice if I switch to salt water? I’ve scene many reviews stating to wire that pentair IC40 to the same circuit as your pump

 

[ajw22]

I typically circulate my water continuously, I rarely shut my pump off, would I need to change that practice if I switch to salt water?

You don't have to change your pump runtime. You adjust your SWG % output based on the pump runtime.

An example:

Let's say you figured out you need to run your SWG for 6 hours at 100% output to meet your FC needs.

If you change your pump runtime to 12 hours, then you reduce your SWG % to 50% output. You get the same amount of chlorine daily.

If you change your pump runtime to 24 hours, then you reduce your SWG % to 25% output.

I’ve scene many reviews stating to wire that pentair IC40 to the same circuit as your pump

That is correct for safety reasons. You don't want the SWG powered when the pump is off.

Your SWG runs the entire time your pump runs. You use the % output adjustment to set how much CL you want your SWG to produce during that pump runtime.

 

[chiefwej]

There is no need to run a pump 24/7, but if you wish to continue that practice you can either put the SWG on a separate timer so that it runs less time or just set it a a low output %. You just need to avoid having the SWG powered on while the pump is off.

 

[Donldson]

The Dive system is a joke. It's powered by a dinky little turbine and has a copper ionizer. You do not want copper in your pool. Get a real SWG and pass on this gimmick of a product.