Water temp & SWG

[Henry M]

Have Hayward AQR15 SWG & AquaCal TropiCal heat pump. At random times, with no particular pattern, the temp reading on the Hayward will read about 6 or 7 degrees higher than the temp reading on the heat pump or the thermometer in the pool. Stays that way anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Is this of any significance? The heater is always set for 87 degrees.

Also, at random times when the temp reading on the Hayward is at that 6 or 7 degrees higher reading than the heat pump, the Average Salt Level LED reads HI. I'm guessing there is some sort of relationship between the two, but, again, it happens randomly. I'm at a loss and welcome any advice. Thanks very much.

 

[JamesW]

Since the cell is after the heater, the temperature will read higher when the heater is on.

The heater readout is the inlet temperature.

At higher temperature, the cell produces more chlorine and uses more power.

The “Hi” salt warning goes off at 8 amps, which is a combination of salinity and water temperature.

To prevent a high salt warning, you would need to lower the salinity.

 

[Henry M]

Thanks for your reply. I should add water to the pool to lower the salinity, right?

 

[JamesW]

If you want to avoid a high salt warning, you will need to dilute the salinity until the amps stay below 8.0.

If you raise the flow rate a bit, the temperature rise will be reduced.

What is the flow rate?

What is the salinity?

 

[Henry M]

Am unsure how to determine flow rate. The salinity reads 3900. The water level is lower than normal, so am in the midst of adding fresh water.

 

[JamesW]

Once you add the water, see if the amps stay below 8.0 when the heater is on.

If not, you would need to lower the salinity some more.

What pump do you have and what rpm do you run the motor?

 

[Henry M]

So far, after adding more water, the amps have stayed below 8.0. Salt Level is 3600. I've a Century V-Green 165 Variable Speed. It is set at 1850 RPMs for 2 hours when it starts in the morning. Then 1600 RPM for 12 hours. It is off after 14 hours.

 

[JamesW]

As long as the amps stay below 8.0, you're good.

The lower the rpm, the more the temperature will rise after the heater while the heater is on.

Every degree of temperature rise might make about 0.1 amp difference.

 

[Henry M]

Good to know. So what should information should I consider when trying to find a good balance between efficient rpms and a temp setting that will stay below 8.0?

 

[JamesW]

I would just dilute as needed to keep the amps below 8.0.

Increasing the flow will only make a small difference in amperage.

If you're right at 8.0, you could bump up the rpm a little, but lowering the salinity is probably a better choice.

 

[Henry M]

Again: many, many thanks for your help.