Which is best for my pool?

[ChandlerInFBGTX]

Hello,

What is the best SWCG for my pool. I don’t know the size in gallons but I have attached a photo. Can someone explain automation, too? If that means the salt cell “is smart” and knows how much chlorine my pool needs given the ambient temperature or my CYA level etc.. I definitely want that. I was looking at the pentair intellichlor 40 and it looks like it says 40,000 gallons!!! What does that mean in relation to the pool and what size do I need? I have pentair pumps and pentair easy touch control board. I no longer want to wag around gallons of chlorine. My cya is around 90 now and I am putting in gallons of liquid chlorine $. I want to have something by that I can set and forget about even during the winter time. Thank you!

 

[ajw22]

There are no "smart" SWG's.

Most SWG's stop generating chlorine once the water temperature gets below the mid-50's. So the SWG may not help you keep your pool chlorinated in the winter.

We can't estimate your pool volume from a picture. What is the length, width, and average depth of your pool?

We recommend the SWG be sized for 2X your pool volume. So an IC40 is best for a pool up to around 25,000 gallons. Above that an IC60 is best for your area.

An IntelliChlor system is a good choice if you have an EasyTouch.

Salt Water Chlorine Generators

Salt Water Generators are designed to produce small amounts of chlorine continuously. This is perfect for day to day use and reduces work for the homeowner.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Use the pool volume estimation tool on this page. You may need to break it up into a few sections to get a good estimate. Either way, it does look like it's under 20,000 gallons so a 40K system should work for you.

PoolMath

Discover the calculator behind the perfect pool, PoolMath. Dealing with pools has allowed TFP to become the original authors of the best calculator on the net.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[ChandlerInFBGTX]

There are no "smart" SWG's.

Most SWG's stop generating chlorine once the water temperature gets below the mid-50's. So the SWG may not help you keep your pool chlorinated in the winter.

We can't estimate your pool volume from a picture. What is the length, width, and average depth of your pool?

We recommend the SWG be sized for 2X your pool volume. So an IC40 is best for a pool up to around 25,000 gallons. Above that an IC60 is best for your area.

An IntelliChlor system is a good choice if you have an EasyTouch.

Salt Water Chlorine Generators

Salt Water Generators are designed to produce small amounts of chlorine continuously. This is perfect for day to day use and reduces work for the homeowner.

www.troublefreepool.com

So what can you do in the winter time to keep the pool chlorinated IF you have a salt water chlorine generator?

 

[ajw22]

So what can you do in the winter time to keep the pool chlorinated IF you have a salt water chlorine generator?

Switch to liquid chlorine.

When the water is cooler you will lose less FC daily and need to add liquid chlorine only once or twice a week.

 

[ChandlerInFBGTX]

I estimated 19,500 maybe 20,000 gallons

 

[ChandlerInFBGTX]

Do I need the complete kit with the power box too? I have an easy touch Pentair control box— so I wasn’t sure if I could just plug the salt cell in to that since it is all pentair? Link to what I’m looking at

 

[ajw22]

Do I need the complete kit with the power box too? I have an easy touch Pentair control box— so I wasn’t sure if I could just plug the salt cell in to that since it is all pentair? Link to what I’m looking at

Yes, you will need the IntelliChlor Power Center and the IC40 cell. A low voltage RS-485 comm line will connect the Power Center to the EasyTouch system.

 

[ChandlerInFBGTX]

Yes, you will need the IntelliChlor Power Center and the IC40 cell. A low voltage RS-485 comm line will connect the Power Center to the EasyTouch system.

Thank you. So, if I understand correctly, are you saying additionally I will need the RS – 485 comm line to purchase or does it come with this kit? What features will this allow me to do on my easy touch? Is it necessary for operation? Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

 

[DrewLG]

Do I need the complete kit with the power box too? I have an easy touch Pentair control box— so I wasn’t sure if I could just plug the salt cell in to that since it is all pentair? Link to what I’m looking at

Some EasyTouch boxes are sold with a built-in SWG transformer / control board. Yours probably doesn't have it, but maybe you're lucky and it does -- in which case you won't need the separate Power Center.

To see, open the cover and look at the upper-right corner of the control panel. There's room for four low-voltage circuit breakers there. If the one labeled "Intellichlor" is present, you probably have the transformer, and if it's absent you don't. Here's a photo of mine, which does NOT have the built-in transformer:

 

[ajw22]

Thank you. So, if I understand correctly, are you saying additionally I will need the RS – 485 comm line to purchase or does it come with this kit?

Te RS-485 comm line is just a 2 wire 18 gauge cable the electrician should be able to supply when he wires up the IntelliChlor Power Center.

What features will this allow me to do on my easy touch?

It will display the measured slat level and let you adjust the chorination % using your EasyTouch control.

Is it necessary for operation?

Not necessary but no reason not to have it connected if your have the EasyTouch .

If you do not have the IntelliChlor connected to the EasyTouch you have to go out to the cell to make any changes and you are limited to % adjustments in 20% increments.

 

[ChandlerInFBGTX]

Some EasyTouch boxes are sold with a built-in SWG transformer / control board. Yours probably doesn't have it, but maybe you're lucky and it does -- in which case you won't need the separate Power Center.

To see, open the cover and look at the upper-right corner of the control panel. There's room for four low-voltage circuit breakers there. If the one labeled "Intellichlor" is present, you probably have the transformer, and if it's absent you don't. Here's a photo of mine, which does NOT have the built-in transformer:

View attachment 601247

Drew, my easy touch looks EXACTLY like yours. Can an electrician just install the 3AMP low voltage circuit breaker switch needed where the black circle says intellichlor? Or are you saying you HAVE to buy the external power box?

 

[ajw22]

Drew, my easy touch looks EXACTLY like yours. Can an electrician just install the 3AMP low voltage circuit breaker switch needed where the black circle says intellichlor? Or are you saying you HAVE to buy the external power box?

Pentair Automation Systems - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

When the EasyTouch Load Center is purchased as part of a Pentair bundle that includes the IntelliChlor IC40 cell the SWG electronics to power the cell are included in the Load Center cabinet.

If you want to add the IntelliChlor afterwards you either need to wire in the IntelliChlor Power Center or add components to the EasyTouch Load Center.

You would need the following parts to install in the Load Center:

• Pentair Load Center For Intellitouch, Intellichlor Scg Transformer, Easytouch And Easytouch Pl4/Psl4 Control System 521441 SWCG transformer
• Pentair Load Center IntelliChlor SCG Surge Board PCBA 521218
• Pentair Power Cable 520724 - Cable from Surge card to to connector at bottom of the cabinet where the cell would connect
• Fuse assembly and wiring
• RS-485 Cable from the main card to the surge card.

It is cheaper to just buy the external Power Center.