Wired correctly?

[VST]

Hi,
I keep having to SLAM my pool following minimal use. My pool professional believes I have a production issue with the salt cell, despite passing the bucket test. He believes there may be a power or wiring issue that doesn't allow the cell to function optimally.

Does the wiring ok look in these pics? He says he's never seen it wired like this. The other option is I just need to supplement with some liquid chlorine following use during this hot and rainy FL summer.

 

[ajw22]

Is your iChor Power Center wired through the IO Board relay in your Intelliflo3 pump? Looks that way but I can't see the connection.

What are the settings on your Pentair HOME app for the Intelloflo3 relays?

Has your "pool professional" never seen the use of the IO Board on an Intelloflo3 pump?

Can your pool pass a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. You may have algae consuming the chlorine generated in which case you need to follow the SLAM Process

Your iChlor 30 should be able to generate enough chlorine for a 16,000 gallon pool.

What is your % on the iChlor cell and your daily pump runtime?

What is your CYA level?

 

[VST]

iChor Power Center seems to be wired through the IO Board relay in the Intelliflo3 pump. I have controller on the wall. My pool professional has never seen this wiring configuration. Is it ok like this?

It is set to relay 16 in the app. Relay 5 is for lights. Through the app, I can only turn the cell on or off.

I just completed a successful slam last month. Chlorine held for 2 weeks, but as soon as we got back in the pool, I'm going to have to slam again now. My pool professional thinks I may have a production issue because of this wiring

 

[VST]

Sorry don't have a controller on the wall I meant, which is why it's wired directly into the board

 

[ajw22]

iChor Power Center seems to be wired through the IO Board relay in the Intelliflo3 pump. I have controller on the wall. My pool professional has never seen this wiring configuration. Is it ok like this?

It is ok if done correctly. I can't see the wiring to know if it is done correctly.

It is set to relay 16 in the app. Relay 5 is for lights. Through the app, I can only turn the cell on or off.

Do you see the cell powered when the pump is on and off when the pump is off?

My pool professional thinks I may have a production issue because of this wiring

Your pool professional is not very smart on how modern pool equipment can operate. He does not know what he is talking about. And I am trying not to call him an idiot as if he was a professional he would break out the manuals and learn about what you have.

 

[VST]

It is ok if done correctly. I can't see the wiring to know if it is done correctly.

Will it help if I take the face plate off the power center and then take a pic?

Do you see the cell powered when the pump is on and off when the pump is off?

Yes

Your pool professional is not very smart on how modern pool equipment can operate. He does not know what he is talking about. And I am trying not to call him an idiot as if he was a professional he would break out the manuals and learn about what you have.

He's digging through manuals and found this image attached. It shows relay 5 for salt cell and 16 for lights, which is the opposite of what I have. He strongly believes that this isn't a binary issue....that is, not as simple as the cell is on or off. He thinks it's not properly wired and suboptimally working. He thinks it isn't getting proper voltage continuously and is only intermittently functioning. His belief is that's why production has never been to the level he expects, even after the successful completion of SLAM.

Have you heard of such a possibility? Or you think this is craziness?

 

[ajw22]

Will it help if I take the face plate off the power center and then take a pic?

You can but it sounds like things are correct.

He's digging through manuals and found this image attached. It shows relay 5 for salt cell and 16 for lights, which is the opposite of what I have. He strongly believes that this isn't a binary issue....that is, not as simple as the cell is on or off. He thinks it's not properly wired and suboptimally working. He thinks it isn't getting proper voltage continuously and is only intermittently functioning. His belief is that's why production has never been to the level he expects, even after the successful completion of SLAM.

Have you heard of such a possibility? Or you think this is craziness?

Craziness. He does not understand electricity.

Use of the 16A relay or 5A relay does not matter. You can use a lower amp device, like the SWG, on a higher amp relay.

And why wouldn't it be getting the proper voltage? Let him breakout his multimeter and check voltages if he suspects a problem. Oh, he does not have a multimeter? Yeah, he does not know about electricity.

If you had voltage problems you would see errors on the cell display.

 

[VST]

Ok thanks. Guess I'm back to SLAMing again and will have to keep the cya higher (had it at 60) and salt cell output higher (had it at 30-40).

One question on the SLAM. To me it seems I should let the CYA fall to 40, so I require less chlorine for the SLAM. That will lessen the expense and more importantly the amount of chlorine i subject the equipment too.

Does this plan sound reasonable?

 

[ajw22]

What is your % on the iChlor cell and your daily pump runtime?

What is your CYA level?

 

[VST]

What is your % on the iChlor cell and your daily pump runtime?

What is your CYA level?

After the slam, I had an FC of 8, CYA of 60, and salt cell % of 50. After 3 swims over 1 week, I'm in a chlorine deficit again.

Currently
Cya of 70
Salt cell 100%
FC 3.5

 

[VST]

Pump runs 24/7, mostly at 40 gpm, but also at 80 gpm for part of the day

 

[ajw22]

50% for 24 hours will give you 3.7 ppm in your 16,000 gallon pool.

That may not be enough daily FC this time of year in sunny Florida.

I would run your SWG at 80% which should give you 6 ppm and see if your FC climbs. Then reduce it until you get it dialed in around your daily FC needs.

 

[VST]

50% for 24 hours will give you 3.7 ppm in your 16,000 gallon pool.

That may not be enough daily FC this time of year in sunny Florida.

I would run your SWG at 80% which should give you 6 ppm and see if your FC climbs. Then reduce it until you get it dialed in around your daily FC needs.

View attachment 605708

This is your recommendation after I SLAM again, correct?

 

[ajw22]

This is your recommendation after I SLAM again, correct?

You only need to SLAM again if your pool fails the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

Up the SWG %.

 

[VST]

You only need to SLAM again if your pool fails the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

Up the SWG %.

I will run the test tomorrow night, but fully expect it to fail since I only gained 0.5 in FC after running the salt cell at 100% for 12 hrs overnight last night.

Is my idea to slam at cya of 40 instead of 80 to save on chlorine a sound strategy?

Thanks for your help

 

[ajw22]

Is my idea to slam at cya of 40 instead of 80 to save on chlorine a sound strategy?

Yes, if you have no problem draining 50% of your pool and refilling with fresh water.

It will also dump 50% of your algae an make the SLAM quicker.

 

[VST]

Yes, if you have no problem draining 50% of your pool and refilling with fresh water.

It will also dump 50% of your algae an make the SLAM quicker.

I'm thinking to close the skimmer line, fully open the main drain line, set it to drain at the pump hose bib, and simultaneously fill with filtered hose water in the shallow end.

Doing that for 36 hrs should expedite the SLAM.

 

[ajw22]

Have you tested if the main drain can feed your pump alone?

The pump will probably drain water out faster then your hose can fill it.

Doing the No Drain Water Exchange using a sump pump will let you better balance the drain and fill rates.

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[PoolStored]

Doing the No Drain Water Exchange using a sump pump will let you better balance the drain and fill rates.

I agree. I used a 9' step ladder to put the output hose over...it added head which balanced the 5gph input with the output from the sump.