Are you thinking about transitioning from a chlorine-based pool to a salt chlorine generator? Here are some things to know when deciding which salt chlorine generator to purchase:
Power Supply- The power supply takes high voltage and changes it to low voltage, which energizes the cell and allows it to generate chlorine. A control board lets you control how much chlorine the cell is generating. Using either a dial or push buttons, you can set the chlorine output level anywhere from 0-100%.
Some systems allow you to adjust the level in small increments, while others allow adjustments in larger increments. Naturally, the 1% incremental control will allow a much finer tuning of the salt system to match the pool equipment’s normal operation. The higher increments may require some adjustments of the pump run times to ensure that you maintain the proper chlorine level.
Cells- All cell designs are generally similar and usually consist of a PVC housing and titanium blades with ruthenium oxide coatings. The number of blades and the amount of power going to the cell determines how much chlorine the cell generates. The amount of ruthenium oxide on the blade determines how long the cell will last.
Important to note, calcium scale formation on the blades is detrimental to cell life and should be prevented. Allowing calcium scale build up on the blades will shorten cell life and reduce chlorine output and efficiency. Power Supplies are designed with a self-cleaning mode for the cells to help prevent calcium scale buildup. However, if water chemistry conditions are not maintained properly, calcium scale will build up and will require manual acid washing to rid the cell of calcium.
Flow Protection- Two methods of flow protection are available: mechanical flow switch and electrical gas trap. The mechanical flow switch is a device that senses water flow prior to the cell, and pushes a flow paddle towards a magnetic switch. When water flow is correct, the switch sends a signal to the power supply to let it know there is sufficient flow.
The gas trap design requires there to be sufficient flow to evacuate any air or gases that can accumulate within the cell body. Gas traps typically require an initial high flow rate to rid the gases, and then it can operate at lower RPMs. However, the gas trap may still require a higher flow rate than that of a flow switch.
Flow switch designs allow for flexibility in the cell orientation, whereas the gas trap requires the cell to be mounted horizontally. Flow switch designs will work better with variable speed pumps (remember this from the 3rd blog?!) by allowing a lower RPM, and lower flow rate, to activate the flow device.
A salt chlorine generator is not for everyone- but if it’s something you are considering, it is always best to consult with your local Colley’s expert!