Hayward Aquarite Flow Sensor shows flow even when pump is off

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M

MikeElmendorf

Member
Jun 6, 2022
15
Albany, NY
I had my Hayward Aquarite T15 replaced Friday and had a new flow sensor installed as well, as the only one was leaking and malfunctioning.

The new flow sensor is showing flow on the control even when the pump is turned off. If I unplug it, the control immediately reads NO FLOW. When I plug it back in, it flashes for a bit and then indicates flow.

I tried troubleshooting it by plugging in a phone wire not connected to anything and it showed no flow. That would seem to suggest the problem is not the board, but rather the sensor.

Any ideas?

Thanks.
 
Yes. If it shows no-flow when the cord is unplugged or when you just plug in a phone cord with nothing on the other end, the board is acting right.
It is a simple switch. It's either closed or open. Closed means flow, open means no flow. The Goldline/Hayward flow switch is I think a reed switch...possibly it's a tuned circuit with a Hall effect sensor. There are some 3rd party replacements that I think are mechanical microswitches with a plastic lever. Either way, flow pushes a moving part which closes a switch.

Verify that it was installed with the correct orientation, but incorrect orientation would normally cause it to say "no flow".
 
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Well, scratch that. Still not working right. The sensor is obviously working because I can get the board to read flow and no flow by manually moving the sensor to and from the contact.

I think the issue may be the T-housing. That was replaced too and this one is different than the original and the sensor sits much higher. See attached photo versus the Hayward part. Could that be the problem?

2022-06-06 16.12.57.jpg2022-06-06 16.10.48.jpg
 
Yes, that is the issue.
It needs the specific tee to get the sensor it the right spacing into the flow. What you've got there is a Lowe's/H.D. standard schedule 40 tee, with a threaded adapter glued in. The dimensions on that side port are totally different to what the flow switch was designed for. Why did he replace the tee? If just the sensor was bad, it would have been simple to just screw the new sensor into the existing tee.
 
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jedigrover is right. Made that mistake myself a long time ago. The "flag" on the flow switch is not in the water flow. I was 25 miles from the nearest anything that might have what I needed to make the repair and did it the way it is in your picture. Obviously, didn't work. Glad that gas wasn't $6.00 a gallon then.
 
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I have a new (replaced this June) Hayward Aquarite T15 generator.

It has started flashing “Check Salt” and ”Inspect Cell” every morning. I have a variable speed pump that slows down overnight; it seems like something is going awry then.

When this is happening, the salt level is also measuring lower than it is. I measure it both with a digital gauge and strips and it is about 3400; the control panel reads 2600-2700 typically when this is happening. It does still appear to be generating while this is happening, judging from the readings on the panel and the hydrogen bubbles from the return.

Recalibrating the salt level on the panel knocks out the flashing lights, but each morning the last several days they are back. It seems fine at night before the pump slows down.

I have also held down the button to reset the inspect cell timer.

Planning to take the cell off this weekend to look inside, but curious if anyone has ideas of what might be going on here.

Thanks.
 

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Your Aquarite panel should be powered off when your pump is off.

It sounds like your Aquarite panel is powered when your pump is off.

In addition you should check your flow switch as it sounds like it has failed closed.

The Aquarite powered while the pump is off and no flow develops erroneous salt readings overnight.

Post pics of how your pump and Aquarite are powered and we can discuss how to fix.
 
Hi -

Thanks for the replies.

Not home now so can’t post pics but the pump doesn’t turn off overnight. Just slows down the flow rate. Perhaps it is too low for the aquarite.

The flow sensor was replaced and is working. Reads no flow when pump is off and registers flow appropriately when on.

Will check tonight to see what it is reading when the pump slows flow at night.
 
Update: I took the generator off and there was quite amount of scaling in there despite it only having been running for just under two months. Cleaned it out although there still some on one end. Going to do again Sunday when I have a bit more time.

I was able to reverse the direction and invert the orientation so the hump is now at the bottom. We’ll see if it performs better that way. Is there a trick to getting the scaling out that did not come out with two 5 minute muriatic acid baths?

It seems to be showing a more accurate salt reading already.

Thanks.
 
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