Hayward Instant Salt vs. Average Salt

[tjsly4]

Hello! I am excited to join you here. I have 23500-gallon pool with all Hayward equipment. I have an OmniLogic cabinet running the show.

After the pool start up, we could never get the chlorine generator to work. Eventually, Hayward kindly replaced it with a new TCell. Immediately it started to generate chlorine. It has been working well, but I don't have a ton of confidence in the numbers it is reading because my instant salt and average salt are ALWAYS worlds apart (Think 100 - 900ppm difference).

My average salt is +/- 100 ppm of an independent test. However, I have never seen my INSTANT salt go much above 2300ppm. I can't figure out why my instant salt is so different. Has anyone ever seen this with Omnilogic? How does OmniLogic arrive at Average Salt? How could Average be so much higher than every instant reading I have ever seen?

Here are some sample readings: (I know my salt is low...we just added salt today after I finished troubleshooting and verified the salt level was low with an independent test)

DATE / AVG/ INSTANT
Aug 4 /2885 /2115

Aug 5/ 2926/ 2055

Aug 5 /2905 /2222

Aug 8 /2334 /1848

Aug 10 /2700 /2200

Aug 10 /2700 /2200

Aug 10 /2700/ 2200

Aug 17 /2279/ 2168

Aug 17 /2302 /2365

Aug 17 /2401 /2381

Aug 18/ 2625 /1863

Aug 18/ 2600 /1800

Aug 18 /2600/ 1800

Aug 18 /2600 /1800

Aug 18 /2600/ 1800

 

[markayash]

Do you have a Taylor 1766 salt test kit?
Can't help on the hayward question but I would suggest get the test kit so you know your real numbers

 

[bbillingsley1985]

tjsly4,

I have a good idea on what this could be because the same thing happened to me. I'm going to guess that this was installed horizontally, you run your pump on lower rpm's most of the time, and the cell was installed right side up (where the "top" part of the swg cell goes above the unions instead of below). I installed mine myself and did that exact setup and I discovered over a day or two the same deal.....average might be in the upper 2000's with my salt test kit reading 3200 but the instant salt readings would be in the 1300, 1800, etc. The solution: You MUST install the cell upside down if you are running a VSP pump.

Here's some further reading about Hayward Aquarites and specifically, take a look at the paragraphs noted here: Hayward Aquarite SWG - Further Reading

"When using a variable speed pump it is recommended that the cell be plumbed in vertical position. By doing this the cell will fill even when the pump is running in a lower speed. If the cell is plumbed horizontally, and the pump is running in low speed, the cell will not fill completely with water, and cause it to read a false low reading."

It's completely fine if you install it horizontally (doesn't have to be vertical, and many say horizontal is the preferred way)..... but if you do, you need to turn the cell upside down so that it will fill completely with water. Hayward updated their manuals recently to show pictures of it being installed this upside down way. I've attached a picture and linked the manual below. What I think is happening is, you are running the pump at lower speeds, and since you have it installed in a raised postion, it's only halfway filling with water and thus giving a low reading. Exact same deal happened to me until I fixed it. It will not produce chlorine effectively until you get that fixed. Once fixed, it's been perfect ever sense with the instant readings being within 100 of my average and staying constantly at 3100-3200.

So what you might try:

1. Unscrew the 2 unions of the SWG cell
2. Make sure its turned "upside down" to match the position noted on page 11 of the owner's manual (this is a recent revision....older versions of their manual showed it in the opposite position): Link to manual: https://hayward-pool-assets.com/assets/documents/pools/pdf/manuals/aquarite-aqr-owners-manual.pdf
3. Tighten unions back up
4. Restart everything and things should work just fine at all VSP speeds (provided you activate flow switch of course)

Now the only caveat to what I say above is make sure that you have a valid test kit and the test kit is giving you the proper readings. I use the Taylor 1766.....pool stores and test strip salt readings can be off significantly. But if you're sure your salt is within range with a good test kit, I'd feel pretty confident that what I listed above is your issue. If you don't have the Taylor 1766 kit....do yourself a favor and buy it. It's cheap and easy to use and about the same price as unreliable test strips.

Link to Taylor 1766 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/TAYLOR-TECHNOLOGIES-INC-K-1766-CHLORIDE/dp/B001DO35EU

Link on TF Test Kits: Taylor K-1766 Salt Test Kit

 

[tjsly4]

tjsly4,

I have a good idea on what this could be because the same thing happened to me. I'm going to guess that this was installed horizontally, you run your pump on lower rpm's most of the time, and the cell was installed right side up (where the "top" part of the swg cell goes above the unions instead of below). I installed mine myself and did that exact setup and I discovered over a day or two the same deal.....average might be in the upper 2000's with my salt test kit reading 3200 but the instant salt readings would be in the 1300, 1800, etc. The solution: You MUST install the cell upside down if you are running a VSP pump.

Here's some further reading about Hayward Aquarites and specifically, take a look at the paragraphs noted here: Hayward Aquarite SWG - Further Reading

"When using a variable speed pump it is recommended that the cell be plumbed in vertical position. By doing this the cell will fill even when the pump is running in a lower speed. If the cell is plumbed horizontally, and the pump is running in low speed, the cell will not fill completely with water, and cause it to read a false low reading."

It's completely fine if you install it horizontally (doesn't have to be vertical, and many say horizontal is the preferred way)..... but if you do, you need to turn the cell upside down so that it will fill completely with water. Hayward updated their manuals recently to show pictures of it being installed this upside down way. I've attached a picture and linked the manual below. What I think is happening is, you are running the pump at lower speeds, and since you have it installed in a raised postion, it's only halfway filling with water and thus giving a low reading. Exact same deal happened to me until I fixed it. It will not produce chlorine effectively until you get that fixed. Once fixed, it's been perfect ever sense with the instant readings being within 100 of my average and staying constantly at 3100-3200.

So what you might try:

1. Unscrew the 2 unions of the SWG cell
2. Make sure its turned "upside down" to match the position noted on page 11 of the owner's manual (this is a recent revision....older versions of their manual showed it in the opposite position): Link to manual: https://hayward-pool-assets.com/assets/documents/pools/pdf/manuals/aquarite-aqr-owners-manual.pdf
3. Tighten unions back up
4. Restart everything and things should work just fine at all VSP speeds (provided you activate flow switch of course)

Now the only caveat to what I say above is make sure that you have a valid test kit and the test kit is giving you the proper readings. I use the Taylor 1766.....pool stores and test strip salt readings can be off significantly. But if you're sure your salt is within range with a good test kit, I'd feel pretty confident that what I listed above is your issue. If you don't have the Taylor 1766 kit....do yourself a favor and buy it. It's cheap and easy to use and about the same price as unreliable test strips.

Link to Taylor 1766 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/TAYLOR-TECHNOLOGIES-INC-K-1766-CHLORIDE/dp/B001DO35EU

Link on TF Test Kits: Taylor K-1766 Salt Test Kit

Thank you so much for such a detailed response. You are exactly right about the positioning of my cell. It is horizontal and upright. I will flip it and report back so others can validate this advice! Again, thank you!

Jeremy

 

[bbillingsley1985]

Thank you so much for such a detailed response. You are exactly right about the positioning of my cell. It is horizontal and upright. I will flip it and report back so others can validate this advice! Again, thank you!

Jeremy

You bet man. Happy to help. Hopefully that solves it for you!