Pentair salt generator won't turn down its salt output

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Aggieben04

Member
Aug 13, 2022
14
Austin
We filled our pool in December and our salt system was started up about a month ago. My chlorine levels are high so I went to the unit to turn down the salt output but it won't turn down below 60%. If I press and hold the down button it will change to 40% briefly but then immediately reverts back to 60%. What am I doing wrong?
 
Welcome to the forum.

Do you have an automation system? Show us a picture of your equipment pad.
 
Do not hold the button down. Just press it normally.

If you do not mind, show us a wider view picture of the equipment pad.
 
Ben,

I have never heard of that problem.. :scratch:

Just to be clear... If you press and release the up button, it will move up to 80%.. then if you press and release the down button it will go back to 60%, and then pressing and releasing the down button again and nothing happens. Is that correct??

Thanks,

Jim R.
 

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Jimrahbe said:
Ben,

I have never heard of that problem.. :scratch:

Just to be clear... If you press and release the up button, it will move up to 80%.. then if you press and release the down button it will go back to 60%, and then pressing and releasing the down button again and nothing happens. Is that correct??

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
And just to clarify neither the up nor the down arrow buttons do anything when I press them.
 
Aggieben04 said:
Oh boy…
Click to expand...

Ben,

Just kidding you because of your screen name. Keep on asking questions as that is what we are here for. If you don't ask, you won't learn.

The fact that you are in Austin and have a SWCG makes you about 10 X smarter than all the other Aggies that live in your area. :goodjob:

A lot of pool builders in that area are not too SWCG friendly. You did good!

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Aggieben04 said:
My chlorine levels are high so I went to the unit to turn down the salt output
Click to expand...
Ben, @Aggieben04

Since we are learning, let's start here.. I suspect this is just a typo, but the cell uses the salt in the pool water to make chlorine. The cell does not make salt. Adjust the output% just adjusts the amount of time the cell is making chlorine per hour. As an example.. If you set the output to 50%, the cell will make chlorine for 2.5 minutes and then will be idle for 2.5 minutes, rinse and repeat. You can tell when the cell is making chlorine as the 'Cell' light will be green when it is making chlorine and off when not making chlorine.

I went back and looked at your initial post and saw that you said your chlorine (FC) was too high. What did you use to test your FC level? I hope not the useless kit the pool builder gave you. :(

You can't know if your FC is too high or not unless you know your CYA level.

I suggest that you take a good read through our Pool School and see what we are all about and how keeping your FC and CYA in the proper relationship will prevent algae without you ever having to add a single bag of "Pool Shock" to your pool.

Good luck with your new toy, er' I mean pool.. :shark:

Jim R.
 
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Aggieben04 said:
Oh boy…
Click to expand...

Jimrahbe said:
Ben, @Aggieben04

Since we are learning, let's start here.. I suspect this is just a typo, but the cell uses the salt in the pool water to make chlorine. The cell does not make salt. Adjust the output% just adjusts the amount of time the cell is making chlorine per hour. As an example.. If you set the output to 50%, the cell will make chlorine for 2.5 minutes and then will be idle for 2.5 minutes, rinse and repeat. You can tell when the cell is making chlorine as the 'Cell' light will be green when it is making chlorine and off when not making chlorine.

I went back and looked at your initial post and saw that you said your chlorine (FC) was too high. What did you use to test your FC level? I hope not the useless kit the pool builder gave you. :(

You can't know if your FC is too high or not unless you know your CYA level.

I suggest that you take a good read through our Pool School and see what we are all about and how keeping your FC and CYA in the proper relationship will prevent algae without you ever having to add a single bag of "Pool Shock" to your pool.

Good luck with your new toy, er' I mean pool.. :shark:

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help! I think I mis spoke in my original post. I do understand how the salt generator produces chlorine.

I use my standard test kit to test the water every other day or so and that's where I'm seeing my chlorine levels as being too high and I also have stubbornly high pH and am having to add acid quite a bit. I've also been taking my water in to be tested every Friday at Leslie's and they've confirmed the at home test numbers. Here are my numbers from Leslie's from last Friday:
Free chlorine 9.19
Total chlorine 9.37
pH 7.2
Total alkalinity 110
Calcium hardness 219
Cyanuric acid 40
Phosphates 571.

I will definitely check out the pool school section on this website. Thanks so much.
 
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