Balanced Water Chemistry - To maximize the life of your
salt cell, you’ll need to maintain proper water chemistry. The critical components of healthy water chemistry are
Chlorine,
pH,
Total Alkalinity (TA,)
Cyanuric Acid (CYA or Stabilizer,)
Calcium Hardness (CH,) and
Salt. The image on this step provides the ideal ranges these categories should be maintained within.
For example, suppose your pool is high in calcium. In that case, the salt cell will become caked with scale (calcium buildup, which restricts flow over the plates and prevents the electrolysis chemical reaction from happening. Water with too high of pH or alkalinity will also lead to excess scale buildup and staining to the pool surface. And low CYA levels lead to rapid chlorine burn-off because there isn’t enough “stabilizer” to protect chlorine from UV rays hence why cyanuric acid is commonly referred to as sunblock for your pool.
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Anonymous Posted: 3/4/2019
I have a blue essence salt chlorinator. The pool says the salt level is high and the reading on the system says it's extremely high.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 3/4/2019
Have you had the pool water tested by a local pool company? This will confirm the actual number. If you have had it tested, what is the ppm number?Reply
Matthew Posted: 8/3/2018
Hello Graham - I would begin by getting your water tested for CYA and phosphate levels. Cyanuric acid is a chemical meant to help protect your chlorine; but when levels get high, it starts to inhibit chlorine's effectiveness. And phosphates have to upside other than gobbling up chlorine when it should be used on important things like bacteria and algae.You can always try using some standard chlorine shock to help get your salt system our of the chlorine deficit it currently finds itself.
Reply
Graham Posted: 7/31/2018
My T-3 seems to be operating correctly, all LED's are fine. Salinity is 2900, voltage an amperage are 27.8 and 2.72, chlorine output is 65-78p (it fluctuates a little but settles at 65p) but when I take the pool water to a local vendor for testing, I have no chlorine. I can try running the cell longer (its about 8 hours now) but is there anything else that I should be checking?Reply
Inyopools Posted: 7/20/2018
Hello Pat - You may have some iron staining. I wouldn't worry about the brown discoloration inside the cell. As long as the cell is generating chlorine, it should be ok.Reply
Inyopools Posted: 6/22/2018
Hello Carl - It does sound the cell is the culprit. The cells typically last 3-5 years and they are the number one cause for an incorrect salt reading when they start to go bad.Reply
Carl Posted: 6/20/2018
We have a T-CELL-15; the salt level was checked by our local pool supply store and its 3400. The display on the Aqua-Rite shows 2100. We used the instructions in the Troubleshooting Manual to start the calibration procedure, and we can see the output voltage and current on the display; Voltage is 32 volts with no load, and 26.3 volts when the cell is on; the current flow however is about 4.5 amperes while the cell is on. the cell is on for about 2 minutes then the Check Salt and Inspect Cell lights come on. Also we cannot get the Inspect Cell light to go off upon pressing the button for more than three seconds. The cell was also checked by the dealer, but it is over 7 years old. I've change the varistor on the board (I'm in electronics) and the electrolytic caps all check good on the board. My money's on the cell being the culprit?Reply
Inyopools Posted: 5/30/2018
Hello Nic - I agree that the cell seems to be failing. The replacement for the T-5 cell is the GLXCELL5.Reply
Nic Posted: 5/30/2018
I have an older T-5 cell that seems to be dying. I'm getting a salt reading of 4! Tried doing the fast reading of salt and still nothing above a 4. I'm completely confused on what cell I can replace the T-5 with. Could you please point me in the right direction? Thank you!Reply
Pat Posted: 5/26/2018
Hi, The inside of my salt cell is brown, like it is burnt. It still maintains the Chlorine and their is no obvious scaling or deteriation. Is that bad and should I replace it? ThanksReply
Inyopools Posted: 5/2/2018
Hello Joseph - There a couple things we would recommend trying. If you haven't cleaned the cell recently, give that a try. The salt reading on most systems can be recalibrated. Check your owner's manual for specific instructions.Reply
Joseph Posted: 5/1/2018
Good Afternoon, noticed my salt level staying consistent with heavy rain for few weeks, went to supply store to check level (in which i have done in past) whom states salt level at 2300, but LED display states 3400? Anything i need to do, btw according to store there is free chlorine in the pool and water looks greatReply
Inyopools Posted: 4/11/2018
Hello Paul - Your issue is often caused by a bad current limiter. I would take a look at the main circuit board inside of the control box. There is a nickel-sized black disk on the board. Check that to see if it cracked or falling apart. If so, you can try replacing that piece or the complete board. We also recommend reading through the troubleshooting guide for more tips.Reply
paul Posted: 4/11/2018
Hi, I have a Blue Essence salt chlorine generator. My generator light will not go on. It does not flash or illuminate. What may be your suggestions to search. PaulReply
Rob Posted: 3/28/2018
I was having the same problem. Talked to Hayward and they told me since my cell is horizontal and have a variable speed pump that I could be getting air in the cell when it changes speed. Was told to rotate the cell so the hump was down to eliminate air from entering. I am giving it a try. It does make sense.Reply
Inyopools Posted: 3/5/2018
Brad - Before you buy a new cell, I would try cleaning the one you have even if it looks clean now. It should be cleaned a couple of times a year depending on how well you maintain your chemicals. If there are buildups between the plates that you can't see, they will affect the salt readings. See our guide on "How To Clean a Hayward AquaRite Turbo Cell". It is very close to your Crystal Clean Cell.Reply
Brad Posted: 2/27/2018
Hello, I have a Crystal Pure system that is about 2 years old. Lately my salt reading on the panel has been showing low so I was adding salt like I usually do when I noticed it wasnt increasing over 24hr period like it previously did. The salt reading has always been more accurate than my drop test as the drop test always showed lower. When I tested the water I discovered it was really high. The local pool store confirmed m readings. So I'm not sure why the system isn't reading the salt level properly. But since it is below the minimum threshold it won't generate chlorine. So is the cell gone bad or could there be something wrong with the panel? There doesn't appear to be any visible buildup on the cell either. Thanks!Reply
Inyopools Posted: 12/5/2017
John - 4-5 years is the typical time to replace a salt cell. I would also have your pool's salt level checked by a pool store. If it's really at 7100 ppm, that is way too high and most cells shut down at that level. You should be getting a high salt warning. If it is that high, try reducing the level to around 3500 ppm before buying a new cell. See our guide on "How To Reduce the Salt Level In Your Pool".Reply
John Posted: 12/2/2017
I have a Hayward salt cell. My control panel keeps giving me a low salt level, 1900-2000 range. I checked it with a test strip and it shows my salt level around 7100 ppm. I have cleaned my cell 3 times in the last 5 months. Is my cell worn out? It is 4 or 5 years old I believe.Reply
Inyopools Posted: 10/13/2017
AAron - If the "No Flow" LED isn't on, water flow is probably not the problem. The "Inspect Cell" LED is programmed to come on after 500 hours of use to remind you to clean the cell. If you cell has not been cleaned recently, try cleaning it. When you replace the cell, hold the diagnostic button down for more than 3 seconds to turn the "Inspect Cell" LED off.Reply
AAron Posted: 10/8/2017
I keep getting the inspect cell light. I have turned the system off, I have unplugged, I have even brought it in to the local dealer for testing. It reads as fine for them. There is a separate black cable that also goes to the machine. That seems to sense flow. Could that be the reason that the inspect cell is continually resetting? My pool is green because it stops generating when inspect cell activates.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/10/2017
Morgan - Wait until the salt is completely dissolved, about 24 hours. Then test your salt level again. Take an independent salt reading, pool store or strip, to check your system and salt level. Note for clarification: the operation of your salt chlorine generator does not raise or lower your pool's salt level. It only measures it.Reply
Morgan Posted: 7/7/2017
I've just installed a new cell. Salt level was reading 0 (howeverver I didn't try to calibrate it before I started. I added 240 lbs. it now reads 2700. It hasn't been running long and our water is fairly warm. Should I add more salt now or will the level go up as it generates? Thank youReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/27/2017
Crowhbc - Make sure the arrows on flow switch are installed pointing in the direction of the water flow. Then check for low water flow. See our guide on "How to Correct Low Water Pressure in Your Pool System". First check for a clogged impeller, Step 6.Reply
Crowhbc Posted: 6/26/2017
Salt generator not producing chlorine, no lights on except no flow, salt cell is clean. Salt cell is 4 years old... help!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 4/18/2017
trad - I don't know why your SCG system would work in the spa mode and not in the pool mode. It's the same water. Try cleaning the cell. Make sure the displayed cell size is the same and the actual cell size. Reset the average salt level. See our guide on "How to Read and Adjust the Hayward Aqua Rite SCG Operational Values" Steps 9 and 10 for these last two procedures.Reply
trad Posted: 4/16/2017
my cell, when in pool filter mode reads 4100 ppm with yellow light on and high amps message i changed the water yesterday and it still reads the same. but when in spa mode, cell works fine. help. i can't get it off of 4100 ppm in pool modeReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 3/23/2017
Lois adams - The most common problems with salt cells is: they are old - 5 plus years; they need to be cleaned - see our guide on "How To Clean a Compupool Salt Generator Cell"; and the cell cable connections are loose.Reply
Lois adams Posted: 3/20/2017
We have the same problem salt cell not workingWe need help
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 10/1/2016
BATCHIEF30 - When you replaced your cell, did you reset your cell type so that the displayed cell type matched the installed cell type? And did you reset your system's average salt level? See pages 4 and 5 in this Hayward's Aqua Rite Diagnostics Manual. It may also have other tests to help isolate your problem. Try running your system in "super chlorinate" to see if that produces chlorine. Also, have your pool's salt level tested by a local pool store to verify that your salt level is within operational range.Reply
BATCHIEF30 Posted: 9/28/2016
My 16,000 gallon salt pool is not holding chlorine. I've been dealing with this for weeks. I had Hayward tech support trouble shoot the system on the side of the house and they said it's working as it should. I took the cell to be tested and it showed "fail" on the test box. Hayward sent me a new cell since the failed cell was under a year old. I installed the new cell Monday night, it is now Wednesday, still zero chlorine. Pool water test results from this morning are as follows:Free Chlorine: 0
Total Chlorine: 0.2
CYA: 89
Alk: 120
PH. 7.7
Hardness: Uh, don't remember but it was in range.
Salt: 3100
Phosphates: 0
Salt generator has been set at 60% for 3 weeks now. Power light is on, generating light is on.
I'm at a complete loss.
Reply
C. Flowers Posted: 9/5/2016
Finally, a comprehensive set of salt chlorinator owner instructions that can be followed and understood.Reply