at what percentage should i set my salt chlorine generator

Poolside Chat Episode #41: Salt Chlorine Generator Percentage

In today’s episode of Poolside Chat, Rob and Matt tackle another common swimming pool question:
  • At what percentage should I set my salt chlorine generator’s out?

At what output percentage should I run my salt chlorine generator?

Inyo Forum

salt chlorine generator display
Hayward AquaRite Display

As with everything pool related, it depends. We suggest you start your salt chlorine generator at 50 percent output and run it for a couple of days, then check the chlorine level. In a balanced pool, a good chlorine level is 1-3 parts per million. If your chlorine levels are low, you can raise the percentage, and if it’s high you can lower the percentage. The output percentage means your cell will only be active for that percentage of time in a pump’s run cycle. For example, if your pump is set for an 8-hour cycle, and your salt chlorine generator is set at 50 percent; your cell will only be producing chlorine for 4 of those hours total. 

If you ever get behind in your chlorine output, use the super chlorinate feature on your generator’s control box. Super Chlorinate increases chlorine output to 100 percent and keeps it that way for about 24 hours, then reduces down to your normal output settings.

I’m 100 percent happy we covered everything salt chlorine generator output related. Thank you for the sound guy for letting us talk. And thank you for joining us.

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13 thoughts on “Poolside Chat Episode #41: Salt Chlorine Generator Percentage

    1. Short answer: I don’t know.

      Heat is just one factor to consider when dialing in the production rate of your salt cell. You must also consider the pool size, the pool size rating for the cell, the current TDS of the pool water, humidity, bather load (how many swimmers there are/will be), and current water chemistry levels.

      The best method for calculating output percentage is first to ensure your pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness are in check; then, set the cell to 75 percent. Let it run for a few days, then test the water again. You can adjust the output accordingly if the chlorine is high or low.

  1. Hi
    I just took a sample of my pool water to the pool store. They said everything looked great other than the chlorine level was too high. They said better be high than too low. One was 10.83 and the other was 11. I had my salt water generator on 50 percent and I run the pump 9 hours a day 7-4. We just turned it down to 30 percent. Shoukd I increase the pump time as well ?
    Thank you

  2. I believe that Aquarite literally sucks! I hav done everything required to my chlorination and pool over the years. I understand how it works. But salt readings are always very low, so that the generator stops producing chlorine. Sick of playing the game.

  3. I set my chlorinator to 12 but it keeps randomly spiking to 15 18 and 24 what troubleshooting should I do? This happened after a variable speed pump was installed

  4. I live in south Florida. I have to run my T9 generator at 90-100 percent to maintain a chlorine level of around 1.6. I run the pump for 10 hrs per day 7am-5pm. Ph-7.4, Alkalinity-100, Hardness-250, Cyan-35. Is my cell to small? Is it ok to run at this percentage all the time? Am I just shortening the life if my cell?

    1. A salt cell has a set amount of chlorine it can produce in its lifetime; the higher the output percentage and the longer it runs, the quicker it will reach that limit and need replacement.

  5. Hi Matthew. I have a problem with my no flow light being continuously lit. We changed the switch, cleaned the filter etc but still lit. Any ideas on what to do next? Am at a loss…

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