Any salt chlorinated pool owners out there?

[ROOSTA]

Hey guys,

Recently bought a house that has a salt chlorinated pool..

BUT, unfortunately the chlorinator has decided after 15 years to retire, permanantly..

So I am on the market for a new chlorinator unit and am currently weighing up all the options.. And there are heaps..

After spending a few hours googling and then a run around to the local pool shops, I am even more confused than before..

I am looking for some advice, brands, models, experiences, etc.. I am also leaning towards a unit with automatic pH..

Details:
Pool volume is about 50,000L.. Climate is like most of Australia, Tropical in summer, and feking cold in winter.. No pool blanket and we use a automatic pool cleaner pretty much all the time..

Cheers,
Nik

[mac_man_luke]

Auto ph would be certainly a plus - we tend to get short cell life due to being a bit too lax with the px levels especially over winter.

We have a watermaid unit which is solid but nothing flash.

[PimpMyHubcap]

I have dealt with this company before (trying to get them to sell my pool lights) and havent heard anything bad about their products.

http://www.reltech.com.au/index.php?...t-chlorinators

http://www.reltech.com.au/uploads/PC%20Brochure.pdf

These ones look like they have optional pH control as well as ORP control (chlorine level really) which works by turning your SWC on and off.

I`ve been in the industry 12 years now starting at the bottom (pool service tech) and like you said, it`s very confusing with everything out there. All manufacturers keep changing their quality for marketing and financial issues so that no-one really knows whats good or bad.

If you just want a straight chlorinator that will do the job asked of it then go with Hurlcon or AIS. I have seen 25 yld AC25 saltwater chlorinators (AIS) still going up in North Queensland. Take any recommendations that MOST pool shops make with a grain of salt (pun intended) as they only sell the brands that make them the most money or give them bonuses.

Tips: Keep the salt level up to near its maximum, keep the cell clean and keep the pH stable as mac said.

Cheers
Mick

[ROOSTA]

Thanks Guys..

Yer have just contacted a local mob and they can do me a Astra Hurlcon VX35 PH for $1500 installed so pretty happy with that.. Plus apparently u can get a $150 cash back from Hurlcon.. :-D

But still weighing it all up..

Cheers,
Nik

[damoose]

Just hold on there roosta , PSIPOP will be trolling the forums after work today and this is what he does for a living. So no doubt he will some advice for you.

[ROOSTA]

Thanks damoose.. I will await eagerly.. haha

Cheers,
Nik

[Psi-Pop]

The V35PH are a good step up from the old Astral VX model that its phasing out. The only thing it doesn't do it cut its production off when the Chlorine level gets to high. Its still a find a happy setting and leave it at that. These units can also be setup to run a Pool light and are compatible with the Astral/Hurlcon multi speed pumps if you upgrade that way in the future.

The calibration of PH probe is a really simple 5 minute task that you can do, saves having to call a service tech out (Me). Maintenance wise they require basically nothing, maybe a clean of the cell every few years but most units these days do a pretty good job of self cleaning.

[39ClevoUte]

If you have 50000 litres make sure you get a unit that is rated at about 75000 or even 100000. It's like anything they always quote the absolute max performace in the most ideal conditions. You need redundancy, because also you can imagine that the performance of the cell also deteriates over time. You can always turn it down while its young and have somewhere to go as it ages.

[ROOSTA]

Thanks Guys..

Yep was already going bigger than specs needed.. Sounds like to V35PH might be the way to go..

Cheers,
Nik

[Cobramad]

Fitted a Hurlcon to my parents pool after they got sick of spending $$$ on chlorine.
Pool chemistry is now so stable and is so much cheaper to run.
The auto chlorinator works a treat and needs a 3 monthly clean of the cell but otherwise has been brilliant.
Would not hesitate to recommend a Hurlcon product, and I'm a fussy B@$ta#d..