Re: Pool Valve Control

[Stu Alden <foo@xxxxxxx>]

How much do those salt systems cost, though - $1,000?  The payback=20
period (relative to chlorine tabs) seems awfully long.

I'm using the Hayward "off-line" chlorinator, and when I automated the=20
plumbing with actuators to control the spa, I needed to be able to turn=20
the chlorinator off when in "spa mode" (to avoid bleaching the spa=20
occupants) but on in "pool mode."  I've been using an RCS X-10 relay=20
controlling 24VAC to an irrigation valve with good results.


In article <AeIPe.6341$HR5.5398@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,=20
sumcoolgai@xxxxxxxxx says...
> Here, it's just the opposite re: chlorination.
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> Most "high end" pool people will ONLY use the salt systems these days=20
> (and they push the cartridge filters).  I know quite a few people with=20
> them and none have anything negative to say about them.
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> The primary reasons are:
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>   - less harsh chemicals around
>   - easier on the pool surface (plaster, 3m, pebbletech)
>   - much less $ to operate
>   - easier to maintain pool chemistry
>   - much simpler to adjust
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> In my last pool we had a chlorinator like Robert describes.  It worked=20
> pretty well, but the salt system is MUCH better.
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> Mitch
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> Robert L Bass wrote:
> >>Our pools stay warmer here because our nights stay
> >>warm and the pool retains the day's heat. In SoCal
> >>(where I used to live) nights were cool and the pool
> >>lost much of the day's heat...
> >=20
> >=20
> > In that regards, south Florida is much like So Cal.  Our days are
> > warm and sometimes *hot* but it cools down at night.  My pool
> > (~30,000 gallons) has a thermostatic valve controller to regulate
> > the temperature.  I set it for around 90=BAF and it stays that way
> > all day.  At night the temperature may drop 4 or 5=BA but that's
> > still comfortable for a leisurely midnight swim.
> >=20
> >=20
> >>I've read about the salt systems but my pool guy
> >>thought they were a bit troublesome.  One chlorine
> >>tab a week seems to do the trick for us.
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> >=20
> > Same here, except our pool person is a young lady.  She and her
> > predecessor both thought the salt systems were more trouble than
> > they're worth.  They may have an axe to grind though, since they
> > might believe that automation threatens their income.
> >=20
> > I could use an automatic valve for two reasons.  First, I tend to
> > forget to turn off the sill cock when filling.  More than once
> > I've flooded the lanai and water is an expensive, not to mention
> > precious resource.  Second, I also travel a lot and it's always a
> > concern that evaporation might cause the pump to lose its prime.