Salt Pool Chlorine Generator Buyers Guide

Salt Pools 101

• What is a salt pool chlorine generator? What is a salt water chlorinator? What is a salt water generator? What is a electrolytic chlorine generator? They are all the same thing. Different manufacturers and pool owners refer to their chlorine generators with those terms. For the most part in the guide we'll refer to them at chlorine generators and salt pool systems.
• Who uses chlorine generator systems? Over 90% of swimming pools installed in Australia are salt water pools. Salt pools are also the fastest growing segment of the swimming pool industry in the United States

Chlorine Generators

Control Box / Power Supply

• The chlorine generator control box / power supply is mounted to a wall near the pool equipment. This is the panel where all of the controlling of the system is done.
• Most modern systems such as the Goldline Aquarite and AutoPilot Pool Pilot Digital have advanced digital displays as a part of this component. The displays make pool care super simple by putting vital stats right in your hands.
• Boost Button: Boost mode is a feature that most salt pool chlorine generators have. When the boost button is activated the chlorine generator will increase chlorine proeuction to 100% for a set period of time (usually 24 hours). This is a great feature if you have a a lot of people in the pool for a party as it allows for more sanitizer to be produced.
  

• This is where the chlorine is actually produced. Once salt is added to the water it is moved through the cell and through a process of electrolysis the saline water is converted for fresh, pure chlorine. Think of the salt cell as a mini chlorine factory right next door to your pool.
• Most modern systems (and all of the systems that we offer) including self-cleaning salt cells. A self-cleaning salt cell simply means that calcium build up on the cell is forced off before manual cleaning is needed.
  
• Flow Switch / Water Sensors: Another feature that all chlorine generator systems should feature is a flow switch. The flow switch ensures that a proper amount of water is flowing through the salt cell to ensure proper chlorine production from the salt cell. On the AutoPilot Pool Pilot systems that we offer an additional unit is included, known as the tri-sensor module. The tri-sensor detects flow, water temperature and salt level.

• Won't it be like I'm swimming in the ocean? This is probably the most common question that people ask us. The answer is a definent no. A salt water ocean has a salt content of 35,000 ppm (parts per million) whereas as we mentioned before your salt pool will have a salt content of about 3,500 ppm. In fact, at 3,500 ppm the vast majority of people won't even taste a hint of salt.
• Will the pool water look and feel the same? No. One of the major benefits of adding a salt pool chlorine generator is the vastly improved water conditions. The clarity of a pool with a salt pool chlorine generator is unmatched. The water will also feel much softer. With chlorine pool you typically have a weird skin feeling when you get out of the pool whereas with a salt pool chlorine generator your skin will actually feel better once you get out of the pool.

• Quality: Make sure that you're buying a system for a reputble and stable manufacturer. Since chlorine generators are becoming so popular we are seeing more and more new companies getting into the business. We sell chlorine generators from the two oldest and largest manufacturers of chlorine generators in the United States. Goldline Controls which is owned by industry-giant Hayward Pool Products. AutoPilot systems has been manufacturing chlorine generators since 1976 for commercial and residnetal pools.
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Chlorine Generator Buyer Tips

• Proper Sizing: By far one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a chlorine generator is the size, location and load of the pool. If a chlorine generator is sized too small for a pool there won't be enough chlorine to combat algae and sanitize the water. Each pool is a different scenario. If the system is being installed on a commercial or public swimming pool it is even more important to contact us for proper sizing assistance.