Hayward AquaRite Turbo Cell - Review and Tips for Success

Folks have requested a review of my Salt Chlorine Generator. I said that I would make one after one year of operation and now, after 12 months, and during this quarterly maintenance cycle Ive done so. Ive also assembled what I believe to be some tips to provide the best experience and chances for success with this type of system, so enjoy.

[@alfredkulhanek1889]

I'll take salt pool over chlorine anyday..I started off with chlorine then switched to salt ..kids love it..going on 8 years same salt cell and starter equipment ..great video

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I too started with liquid chlorine, and would never go back to that.

[@jonathanritter7364]

Q salt pool is a chlrone pool..

[@mikeperkins7524]

Thanks for the video. I just had my Chlorine generator installed today in CT. Will open the pool in a few weeks, but was happy to hear what you had to say regarding the ease of maintenance. We always have a period in the summer that we are dealing with algae and cloudiness due to chlorine getting out of whack… 👍

[@retrotechandelectronics]

CT is supposed to have a frost again this week, hard to say. Very easy to maintain, Just follow the maintenance regiment.

[@barryg41]

That large thermistor on my same model broke. It was an easy fix. I keep a spare now. I cross check the salt clorinater with salt strips but also make sure they are not more than a year old. Great tips tho!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Does your box face into the sun, are you in the south, Im curious about the thermistor, also, do you have significant electrical fluctuations at your home.

[@barryg41]

@@retrotechandelectronics My control box is facing due south with no overhead cover. I live in Baton Rouge. Yeah it's nothing to see mid 90s and higher for days in a row. My electrical grid at one time had a loose neutral line connection at the transformer. But that was before I had the pool installed. Our pool is nine years old.

[@alpagano50]

How did you know it was the thermistor? would a good surge protector protect it?

[@barryg41]

@@alpagano50 it was cracked and fell apart when I was probing it with power off. If you desolder it. Check for continuity with a multimeter.

[@whip-its_dad4239]

Hey ! When we going to get the shovelhead back together and show us how it came out . Thank you for the helpful videos . My T-15 salt cell has lasted me 10 years already , I think because when I wash it I mix one quart of acid with four quarts of water in a weaker solution that recommended . One circuit boar replacement and three thermistors in twenty years . I ll keep my salt system .

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Hello! The shovelhead project nears completion... thanks for the inquiry. It has moved to a different channel some time ago. kzbin.info/door/lKzwfSJWlDG_CwqSCYZC5Q Subscribe over there for regular updates. I think our T-cell is on its 5th year trouble free, and no electronics issues as the control unit is not outside in the environment.

[@whip-its_dad4239]

@@retrotechandelectronics Thank you .

[@user-jy9eg7gd5k]

Thanks for the nice video update. I've watched a couple of yours since my Hayward T 15 generator started to go after we opened the pool this week. That cell lasted 8 years but our water comes from Lake Huron, so it's softer and we only run the pool from June to Sept. . My issue is mostly getting to the T 15 with the right tools and some Advil. Frankly I believe the people that opened our pool ran some water through the Turbo Cell but not much more. Your epilogue stated that maintenance will be for sure simpler and probably cheaper is "spot on".

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad it was helpful.

[@arthurvin2937]

Did you say it will increase acids in your pool water? I think you probably meant it will raise pH requiring you to manually add acid to you water to counteract constantly increasing pH?

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Indeed, I stated that backwards.

[@871jamie]

Yeah he’s an idiot that has no clue what he’s talking about and it shows.

[@871jamie]

He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. That’s why!

[@Scuba_Son]

Your cell should be installed with the cord on the bottom. It's for low flow it will still generate chlorine.

[@dantedanis]

I just converted my 18gallon pool to salt, with same panel and t-9 cell. I add 11 bag of salt and waiting for it mix.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

11 bags at once, I hope you checked the salinity, remember its easier to add salt than remove it.

[@dantedanis]

@@retrotechandelectronics yes my salt level is 4000 it was more then I needed. But book was saying 12 bag if I remember right. So i will dump some water and add some fresh water. Lesson learned hard way. 😂

[@barryg41]

Also my potentiometer that controls the chlorine output got really bad. My replacement from mouser was BOURNS PTV111-4420AA-B103. HTH!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Thanks for sharing about the POT for the output %. I have not had any problems with it. Again, I dont know how long you have had your unit, nor its environment.

[@871jamie]

Do away with the salt system. All it does is convert salt to chlorine and costs you more in the long run because something is always breaking. Like the salt cell. For what it costs to replace one every 2.5-3 years it doesn’t save you money but actually costs you more.

[@871jamie]

Salt always costs you more than chlorine in the long run. Besides all the salt system does is make chlorine! Lmao

[@barryg41]

@@871jamie I'm still on the same cell. 10 years. 🤔

[@871jamie]

barryg41 bullshit you are.

[@charlotteechols3035]

So helpful!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@williamjaramillo2000]

How are you automating the shot off and turn on of the pump?

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Im not, the pump control is just above this control unit, I have another video explaining this installation,.

[@jerryruffino1977]

Hi my generator is not shutting off pump

[@retrotechandelectronics]

The pump should shut the generator, not the other way around.

[@871jamie]

As a professional pool service owner, I’d never have a salt water pool.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Seeing how much it’s cut down on maintenance costs it’s no surprise a professional pool service owner would say that. SMH

[@871jamie]

Nope, wait till that salt cell / chlorine generator goes out and it costs you 500-700 dollars to replace. You can buy a lot of chlorine for that. Also the salt is bad for all of your equipment. Salt is not cost effective in the long run and will wind up costing you way more than a chlorine pool than you can imagine in the future. Besides I service a lot of salt water pools, they’re actually where I make my most profit because 1 people do t understand how to take care of / use them, 2 the repairs are more profitable. But eh to each his own.

[@871jamie]

Retro Tech & Electronics oh and I forgot to mention, I don’t like the way the water feels or tastes in a salt pool. No I don’t drink it but swim in a pool and water is going to get in your mouth.

[@871jamie]

Not to also mention what the salt does to the pool itself. But you’ll learn.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

@@871jamie I figured id wait until you were done with your rant until I replied. First of all, I window how the replacement of the salt cell would cost several hundred dollars more than the entire system, you are conflating things, but I understand your position. The other, being the cost of salt versus chlorine. Salt usage is minimal, and cost little more than dirt. The second part of your rant was subjective, I think you were reaching there about somehow the pool is salt water or something. And then you continued on about how salt is somehow anymore caustic than the chlorine gas or acid that a pool system is regularly subjected to. n Not to mention that Ive had zero issues with my system from day one. But again, its with that consideration why I can see why you would not be a fan. I have learned, salt is the way to go. Thanks for stopping by.