Cleaning Pentair’s salt chlorine generator blades
Before acid washing, remove the calcium buildup in the cell. Use a garden hose on the jet setting and spray directly into both ends of the cell. Most of this calcium buildup has a slushy consistency and will be blown out of the cell. Once the majority of the calcium has been removed, continue with acid washing, which will now be more effective because most of the calcium has been removed.
1. Automatic Cleaning: The SCG has an automatic cell blade cleaning feature (cell reversing) that helps remove scale deposits from the SCG blades. Note: Automatic cleaning does not interrupt chlorine production. “Scale” is a white crusty deposit that forms in excessively hard water or from pool water that is out of balance and in a scaling condition. If the SCG blades show excessive scaling, you need to perform an acid wash cleaning. Proceed to “Acid Wash Cleaning,” Step 2.
2. Acid Wash Cleaning: If the SCG blades show a tendency to scale, it is recommended that every two (2) months the SCG be removed and inspected for scale formation and/ or debris on the SCG blades. High hardness areas may require more frequent cleaning. Some filters allow debris to pass through to the SCG, possibly lodging between the blades in the SCG. A small amount of scale formation is normal. If by looking through the SCG it is observed that there is excessive scale formation between the blades or debris is present, the SCG must be cleaned as follows: a. Use a high-pressure jet of water from a garden hose. If the blades cannot be reasonably cleaned in this manner, acid cleaning is necessary. b. Acid clean the SCG blades: Disconnect the AC power from the power center. Disconnect the Salt Chlorine Generator cell communication cable from the power center. c. Mix one quart of muriatic acid with one gallon of tap water in a plastic bucket. d. Place the SCG vertically in a five-gallon bucket. Pour the acid solution (as described in step c) into the SCG until the cell blades and salinity probes are just covered. Allow the acid solution to bubble and to clean the blades. Note: The acid should only be contained inside the SCG covering the blades. Try not to spill the acid on the outside of the SCG. If acid does spill on the outside of the SCG, wash it off with water. A foaming action will begin, which is caused by scale (calcium carbonate) being dissolved from the blades. If rigorous foaming action does not begin, the blades do not need to be cleaned (STOP THE CLEANING PROCESS - go on to step “e). Otherwise, allow the blades to remain immersed in the solution until the foaming has stopped. However, do not leave acid in the SCG for more than thirty minutes. Excessive acid washing will damage the blades. e. Remove the SCG from the bucket and place in an empty fivegallon bucket. Rinse the inside and outside of the SCG thoroughly with clean tap water and inspect.
If deposits are still visible, repeat the acid cleaning process. f. Rinse the SCG again with clean tap water and inspect.
Once clean, replace the SCG and resume normal operation. g. If the acid wash procedure is necessary, it is recommended that a sample of pool water be analyzed for excessive calcium hardness (i.e. ideal range is 200-300 ppm for pools and 150-200 ppm for spas.) and/or improper water balance. h. Inspect the inside of the SCG every two months (or more frequent in hard water areas).
If no scale or debris deposits are observed inside the SCG after four months, it is not necessary to continue inspections every two months.
However, due to possible changes in pool water chemistry and filtering effectiveness, it is recommended that the cell be removed for inspection at least twice a year. i. Reconnect the SCG communication cable plug in the power center, then reconnect AC power to the SCG power center.
Pentair’s Intellichlor IC15
