A salt chlorinator makes chlorine the same way a chlorine factory does. The difference is that it is manufactured in your pool. Liquid chlorine is approximately 12.5% pure, whereas PURACHLOR chlorine is 100% pure.
Frequently Asked Questions about Salt Chlroinators
Is there a difference between ‘salt chlorinator’ chlorine and ‘normal’ chlorine?
What type of salt should I use?
High purity salt such as natural salts are essential, it is important that the salt does not contain additives. Any common salt (like table salt) usually has an additive that may have staining properties.
Will I ever need to add standard pool chlorine again?
From time to time it may become necessary to add some chlorine to the pool. This may be due to heavy rain or if the chlorine level needs to be shocked back up.
Does the salt damage pool equipment?
From time to time it may become necessary to add some chlorine to the pool. This may be due to heavy rain or if the chlorine level needs to be shocked back up.
How much salt will I need?
1 kg of salt in 1,000 litres of water raises the salt level by 1,000ppm. Therefore, 420 kg of salt will raise a 70,000 litres pool from 0 ppm to 6,000 ppm.
Is the pool water still blue?
Yes, since the salt water system creates chlorine, the water is still blue and also very clear. A salt system gives your pool the best water quality you have ever seen.
Can I install it with my existing pool equipment?
Yes, since the water is still considered fresh water, it is compatible with all standard pool equipment (pumps filters, heaters, poolsweeps, etc.) If you have a stainless steel filter, check with the manufacturer.
Does this soften the pool water?
Yes, since the water is still considered fresh water, it is compatible with all standard pool equipment (pumps filters, heaters, poolsweeps, etc.) If you have a stainless steel filter, check with the manufacturer.
Is it corrosive?
It is mildly corrosive, but as all chlorine is made from salt, conventionally chlorinated water is corrosive too. Whereas saline water has no harmful effects at all, impurities in chemical chlorine can damage pool surfaces. Our filters and pumps are not affected by mildly saline water, and carry warranties to that effect.
How does salt chlorination work?
Mass chlorine production in huge chlorine factories uses exactly the same basic technique as is used by a chlorinator. This technique involves the passage of electric current through salty water to produce chlorine. Salt systems have three main components. The first component is plain old salt. You have to have a minimum level of about 3000 ppm of salt in the pool water. Salt makes the water conductive so that the electricity can pass between the plates in the cell. If the salt level goes too low, the chlorine production simply stops. Salt is also the raw material from which the chlorine is produced. The control unit is a device that sends power to the salt cell. The unit controls how much chlorine is produced by regulating how long the power is applied to the cell. The salt cell is a series of plates with opposite charges in a cell. As the water passes between the plates, electrolysis takes place, releasing the chlorine in the salt. (NaCl – NaOCl – NaCl). No salt is lost in this process.