PSC Ep. 90: Do I need a timer for my salt system?

Matthew Simmons

October 23, 2024

2 Minute Read

In today’s episode of Poolside Chat, Rob and Matt tackle another common swimming pool question:

Do I need to put my salt system on a timer?

The quick answer would be yes, you’d want to put your salt system on a timer unless your salt system has a built-in timer, which there aren’t that many of. I think the Autopilot, maybe the AquaTrol, the Hayward salt system above ground pools. But yes, you’d want to put it on a timer. We get a lot of questions like, well, doesn’t have a flow switch. Shouldn’t the flow switch tell the system to turn off if there’s no flow? It could malfunction. It might not turn the system off if the pump schedule ends. It could continue to create chlorine, even though there’s no water flow. Then you run the risk of the gas building up and potentially causing the cell to explode. That’s the real reason you want to put the salt system on a timer.

Could you put the salt system on the same timer as your pool pump?

The majority of pool owners have their pump on a mechanical timer. They then connect the salt system to the same loads that your pool pump is on; that way it turns on and off at the same time as your pump. Some people have variable speed pumps that aren’t on a timer. In that case, you’d want to get an external timer for your salt system if it doesn’t have a built-in timer. Some variable speeds do have an auxiliary connection at the back where you can connect a salt system, but there’s not many of those out there. I think the PureLine Prime 2.7 because it has the VGreen motor, has an auxiliary connection, but besides that, you need an external timer.

If you’re looking or if you’re interested in a timer for your salt system or pool pump, you can take a look over at INYO Pools. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them down below. Feel free to like and subscribe. Thank you for joining us. Bye.

Troubleshooting Topics

Controls / Automation

Chlorinators

Skimmers / Drains

Need Replacement Parts?

Swimming Pool Products

3 responses to “PSC Ep. 90: Do I need a timer for my salt system?”

Emilio Nazario

September 15, 2019

Hello,
I read your article about common low pressure problems. I have not seen my particular issue addressed in that article or through my internet research. My issue is I have three returns but only one seems to being working normally. Water just trickles out of the other two. Two returns are fed from one pipe and the other return (the one that is working) is fed by another pipe. There is a valve or diverter that controls the returns. When I turn the valve to direct water to the two returns, I don’t see any noticeable change in the water output. When I direct the water to the one return, it works very well. What do you think is the problem? Thank you.

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  September 16, 2019
  
  I would hazard a guess to say the one pipe feeding two returns is the problem. You kind of already figured it out, the pipe that feeds one return works fine, then the pipe that splits its output to two returns has low pressure when both are opened.
  
  If you want those other lines to work, you can put a valve on the single pipe and return line to throttle back its flow, which will, in turn, push more flow to the other two.
  
  Reply
Emilio Nazario

September 17, 2019

Ok, I’ll try that. Thank you.

Reply