This article applies to the vast majority of AutoPilot Pool Pilot installations. It will not apply if ORP automation is being used to control the chlorine production of the AutoPilot Pool Pilot salt system.
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Adjusting the Purifier Percentage
Use the “UP” and “DOWN” arrows to adjust the purifier output percentage (can be adjusted from 0-100%). Once you’ve reached your desired purifier percentage setting you then press the “SELECT” button to lock the reading in.
Once you have set the desired purifier level the temperature compensation feature will take over until the purifier is adjusted manually once again (see “Temperature Compensation” below for more details.)
What is the purifier percentage?
When you are adjusting the purifier percentage of your AutoPilot Pool Pilot you are setting how often the cell is powered to produce chlorine. The cell has active and inactive or idle periods of time.
Examples based on an 8-hour pump run time:
- @ 25% purifier chlorine will be produced for 2 hours and the cell will idle for 6 hours
- @ 50% purifier chlorine will be produced for 4 hours and the cell will idle for 4 hours
- @ 100% purifier chlorine will be produced for 8 hours and the cell will idle for 0 hours
As you can see the higher the purifier percentage setting the more chlorine will be produced. It is important to remember that pump run time also affects the amount of chlorine being produced. In the above example, we used an 8-hour pump run time.
Using the 50% purifier example see the list below for examples of how pump run time will affect chlorine production:
- @ 50% purifier and an 8-hour pump run time chlorine will be produced for 4 hours and the cell will idle for 4 hours
- @ 50% purifier and a 12-hour pump run time chlorine will be produced for 6 hours and the cell will idle for 6 hours
- @ 50% purifier and a 24-hour pump run time chlorine will be produced for 24 hours and the cell will idle for 0 hours
As you can see in the above examples it is extremely important to take pump run time into consideration when choosing the ideal starting purifier percentage as increases or decreases in the pump run time provides more or less of a chance for the unit to produce chlorine within the same purifier percentage setting.
Ideal Purifier Percentage
With a properly balanced pool and at least an 8-hour per day pump run time, the manufacturer recommends starting the purifier percentage at 50%. If your pump run time greatly exceeds 8 hours per day you’ll want to curb down the 50% level to prevent overwearing of the cell. When learning your ideal purifier % level you should regularly check the chlorine level and adjust as need be. With that said your proper output setting will vary based upon several factors including time of year, stabilizer level, pool size, location, exposure to sunlight, number of users, vegetation around the pool, water balance conditions and pump run time.
Temperature Compensation
AutoPilot Pool Pilot controllers feature a temperature compensation system. This technology allows the Pool Pilot to automatically make fine output adjustments as the water temperature changes.
The tri-sensor works in conjunction with the chlorine % feature to automatically adjust chlorine output based upon changes in water temperature. The idea behind this feature is that less chlorine is needed in cooler water conditions and as the water warms more chlorine is needed to properly maintain the pool.
This unique and exclusive feature really sets AutoPilot Pool Pilot salt chlorine generators apart from the rest of the industry. It helps to conserve the life of the cell in cooler conditions and keep your pool sparkling and safe in warmer conditions.
Cold Water Lockout: As the water temperature drops below 65F, the AutoPilot Pool Pilot controller will activate a high chlorine percent lockout, and may not allow chlorine adjustments up to 100%. The feature prevents the AutoPilot Pool Pilot controller from over-driving the salt cell under colder temperatures, thus preventing premature salt cell wear. At 55F or colder water temperatures, the controller will adjust to a fixed 1% output, this preventing over-chlorination and premature salt cell failure.
Cold Water Conditions
When the water temperature drops below 65°F, the Pool Pilot controller will activate a high purifier lockout. With the water temperature at these levels, you may not be able to adjust the purifier level up to 100%. At 55°F or colder water temperatures, the controller will adjust to a fixed 1% output and will not allow for the purifier level to be raised manually. This helpful feature prevents the controller from overworking the cell under colder temperatures, preventing premature cell wear.
Boost Mode
Boost mode sets the purifier level to 100% for a specified period of time. Standard boost mode runs for a 24-hour duration while super boost mode runs for 72 hours. Note: If boost mode is activated on a Pool Pilot Digital DIG-220 controller which is configured to control a one-speed pump the pump will continue to run past the its standard shut off time until the boost cycle duration is complete.
- To activate boost: Press “BOOST” button once.
- To activate super boost: Press & hold “BOOST” button for 8 seconds.
- To deactivate boost: Press “BOOST” a second time.