kennybroh wrote:Extremely cool. It says "trade price $1800". Did you buy it directly from them, and is that what you paid?
I paid a little less but prices might have changed. Note that you want the "professional" package which includes the sensors and flow bypass assembly mounted on a backboard. You're going to need all that stuff. You are also going to need a weatherproof place to install it.
The other thing you are going to need is the chemical feeder pumps and holding tanks (2ea). The pumps are $250-300ea, and the tank can just be a 5 gal paint bucket with a lid, or you can opt for something with a removable screw top which is what I did. Stenner sells a bundle which includes the pump and a 15(?) gal holding tank.
I'd like to see some pics when you have time. Who integrated it into your system? A plumber or the pool contractor? Or is that something you can do yourself?
That's just a question of how handy you are but if you're comfortable with basic plumbing and electric it's perfectly DIYable. The only special tool required is a '1/4" NTP tap' - the hardware store didn't have these but you can order them for $10. You will have to drill and tap into your existing PVC to attach the bypass line and while this might be a little scary it is actually very easy. Just practice on a scrap before you do the real deal.
Do you think the other product is worth looking at or are the reasons you got this one convincing?
As far as the electronics and sensor elements go, it's not rocket science and this technology has been in use in commercial pools for a long time. So I can't imagine there's much difference in terms of ongoing operation. I chose on the advice of my pool builder who has used both and said he finds the setup UI on the CAT to be better. I also think the flow/sensor assembly that comes with the CAT pro package is quite elegant, saving some install work and making maintenance easier.
Basically this eliminates most if not all of what one pays a pool service for. Do you also have a pool service or do you do the rest yourself? Are you in an all year round climate? I'm in Maryland, and the pool is closed from October-November to May, so there is some work to do to close and open it.
I'm in california and this is for an in-ground spa. I don't need a pool service - the entirety of my maintenance routine is:
- once a month brush and scoop out leaves (I don't get much).
- when indigo sends me a low ORP alert, add $3 worth of hypochlorite (about once a month in the summer, every two months in winter).
- when adding chlorine, also top up the acid (chlorine always runs down first).
I don't need any other chemicals and can't remember the last time I did a manual Cl/pH test.
For a pool you would still need to brush your plaster but you will find with the controller that algae and other chemistry crises do not happen. "shock treatment" is only needed because humans screw up from time to time. As long as the ORP is maintained at 650+ algae can not get established.