It really is that easy to make your own pool chlorine. Just add salt to the pool water and hook up your salt chlorine generator.
When the salty water passes through an Electrolytic cell, or a set of electrically charged metal plates, the NaCl molecule separates into Sodium and Chloride. In the presence of water (H2O), it recombines into Hypochlorous Acid (Chlorine), Sodium Hydroxide and Hydrogen Gas. Chemically speaking, the equation looks like this:
Let’s take a look at the equipment needed to make your own pool chlorine. I’ve broken it down into aboveground and inground salt systems.
Aboveground Pool Salt Chlorine Generators
Hayward Aqua-Trol Chlorine Generator
- For any pool type up to 18000 gals
- Makes up to .75 lbs of chlorine daily
- Self-cleans by reversing cell polarity
- Easy to read LED indicators and readout
- 24-hour timer will control your pump
- 3 year limited warranty
Saltron Retro Pool Chlorine Generator
- Easy in-pool installation, no plumbing required
- Programmable digital timer controls chlorine
- Commercial grade titanium cell plates
- Self-cleans by reversing cell polarity
- Clear cell housing allows for easy cell inspection
- LED indicator lights and salt level readout
ChlorEase Saltwater Chlorinator
- Two models available, Standard & Ultra
- Digital Diagnostic Display and indicator lights
- Programmable timer adjusts chlorine output
- Hang chlorinator on pool wall, plug in controller
- 23 ft Controller cord reaches most outlets
- 1 year limited warranty
- Easy to remove cell for inspection / cleaning
SolarChlor XT salt chlorine system
- The only Floating salt chlorinator system
- Solar cell storage provides power to salt cell
- Self-cleaning cell plates by reversing polarity
- LED indicator lights on edge of SolarChlor
- Patented convection-flow design
- Add salt to the SolarChlor, not the pool
- Fill the base with any salt pellet brand
- 3 year limited warranty
Inground Pool Salt Chlorine Generators
Jandy AquaPure Ei Salt Chlorine Generator
- The first 120V plug-in chlorine generator
- Easy to install; just drill a hole, clamp to pipe
- Reverses polarity to self-clean the salt cell
- For all pool types, up to 35,000 gallons
- Produces .93 lbs of chlorine per day
- Integrates with Jandy Aqualink system
- Titanium electrode blades with precious metals
- LCD status screen, LED indicates salt and flow
- Built in electronic flow sensor protects cell
Hayward Salt & Swim salt pool system
- Uses replaceable 6 month, or 12 month cell
- Compact cell design saves plumbing space
- Reverses polarity to self-clean salt cell
- For all pool types, up to 25,000 gallons
- Super-Chlorinate function shocks the pool
- Unionized cell for easy cleaning, replacement
- Waterproof controller is fully protected
- 2 year limited warranty
Hayward SwimPure Chlorine Generator
- Famous Turbo Cell plumbs in easily
- Micro adjust chlorine level from 1% to 100%
- Locking, weatherproof outdoor enclosure
- Microprocessor automates all functions
- Digital salt display and 8 diagnostic indicators
- Super-chlorinate function
- UL, CUL, NSF listed
- 3 year limited warranty
Accessories for Pool Salt Chlorine Generators
Salt chlorine generators don’t work very well without the salt. Most of the units above, with the exception of the SolarChlor XL, need about 3000 ppm of salt in the pool. This equates to about 1 teaspoon per gallon, or a 40lb bag per 2000 gallons of pool water. You won’t taste it, or see it – but you’ll feel the silky soft water.
Salt Water Magic makes it easier to manage the water balance in salt pools. With a blend of enzymes, phosphate and metal removers, Salt Water Magic makes your salt cell work more efficiently and effectively.
Replacement salt cells. They don’t last forever. After 4-5 years, you may need to replace the salt cell to keep the electrolytic fun going. We carry replacement salt cells at a low cost.
Salt chlorine generators have made chlorine management simpler and safer. The water takes on a softer quality, resulting in less skin and eye irritation. Stop lugging those chlorine buckets back and forth, and make the environmentally responsible purchase of a salt system for your pool. You’ll love the new system, and as an added benefit – your neighbors will be so jealous!
Davy Merino
InTheSwim Blog Editor