Hello prospective salt chlorine generator owner, I hope all is well and your search for the best brand for your pool is on track. This article will teach you how to size a salt chlorine generator properly for an in-ground pool. The process involves figuring out your pool’s volume in gallons. This process requires a little bit of math, but do not fear, we will walk you through the formulas so no one gets lost along the way. Once we have the pool’s volume set, we can decide what is the best size salt chlorine generator for our particular pool. For more information regarding converting a pool to saltwater, read our article called: The Ultimate Guide to Converting Your Pool to Saltwater
Pool Volume
Salt chlorine generators are rated for the maximum amount of gallons a salt cell can chlorinate. For example, the Pentair IntelliChlor models IC20, IC40, and IC60 are capable of chlorinating 20,000; 40,000; and 60,000 gallons respectively.
Now not all pools are rectangular, you may have an oval, round or kidney-shaped pool. For each one of these shapes there is a volume formula, and below I have listed each:
- Rectangle – Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.5
- Round – Diameter x Diameter x Average Depth x 5.9
- Oval – Longest Diameter x Shortest Diameter x Average Depth x 6.7
- Kidney – Length x Average Width x Average Depth x 7.0
For example, let us say I have an oval pool with the longest length being 36 feet and the widest width being 18 feet with an average depth of 5.5 feet. What is the volume of my pool?
Using the formula for ovals, let’s break it down:
- Oval – Longest Diameter x Shortest Diameter x Average Depth x 6.7
- 36 Feet x 18 Feet x 5.5 x 6.7 = 23 878.8 gallons
For the sake of having a nice round number moving forward, we will round the sum product up to 24,000 gallons of water.
Which Salt Chlorine Generator to Choose?
Our pool from the example is 24 000 gallons. If we were sizing our pool for an AquaRite system, we would have two choices – the AquaRite 25K and the 40K. Which is the correct choice?
The correct answer is the Crystal Pure 40K.
But Why?
Look at it this way, do you travel a further distance walking at a moderate pace or sprinting? You tire quicker the harder you push yourself and the same principle applies to your salt cell. Be kind, oversize.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog (and I hope that you are) you know that we suggest oversizing some parts of your equipment, specifically your filter, heater and your salt chlorine generator. The basic logic for each is that by oversizing the filter, you can go much longer between cleaning and by upsizing a heater you can heat your pool quicker, thereby saving money by removing the need to run your pool pump to feed your heater. And by oversizing a salt cell you allow the cell to work at a fraction of its full capacity rather than at full pace to keep up the chlorine levels. This throttling of the cell allows the cell to last longer, hopefully pushing the cell’s lifespan over the expected cell life expectancy of three to five years.
Well, that about covers it for sizing salt chlorine generators. If you have any questions about SCGs or anything else pool-related, feel free to leave a comment or give us a call at 877-372-6038.
I have a 13k inground pool but salt generator is 40. Does that mean i dont need to run it as long at night
Essentially, yes that’s about it. A 40k-cell can output twice as much chlorine as a 20k cell in the same period of time.
I have a 12 meter X 3.5 meter pool
62,000 litres
What size salt cell do I need
After a quick Google search, it looks like 62,000 liters comes to about 16,379 gallons. So, you’d use a cell rated for at least 20,000 gallons.
I have a 55000 gallon pool don’t know what kind of salt cell I need the one on it isn’t doing the job
What are the actual dimensions of your pool? Length, width, and depths
I ask because 55,000 gallons is humungous for a residential pool and it is rare to see that. So, I just want to confirm we got the right gallonage.
I have a 50 by 25 ft pool with average depth of 5.5 feet. I can not find a system for my pool. Can you help
By my calculations, you have around a 52,000-gallon pool. The largest residential salt systems top out at 60k-gallons. A good option for your pool size is the Pentair intelliChlor IC60. Unfortunately, this model is not currently sold through online dealers. Another good option is the POWERCLEAN® Salt Ultra 760 – 52000-260-000, but these are out of stock until late winter, early spring.
Hello, I have the same question, my pool is roughly 60,000 gallon residential pool. This is a correct measurement and it is a huge pool. No one believes me until they see it. The salt chlorinator is the pentair 60k, but it is not able to keep up, are there any other chlorinator options? Or any suggestions you may have?
Thee are no residential symptoms that I could find are rated over 60k gallons. You’d need a commercial salt system like the Pentair Commercial Intellichlor Salt Chlorine Generator 80,000 Gallon System – 520977.
I am looking through all of these questions and I cannot find one reply from inyopools! What good is this exercise? Lots of questions but no answers…
Matthew Simmons = Inyo Pools Moderator
Not the person asking you, but Matt your reply made me giggle😂
Hello, I am about to build a 4200gal inground hot tub. Wondering what salt chlorinator/generator you would recommend.
You would size it just as you would with a pool. The ratings for salt systems usually only go as low as 15k-20k, so a suitable model for your set up would be the 20,000 Gallons POWERCLEAN® – 52000-120-000
I bought the salt system for a 40K pool. It was working fine until 2 days ago, and now the LED screen is stuck on 3500 and not letting me go through the options. It also does not show that it is generating any chlorine anymore. Is there a way to reset this? I just cleaned the cell around 3 weeks ago.
First, how old is the system, and what are the make and model? Those two things will determine the pathway to getting it working again.
I have a 7600 gallon in ground pool. What size salt generator should I buy.
The inground salt systems I have seen, usually have a model meant for 20k gallon pools; a system that size would be well suited for what you need.
For example the Pentair IntelliChlor IC20 or the POWERCLEAN Salt Ultra 320 – 52000-220-000
I have a 40000 gallon pool. what is the best suggestion for salt chlorinator/generator?
Thanks
A couple of years ago, a family member was having issues with a Hayward AquaRite (no surprise there) and i finally convinced them to make the switch to the Intellichlor and they love.
They have a 40k gallon pool so they went with an Intellichlor IC60 Cell and Power Center
I have a 4k Gallon Pool (but probably only has about 3.5k gallons in it. Originally was equipped with the T-5 Cell.
I need to replace the Cell. I am thinking of using the T-3 rated for 15k Gallons. That is about a 4x turnover rate.
My system has revision 1.45.
Is it logical for me to think that should still work just fine?
Hopefully Joe already got his answer, but in case it helps anybody…my understanding of the AquaRite’s is that you need to have firmware higher than rev 1.5 in order to change size to something other than T-Cell-15.
That is correct, Mike, to use a cell other than the TCELL15 (like the TCELL9 or TCELL5) your power board needs to be a firmware revision of 1.5 or higher.
I bought an RJ 30 Plus Electronic Chlorine Generator system from INYO on 8-16 and finally had it installed this week. Imagine my surprise when I come back to INYO and find that they no longer offer any RJ Plus products and they don’t even offer replacement parts. The unit I purchased came with a 7 year warranty which was part of the reason I purchased it as well as the price $899.00. After reading the fine print of the “limited” warranty I see that it is effective from date of purchase so it looks like I’m more than halfway through my effective warranty before even putting it into service. Thats on me. If your looking to buy a chlorine generator from INYO i’d recommend sticking with a known manufacturer (Pentair, Hayward, etc.) and not the flavor of the season such as the current “recommendation from INYO “Custom Molded Products”, who knows where they’ll be in 4 years…………
I have a 21000 gal in ground kidney shaped pool. Is the 40,000 salt generator the best one? Thank you!
The 40k gallon model would be our best option, as most salt chlorine generator systems jump from a 20k unit to a 40k.
If I run 2 salt chlorine generator cells in parallel would I need to purchase 2 complete systems or 1 complete system w/ 1 extra salt cell? Thanks.
It would depend on the make and model of the unit. Most salt chlorine generators have only one plug for a salt cell, so if you wanted a two-cell system you would need two controls. Generally, only commercial salt chlorinators have options for daisy-chaining a unit.
Would it actually be safe to run 2 complete systems in parallel?
I’m trying it out with 2 ‘cheap’ intex systems and it seems like one is using the other’s electrode as a sacrificial anode. One system was running fine by itself for about a month, added the second, and within about a month it started reporting low salt. Intex replaced the titanium electrode but it burned out the second one within a month too. These units have 3 fins on the electrode, and both of the outer fins on the warn out ones look like they have been run through a knife sharpener. The edges started perfectly squared, and now have steep slants that are worse the further away they are from the plastic housing.
My guess is either this unit has something wrong with it causing it to burn through the electrodes, or having 2 different units in the same water with slight differences in voltage being applied to each is causing them to burn through eachother’s electrodes.
Anyone ever actually use 2 completely separate units in parallel successfully?
Hey Matthew – I have a 30000 gallon pool, 2-3 people using it every other day, located in TX, can I get away installing the Hayward 25000 replacement salt cell or should I be using the 40000 gallon one?
Also, Hayward has two options, priced about the same (see link), which one is a better option in your opinion?
You need the 40K. In the article, we talk about pool size in gallons and bather load as major factors of sizing the system. Knowing you have a 30,000-gallon pool, not sure why you think the 25K is an option.
My “kidney shaped pool” is a 7,000 gallon pool. My interchlor salt chlorine generator needs to be replaced. What is your recommendation for replacement?
An IC20, Pentair Intellichlor IC20 Cell and Power Center. Up to 20,000 Gallons – IC20KIT should handle your pool’s chlorination needs quite easily.
I have an above ground pool with around 16,000 gallons. Does it really matter if I use an above or in ground salt water conversion kit, as long as it is around 20,000 gallons?
It does not matter if you use an inground or above ground system. The main difference between the two types is the above-ground systems are usually for smaller bodies of water and the cells have adapters for flex hose plumbing.
What system do you recommend for a 25,000 gallon kidney shaped pool?
Hi , I need to know about a salt system equipment for 8000 gallons Inground pool . Thanks
Ok, what did you need to know?
I have 24,000 gallon above ground pool. What would be the best salt generator for a pool this size?
Above ground pool salt generators top out at around 20,000 gallons so you would need to go with an inground unit built for 40K gallons. Inground units usually jump from 20 to 40 to 60 thousand gallons sizes.
Matthew, You are a big help. Thank you.
I have a oversized bathtub for a pool around 5000-7000 gal. Is their a small enough salt generator for this size that would not over chlorinate the pool?
Should I install a aqua rite ? T-9
On a indoor pool at 15000. Pool has a older gas heater with a copper heat exchanger? Thank you for your time
I have a 15×30 by 4 1/2 ft high so roughly 10000 gallons can I use a t9 cell
Yes, you may use the TCELL9, but according to the dimensions, your pool is likely closer to 12,500 gallons.
My community pool has been remodeled in the last year with all new filtering equipment. We did not go with a salt system, just came back with a chlorine system. When I asked why not salt, I was told because our pool size has 220,000 gallons and that size is much too large for a salt system. I want to know if that information is correct, and would like to know the maximum pool size in gallons for a salt system. I think someone forgot to consider changing to salt and is possibly telling me that salt story to cover up what might be a blunder on some project manager’s part.
If you scroll up a couple of comments you will see my answer to a question very similar to this, with more info. Yes, there are systems available for pools that size. Amount of cells needed is also dependent on bather load.
We are currently looking into salt systems for the pool at our condo. Chlorine and chemical costs have gone up considerably in the past year. It is a very large pool and we are located in an area that has lots of sunshine and high temperatures. One of the considerations we have to take into account is the overall cost for the conversation from Chlorine to salt. In that regard can you accurately tell me the life expectancy of the salt cells and what would the life expectancy of the system be.
Thanks
Salt cells generally last 3 to 5 years. The lifespan of the control unit depends on the model. A simple control unit like the Intellichlor can last a few cell lifespans. A control unit like the Hayward AquaRite may need a costly Main PCB replacement a few times in its lifespan
I have a question. I have a 12,000 in-ground pool. The T-5 that is sized for 20,000 says that it is for above ground pools. Is there a reason why I can’t use this T-cell for my inground pool? I’m not clear on what the difference could be…
The TCELL5 is used on the AquaTrol for aboveground pools and on the AquaRite for inground pools. So it is perfectly fine for either installation.
Hello I have a 168,000 gal pool with 3 pump and 3 sand filter and I am trying to find out how much chlorine I need to generate and what type of Salt cells I need. Can you assist me plz.
I’ll be honest, if you have a pool that big you should probably have someone that is taking of it. CHlorine need is driven by bather load and sunlight. You would need a commercial unit like the Pool Pilot.
Hi, how would you size salt chlorine generator commercial pool that’s 142000 gallons?
Is there a formula. It seems like most of the products sold are too small.
Would I need to buy 5 x 40,000-gallon units and install them in serie or parallel?
What is the required salt level for a commercial pool 3500ppm or 5000ppm?
Commercial pools have their own standards that have to meet requirements to pass inspection. Daisy chaining a few residential units may not pass inspection, so you will want to check your local codes.
Depending on bather load, you will need a system something like the, AutoPilot Pool Pilot Professional Salt System
Hi Matthew,
Thanks for the quick reply. I definitely check out autopilot.
In my country, there aren’t any local codes regarding swimming pools. So I wanted to know what are the general baseline codes for commercial pools in the U.S.
But besides for commercial. How would you size a salt system for residential pools is it’s just based max pool volume it can handle or is it based on the system’s max chlorine production.
Also is there a formula for calculating the amount of chlorine needs to be produced per day for a salt pool.