ECO-MATIC ESC 16 Operating Instructions Manual Download Page 10

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Low Salinity Indicator and Cut-Out

Your ECO-matic is fitted with a number of protective features including the

Low Salinity Indicator

and a

Cut-Out

feature.

As the salt level in the pool decreases, the wear on the ‘Cell’ increases. Although salt is not consumed in the ECO-matic
process, it is lost through splashing, back-washing and on bathers as they leave the pool. The salt level is also reduced
by rain, which causes dilution. Salt is not lost to evaporation. As the salt level in the pool falls toward the minimum,

LED

will turn RED. At this point the salt level should be increased by adding approximately 50 lbs of salt per 5000 gallons

of water. If no action is taken and the salt level continues to fall, the

Low Salinity Cut-Out

will activate and

LED 1

will

also turn RED. It is advisable to satisfy yourself that the salt level is in fact low, prior to adding salt, as LEDs 1 and 2 can

activate for reasons other than ‘low salt’. Salt Tests Strips can be used to confirm the salt level in the water. If you have
no means of measuring salt level, add the suggested amount of salt and dissolve it by vacuuming or sweeping onto floor

drain. If the LED indicators do not change, the salt level in the water MUST be measured prior to adding additional salt
(take a sample to your local ECO-matic Dealer for testing). This will prevent adding too much salt when ‘low salt’ may not
be the problem.
When the Cut-Out feature activates, the ECO-matic will no longer produce sanitizer, but will switch itself ON a number of
times each hour and assess whether the problem(s) (low salt for example) have been corrected. If the problem still exists,
the unit will switch OFF once again.
Other factors which can activate the

Cut-Out

feature:

Heavy Rain

- can cause very dilute pool water to pass over the ‘Cell’ due to surface skimming. The Unit will turn

back ON after the rain has been mixed into the water unless the salt level has been reduced by dilution/overflow.

Scaled ‘Cell’

- a scaled ‘Cell’ will not draw as much electrical current as a clean ‘Cell’ when first started. This will

cause the

Cut-Out

to operate. This is very beneficial as a scaled ‘Cell’ can cause an overload if it is operated for a

few hours. Heavy scale build-up also increases the wear on the ‘Cell’.

Cold Water

- cold pool water reduces the ability of a ‘Cell’ to carry electrical current. (Refer

Winter Mode

below).

Failing ‘Cell’

- as ‘Cell’ ages there will come a time when the electrical current draw will drop. This can be

compensated for with the addition of extra salt. A ‘Cell’ is considered failed when it draws less than 80% of

maximum current. To keep a failed ‘Cell’ in operation,

Winter Mode

can be used along with extra salt. There will

come a time when the ‘Cell’ will not respond to either extra salt or

Winter Mode

. It will then need to be replaced.

Winter Mode

When the ‘Cell’ draws electrical current from the Power Supply, the amount of current drawn is dependent upon a number
of factors. Two of these factors are

Salinity

and

Water Temperature

The

Low Salinity Indicator

and/or

Cut-Out

on your ECO-matic are designed to operate at swimming season water

temperatures. When the pool begins to cool in the off season the temperature drop causes the ‘Cell’ to behave differently
– it will draw less electrical current. This can cause the

Low Salinity Indicator

and/or

Cut-Out

to assume that the salinity

has fallen even if the salinity has remained relatively constant.
When the temperature of the pool water drops (typically when it is too cold to swim), the

Winter Mode

Switch should be

placed in the ON position. The

Winter Mode

Indicator will then be ON.

Winter Mode

setting has two effects:

1. It alters the setting of the

Low Salinity Indicator

and/or

Cut-Out

2. It reduces the Cell Output by approximately 15%.