Chlorine at zero and a control panel full of mixed messages can make any pool owner or service pro feel stuck. We break the problem apart step by step so you can restore steady saltwater chlorination with confidence, starting with the most common culprits and moving into the hidden faults that waste time and chemicals.
We start at the cell, explaining how thin scale films quietly choke production long before a “clean cell” warning appears, and the right acid‑wash ratios that protect plates. Then we put the panel’s salinity reading to the test with a handheld meter, outlining the true operating window of 2800 to 3500 ppm and why 3000 ppm is a practical sweet spot. You’ll learn how false low and high salt readings point to aging cells or sensors and what to expect from brands like Hayward and Pentair when their cells near end‑of‑life. Temperature gets its due as we show why most generators idle in the low 60s and how to bridge winter with a simple floater plan.
From there, we dig into hardware and hydraulics. Flow sensors, chewed wires, and bad switches can lock out generation, and a dirty filter or slow variable‑speed schedule starves the cell of activation flow. We share dependable RPM targets, filter habits, and placement tips to keep water moving through the cell safely. You’ll also hear a clear method to benchmark production: run one 24‑hour, 100 percent, high‑RPM cycle and measure the chlorine rise. That single test separates hardware failures from runtime math, letting you tune hours, RPMs, and output percentage to match pool size, sunlight, and bather load.
• dirty cell plates blocking current and how to clean safely
• verifying salinity with a meter and ideal ppm range
• recognizing false low and high salt readings
• temperature thresholds that shut down production
• expected cell lifespan and end‑of‑life signs
• failed sensors, chewed wires, and flow‑switch problems
• pump RPM, filter condition, and activation flow
• benchmarking output with a 24‑hour full‑power test
• dialing runtime and percentage to meet demand
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