How to Make a Salt Chlorine Generator

A salt chlorine generator is used with pool systems to make chlorine out of ordinary table salt. It is not an alternative to chlorine since the end result puts chlorine in the pool. It is a way, however, to avoid buying expensive chemicals to keep your pool clean by using something readily available and somewhat inexpensive, comparatively speaking. The process works by turning salt water into hypochlorous acid as it passes through the generator. This is what chlorine turns into when added to water.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Table salt: 50 pounds for 2000 gallons of water in a newly filled pool
• Small electrical current
• 4-inch pvc pipe
• 2 electrode bars
• Red and black electrical wire
• Water-proof caulking
• Electrical tape

1. Cut two holes in the side of the pvc pipe, near the center, wide enough to allow the electrodes to fit through. The holes should be side by side.

2. Attach the wires to the electrodes and use electrical tape to secure them in place.

3. Place the electrodes in the two holes until they touch the opposite side of the pvc pipe.

4. Use caulk to seal the openings and not let water leak out.

5. Attach the pvc to the piping as it goes back into the pool. Not in a section of pipe located before the pumping mechanism.

6. Add salt to the pool in the amount of approximately 50 pounds per 2000 gallons.

7. Pump the water to circulate and dissolve the salt for about 24 hours.

8. Hook up the power supply to the wires (after 24 hours). Use electrical tape to keep the wires from being exposed. The generator is now splitting salt into sodium and chlorine.

Tips & Warnings

• You need .05 pounds of chlorine in a 24 hour period in 2,000 gallons of water, so a 10,000 gallon pool will need a quarter pound of chlorine in a 24 hour period. This will get you approximately 3ppm of chlorine in the pool. The generator running 24 hours at 3.75 amps will result in the chlorine level for a 10,000 gallon tank. Generally speaking it takes 15 amps to create one pound of chlorine in 24 hours.