A hands-on evaluation of some of the top-selling pool chlorine generators

In recent years, there has been a trend for many makers of salt chlorinators to transition to compact or even “all-in-one” designs. Instead of a long salt cell, this new design approach prioritizes simplicity, a layout that saves space in the plumbing, and streamlined installation. Our three selections in this category are priced remarkably close to one another and include entries from two familiar names - Pentair and Jandy - along with a new name in the world of pool equipment, APX Performance.

Jandy TruClear

First up is the Jandy TruClear (TRUCLEAR11K), a manufacturer-rated 35,000 gallon capacity model that utilizes a wall-hanging Control Module (Jandy terms it a “Power Pack”). The space-saving Salt Cell is built into a compact Jandy Valve body (instead of using a tailor-made housing designed solely for a chlorine generator cell). The cell housing is composed of durable, opaque, black plastic but has a clear viewing port on top that allows you to see the condition of the cell plates at a glance. Since it's built within a Jandy Never Lube valve body, the TruClear needs just a 6” of gap cut in the pipe^N1 during installation, less than half of what many popular salt chlorinators have historically needed.

This particularly small cell housing means there isn’t room for a “Flow Switch” as used by most other systems. Flow Switches are mechanical sensors that detect when pump flow starts & stops, enabling a salt chlorinator to easily work with programmable variable speed pumps (VSPs). Instead, the Truclear relies on a water sensor (a classic design, but little used anymore) that only determines whether the plumbing is filled with water or not (as opposed to detecting whether water is or isn't flowing), requiring that much more care be taken to explicitly coordinate a pump (especially programmable variable-speed pumps) with the salt system’s schedule. The small size of the housing limits the space for electrolytic plates contributing to the TruClear having the lowest chlorine output of the category^N2.

Maintenance is simple since calcium deposits on the cell plates are visible and the cell is easily removed and placed in a cleaning solution. These removable plates help to reduce the cost of cell replacement with only the plate assembly needing replacement. The controls are very simple, and consist of a small LCD screen, an up/down arrow, and back / select buttons, but no status LED indicator lights. Chlorine output can be adjusted in 10% increments. Boost mode can be activated by holding down the + and select button and runs for 24 hours.

However, simplicity can have its downsides too. For example, a rather common error message is that of, “Lo Temp/Lo Salt” which can happen because of low pool salinity, low water temperature, or a depleted cell. Since all three issues are very possible, if not likely at some point, troubleshooting the precise fix is left to be determined. For winter operation, the TruClear instructions caution you to shut off the system when water temperatures reach 55°F and says operation otherwise can “dramatically shorten the life of the cell”.

The Jandy TruClear comes with a 3 year limited warranty (unavailable for online purchases, which instead have a 90-day warranty), requiring local purchase and paid installation. Replacement salt cells are limited to a 1 year warranty which sharply diminishes their price advantage

APX Performance E-CHLOR

The newcomer here is the APX Performance E-CHLOR (APX-ECHLOR-32-0301), a manufacturer-rated 32,000 gallon capacity system. Standing apart from the other two, the E-CHLOR is a true, all-in-one system in which all functions fit into a single, compact component installed in the piping, ready to plug straight into the wall. The E-CHLOR’s entire cell housing is clear, giving a full-360 view of the electrolytic plates, allowing you to see the extent of calcium deposits at any given time without removing the cell.

The E-CHLOR arrives with a 3-prong cord allowing it to plug straight into a GFCI outlet, but the plug can always be removed if you choose to hardwire the system into a 110 or 220 voltage circuit. In addition, the E-CHLOR requires a mere 7.5” gap cut in horizontal pipe for installation with unions allowing for removal or replacement of the housing. (While the TruClear squeaks ahead needing only a 6” gap, that assumes the housing is permanently glued into place, whereas with the optional set of unions, the TruClear will suddenly need a 16” gap cut into horizontal pipe which arguably even removes the TruClear from consideration as a Compact Salt Chlorinator.)

The E-CHLOR has the highest chlorine output power at 1.1 Lbs per day, as well as the cheapest chlorine cost per pound. These are key advantages given that generating chlorine is Job #1 for a Salt Chlorinator.

With cooler water temperatures in the spring or fall, the eChlor will adapt. The Cold Water light will illuminate and chlorine output automatically drops to a maximum of 50% with water below 64°F and then 25% maximum when below 59°F. This makes it one of the few SCG models which can continue to generate well into low temperatures - this can be highly desirable for pools which don’t get closed for the winter.

The E-CHLOR utilizes a flow switch and features low-flow capability as low as 20 gpm, making the E-CHLOR well suited to use with modern variable speed pumps. The E-CHLOR also has additional sensors to be able to determine if an air pocket develops due to an improperly-programmed pump providing too little flow.

The E-CHLOR’s controls include status lights for Flow, Low Salt, Cold Water, Clean Cell, as well as the novel Cell Life Low indicator, all of which provide precision feedback. In other words, these status messages typically guide you to exactly the problem that needs to be addressed. The E-CHLOR tracks its operating hours and when roughly 75% of the life span hours have accumulated, the Cell Life Low light will come on independent of other lights. This is a helpful alert to let you plan towards replacing the cell at some point down the road, so you really don’t need to panic.

The E-CHLOR comes with a 3 year limited warranty and carries no penalty for a DIY installation which is great news for a system that is so quick and easy to install. Unlike the TruClear, the E-CHLOR replacement cells receive the same 3 year warranty when purchased separate from a full system.

Pentair iChlor 30

Our third system is another veteran entry, the Pentair iChlor 30 (523081), manufacturer-rated for 30,000 gallons. The iChlor incorporates all control functions, a flow switch, and the Salt Cell into a single, compact unit that connects to a Pentair “Power Center” - a metal box that houses the power supply - or a Pentair Automation Controller mounted close by on a post or wall. With a chlorine output level of 0.95 lbs/day, the iChlor edges out the TruClear, but still lags the E-CHLOR.

The iChlor utilizes an electronic control module which mounts atop the opaque cell housing. The cell housing, which permanently holds the electrolytic plates, fits into an opening of around 8” and must be removed from the piping in order to inspect the cell for calcium deposits or to acid wash the cell when needed. Unlike the other models which have removable cell plates that can be cleaned separately, the iChlorcell design can’t be taken apart, and requires a cleaning stand in order to fill the cell with an acid solution and fully immerse the cell blades.

Control functions for the iChlor are simple - 3 advisory lights, two buttons, and a small digital readout - but they supply good diagnostic information. At a glance, the three advisory lights can alert you to the operational status, temperature problems, flow status, cell condition and whether the salinity level is within range. Connected to a Pentair Automation panel via the RS-485 cable, the iChlor is subject to increased control and capable of supplying additional information as well.

The iChlor’s output can be precisely adjusted in 1% or 5% increments via the two buttons located below the small, digital display making it simple to finetune the chlorination level. These same buttons can quickly and easily access the diagnostic mode providing cell hours used, voltage to the cell, water temperature, salinity, and the firmware release. Regarding winter operation, the iChlor will continue to generate chlorine as water temperature drops, but as the water drops below 52°F, the iChlor will shutdown and stop production.

Additional features include “low-flow” capability with only 20 gpm of water flow needed for the flow switch to trigger chlorine production. For those of you with automatic motorized pool covers, the iChlor is capable of detecting a closed cover and will reduce chlorine output when the pool cover is detected.

Pentair provides a 2 year limited warranty on the iChlor, but reduces that to 60 days if the system is not purchased locally and installed with paid service. Replacement cells also receive the 2 year warranty which somewhat mitigates the higher cost relative to a Jandy replacement cell.

Let’s see how these salt chlorinators look in a side-by-side comparison with the category winner(s) highlighted in green:

Conclusion

This burgeoning category of Compact Salt Chlorinators is tailor-made for the DIYer and although these units appear to be within the ability of even a casual DIYer, warranty limitations with Pentair and Jandy, which effectively require professional installation in order to receive the full warranty, are prohibitive. Consequently, for a DIYer the hands down choice is The APX Performance e-Chlor with the simplest installation, highest Chlorine output, unambiguous diagnostic and control features, and the best, DIY-friendly warranty.

If you are not a DIYer and plan on using paid installation, the E-CHLOR could remain a compelling choice, particularly with an installer willing to charge by the hour. Otherwise, if choosing between the iChlor or TruClear, the iChlor could be the required option if you have a Variable Speed Pump, since the iChlor’s flow switch gives it the nod over the TruClear. However, if you’re using a traditional single-speed pump controlled by a time-clock, the TruClear with its cost advantage on replacement cells becomes the leading choice over iChlor.

For pool owners set on full automation of their pool, the choice becomes Jandy or Pentair. Normally, I advocate for mixing and matching preferred items based on specs, rather than consolidating to one brand. However when it comes to pool automation, if you own a Jandy or Pentair automation system, then it is usually highly advantageous to select their salt chlorinator as well. If you want, but don’t already own, an automation system, then your challenge becomes evaluating the features and capabilities of the Pentair and Jandy automation to determine the best unit for you and then matching it to the same brand salt chlorinator.

So, which unit is the overall winner? This prize also goes to the new kid on the block, the APX Performance E-CHLOR, because it’s a more capable system with about 15% higher chlorine output, because it can continue to generate in cold water and easily works with variable speed pumps, and because its troubleshooting doesn’t leave you guessing. The primary caveat to our recommendation is for the pool owner determined to automate the pool. For these buyers, we declare a draw and recommend that the best choice in a chlorinator is the brand that matches your existing automation system or the one you intend to buy.

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