Image via Wikipedia

ControlOMatic is in the final test phase of the ColorChlorHP and TechniChlorHP. The HP – High-Power versions of these two salt water chlorine generators add a third titanium plate which nearly doubles the chlorine output. The HP version will easily handle a SPA up to 2,000 gallons and even small pools to 5,000 gallons. The chlorine usage for pools is much less than a SPA’s because of the lower water temperatures. The HP versions will be available in January 2009 and the list price is $475 for the ColorChlorHP and $420 for the TechniChlorHP.

Inground Spas and Chlorine Generation

The most common inground spa is tied in with a main pool to share the same filtration and pump equipment. This means that the inground spa will use the same water as the swimming pool. In these cases the ColorChlor will not work as the chlorine generator needs to be able to support the full water volume for both the swimming pool and the in-ground spa.

Portable Spas and Chlorine Generation

What is know as a portable spa is usually made out of fiberglass and is not connected to a swimming pool. The ColorChlor and TechniChlor were designed to support water volumes up to 600 gallons and are a perfect fit for almost all portable spas.

Saltwater / Chlorine Generation Process

When salt is dissolved in your water and your spa chlorinator in running, the chloride portion of the salt is transformed into pure liquid chlorine. Chlorine dissolves in the water to form hypochlorous acid. The acid performs the same functions as conventional “Pool Chlorine” in oxidizing bacteria, algae, mildew, etc.

Salt chlorinator systems generate free chlorine that destroys odors and irritating chloramines as the water passes through the TechniClor or ColorClor. Chloramines are responsible for the chlorine odor, red-irritated eyes, bleached hair and ruined bathing suits that are associated with traditional pool and hot tub chemicals.

Chlorine Generator Benefits

Chlorine is an agent to disinfect water and is necessary for safe swimming pool water. Chlorine residual is necessary so that it may instantly react to kill disease causing organisms and oxidize bacteria, algae, ammonia and other organic matter that may be introduced into the pool.

After purchase and installation of a TechniChlor or ColorChlor chlorine generator, you simply add Pool Salt (99% pure or better) to the water and sodium hypochlorite (free chlorine) is produced automatically by electrolysis of the water.

• Eliminates the need to handle and store hazardous chlorine containing chemicals
• Softened water does not sting eyes and leaves your skin silky soft
• Sufficient chlorine oxidizes chloramines
• No more chlorine smell
• No dryness, itchy skin, red eyes, or green hair
• No more bleaching of bathing suits
• Lower cost than liquid chlorine (bleach), powders or tablets
• automatically generating chlorine on demand
• there is always sufficient chlorine in the water to remain sanitized

In summary, it’s a convenient, simple and safe way to disinfect water, producing high quality pool water with reduced maintenance.

The market for salt chlorine generator systems for spas and hot tubs is growing at an exponential rate. The market growth, to-date, has been primarily with residential pools and spas but it is likely that the technology will expand into commercial installations (condominium, hotel, municipal, etc.) as regulating bodies see the benefits and overall safety improvements. Driving this growth are simplicity, safety, water quality and automated management opportunities. Prior to the advent of pool chlorinators, a pool owner only had undesirable options for continually adding chemicals and all the additives and residues packaged with them.

Industry numbers show upwards of 50% of new residential pools and 25% of residential spas in North America are getting installed with salt water chlorine generators. There are currently some 6,000,000 previously installed residential pools now looking to add the units – all fueling this exploding new technology.