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Air Bubbles in tablet feeder

Posted by Bud Brinkley on July 27, 2010 at 8:57am in Pool Service Topics
I have a customer that has an above ground pool. I installed a tablet feeder (Pentair Model 320) inline with the return line. Due to a number of factors, occasionally small bubbles work their way through the filter system and eventually collect inside the tablet feeder. Over a period of one week between pool cleanings, the tablet feeder collects enough air to go dry. No chlorine then equals a green pool.

The water level is at the proper height. The skimmer basket rarely gets emptied by the pool owner. Not much trash collects anyway, but enough to cause a little turbulence and thus I suspect that is where the air bubbles get in.

How can I plumb this feeder so that it does not collect the tiny bubbles that pass through?
Thanks in advance!
Bud

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Replies

  • Adam August 18, 2010 at 6:41am
    Where do I begin? We've been using 320's for years but of late have had real problems with airlocks and general flow into the chamber. We use Intelliflo pumps exclusively for filtration, generally have a mazzei ozone injector downstream of the chlorinator and a cleaner booster intake up stream. While taking advantage of the lower flows with the varaible speed pump, combined with the airlock issues we tend to have problems that are not fixed by the use of the top feed option. The only cure we have found is purchasing the offline kit that allows the chamber to be removed from the lower fitting, then using the offline kit to tap the existing plumbing for the intake and return. Possible reasons this works are: (1) maybe there is turbulence caused by fitting and check valves in the plumbing that does not allow the 320 to pick up the water very well using the pitot tube within the "T" (2) or maybe the greater difference in head or resistance due to using the "offline kit" allows for better flow between the intake and return.

    I'm curious to see if anyone else has used this as a solution. We are installing a few of the 3315's which are "offline" out of the box and plumbed using 1" pipe. Should have the first one up and running in a few days.
  • Bud Brinkley August 11, 2010 at 4:36pm
    I did do the hose switch and it has worked nicely so far. Thanks for the tips folks!

    Rick Woemmel said:
    Switch the hose from the bottom of the feeder to the top of the feeder Bud. There is a tap in both the top and bottom of this chlorinator. The other issue is air getting into the feeder... you either have cavitation or a suction leak... either one should be looked at and diagnosed for repair. Best of Luck! Rick Woemmel
  • Jeff Leavitt August 10, 2010 at 8:39am
    A common problem with the 320 for us is the "airlock" that keeps water from flowing through the feeder. We have gotten in the habit of starting up the pool pump with the feeder lid off, waiting to see water rise above the tablets, then quickly - but carefully - screwing the lid down as the water rises. Seems to have eliminated the airlock problems for us.
  • Rick Woemmel August 10, 2010 at 8:18am
    Switch the hose from the bottom of the feeder to the top of the feeder Bud. There is a tap in both the top and bottom of this chlorinator. The other issue is air getting into the feeder... you either have cavitation or a suction leak... either one should be looked at and diagnosed for repair. Best of Luck! Rick Woemmel
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