Cal Hyo used in an automatic feeder

[Poconos]

In the earlier days of this forum I did experiment with using Cal Hypo granules in a Hayward CL-200 feeder. First, the warnings are all true about the risk of explosive problems, and, the statement about various forms of chlorine reacting violently with each other is definitely TRUE. Concentration, pressure, and heat are the undesirable results that lead to disaster. To be safe, never mix the forms of chlorine directly where you can get any or all of the above results. So, to be on the safe side, never mix in any feeder at all.
That all being said, I did try fabricating a kind of time release capsule for granules made of a piece of 2" PVC pipe capped at both ends with a bunch of holes drilled in the pipe. After much fussing (experimentation) with the number of holes and hole size, it did work. Was it worth the effort in my case? NO. I reserve the chlorinator for pucks when I need to raise the CYA, and just dump CH granules in the skimmer and let them dissolve in the sand filter. I have a low calcium hardness reading so I can benefit from the convenience of cal hypo compared to bleach. I do use all three forms of chlorine as appropriate.
Al

[jpdurk]

i'm hesitant to keep this thread going as we all know the risks involved here, but i would like to add a little clarification. i'm not talking about putting CH granular in a hayward cl220, i'm talking about CH tabs. that would eliminate any need to "modify" the chlorinator, assuming the CH tabs dissolve correctly in a pressure feeder (the CH tab feeders i've seen are erosion rather than pressure)

also, i wouldn't even put CH granular in a skimmer if i had a trichlor feeder on the system, with or without pucks in it.

so back to the original question, would CH tabs work OK in a brand new, never been used cl220?

j

[aylad]

so back to the original question, would CH tabs work OK in a brand new, never been used cl220?

j

Ben's answer to that same question, years ago, was that no, it is not okay to use it, even in a brand new, never been used feeder because the trichlor feeders are not designed to handle the increased heat and pressure that is generated from dissolving of the cal hypo pucks versus the trichlor pucks. So the risk here is not from the combination of the chlorine types, but from the heat/pressure combination that can make a bomb out of your trichlor feeder.

Jan