SWG and Puck Feeder?

[catnip]

Canuck, you are correct. I need a way to feed chlorine for up to a week while I'm away and the SWG is out of service. Obviously, if the SWG breaks while I'm gone, I'm out of luck until I get back, clean up any bad things that may have happened and then get the backup feeder going for any more away trips. I agree BBB would be the best choice while I'm home, but I need a backup method that can hold things for a week which I can invoke quickly.

[Poolsean]

wow...sorry for my surprise at your question. But, do you have a second pump in case your main pump goes out while you're away?
Salt systems have been around for quite a while and should not have to have a back up source of chlorine, just in case the salt system fails.
To answer your question, there is no problem with having a salt system and a tri-chlor feeder operating together. I would recommend, as was previously recommended, that the tab feeder and salt cell be plumbed parallel to one another.
Most systems have a Boost mode. Simply activate a boost mode before you leave so additional chlorine can be fed into the pool before you leave and should provide additional chlorine in the event that the salt system fails. The additional chlorine should keep algae at bay while you are away.

[catnip]

Sean, I suppose I'm being a little "belt and suspenders" on this. I'm new to the SWG game and given the highly corrosive salt air environment when we have our pool, I prone to looking for worst case backup scenarios, e.g. outside AC units usually last no more than 5 years. Re the second pump, those are easy to come by locally, so I'm not quite so paranoid there. Not having had a SWG before, I think I'm just trying to foresee all the possible scenarios and how I would deal with them. And having an alternative chlorine feeder seemed like an easy fix. But I think you are suggesting that the great reliability and service of Pool Pilot means I need not worry!!

[Poolsean]

Exactly! lol
I would agree with everyone else though. Just bump up your chlorine level before your trip. With sufficient chlorine levels (AND STABILIZER), the chlorine residual will last a week or more before algae starts to grow.
You may also consider a preventative algaecide. There are some that lasts 3 months and will prevent algae from growing when there is insufficient chlorine levels.

A few jugs of bleach will allow you quick correction in the event that you do have a problem when you return.