Original > Hot Tub Forum
ACE System- Yes or No?
bud16415:
Not a dealer nor a scientist here. I think a salt water based chlorine generating system is a great idea. I think the Ace system is way over priced to install and super over priced to maintain.
The salt in the water does improve the feel and smoothness of the water. I recently added salt in the concentration I would have with a generator to my tub to test how we liked just the salt feel. My plan now with the better weather is to add a Saltron Mini to my tub. It is an aftermarket unit that makes chlorine out of salt water. Plain and simple and the anode hangs in the tub when not being used and that allows you to soak it in vinegar and clean it every couple months. When the anode does wear out it is about 100 bucks to replace and that is pretty high as well IMO. My friend has this system, he cleans his unit and he has had the same anode for about 5 years. I’m not selling this product in any way there are several other companies selling similar products.
I don’t know what these other things the ace system claims to make or why you need them in your water.
Chas:
The ACE system uses different chemistry than a typical salt system. Most of the inexpensive units just make chlorine. It's convenient, I suppose, but it's just chlorine being made from salt. With the way they plug into another outlet and hang over the edge of the tub, I personally don't see much difference than dosing the tub with Dichlor.
The ACE system can do salt level testing for you, and it will shut down if the cell gets clogged OR if the salt level is too high or two low, and it gives you an icon on the control panel of the tub, since it is integrated with the spa's computer. It has a lot of value for that high price tag.
I will admit that I thought the cells would last longer than they do because they use man-made diamond and other high-end materials - but I have been getting 2 to 3 years out of them, with the exception of one system which I run for a customer which is starting it's fourth year doing fine.
Expensive, for sure. But it's a good solid system. It's backed by Watkins Wellness, so parts and support should be ongoing. Whether or not it's worth the extra money is up to the individual.
8)
bud16415:
For some reason and I’m not a chemist this Active Oxygen claim made with diamonds in the electrode, they call OH made from H2O and different from O2 or ozone O3 just doesn’t set well.
The claim as I understand it is they convert the salt in the water into chlorine and they also crack the water into this OH similar to electrolysis where you would get hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen acts like a non chlorine shock being produced at the same time as the chlorine sanitizer. That leaves hydrogen left behind as a gas in a sealed up hot tub.
Something doesn’t seem correct with all this. I will have to talk it over with some of my chemist friends and see what they think.
Bottom line for me is chlorine is what I want made and I want it dispensed slowly and when I’m away from the tub for a week or more at a time. It is easy to add dichlor also but it should be done daily. I tend to shock when needed once a week max and every other week min. Dichlor has way more stabilizer than I need and why now I switch to liquid after a few weeks of dichlor. Dichlor is fairly cheap and liquid bleach is very cheap. Salt is super cheap.
For me salt conversion is for ease of maintaining the tub and the added feel of bathing in salt water.
The ACE measuring the salt level is nice I think some of the new after markets are measuring and adjusting levels based on usage and demand. Those are nice features, and some people might be willing to pay the price for that.
d00nut:
--- Quote from: bud16415 on April 17, 2018, 11:33:31 am ---For some reason and I’m not a chemist this Active Oxygen claim made with diamonds in the electrode, they call OH made from H2O and different from O2 or ozone O3 just doesn’t set well.
The claim as I understand it is they convert the salt in the water into chlorine and they also crack the water into this OH similar to electrolysis where you would get hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen acts like a non chlorine shock being produced at the same time as the chlorine sanitizer. That leaves hydrogen left behind as a gas in a sealed up hot tub.
Something doesn’t seem correct with all this. I will have to talk it over with some of my chemist friends and see what they think.
Bottom line for me is chlorine is what I want made and I want it dispensed slowly and when I’m away from the tub for a week or more at a time. It is easy to add dichlor also but it should be done daily. I tend to shock when needed once a week max and every other week min. Dichlor has way more stabilizer than I need and why now I switch to liquid after a few weeks of dichlor. Dichlor is fairly cheap and liquid bleach is very cheap. Salt is super cheap.
For me salt conversion is for ease of maintaining the tub and the added feel of bathing in salt water.
The ACE measuring the salt level is nice I think some of the new after markets are measuring and adjusting levels based on usage and demand. Those are nice features, and some people might be willing to pay the price for that.
--- End quote ---
My experience in selling and servicing the ACE system for the last 8 years... People don't purchase it because it's cheap... or because they want to save money. No way. In fact, I tell them straight up, it's the most expensive way to go in maintaining their hot tub, outside of Silk Balance probably.
Yet people spend $600 a year easy on Silk Balance, $850 for a cell every 2-3 years seems cheap ;)
If you are about cost effective sanitization, stay away from ACE. You won't be able to sell yourself.
It's more about the experience with it. I'll be honest, I've had ACE on my personal tub coming up on 4 years. I don't necessarily see myself switching unless something better comes along. I love it. My wife loves it <-- more important. I HAVEN'T replaced my cell yet... but I am anticipating soon. I leave ozone in my tub, leave output around 2 (maybe 3,) and I have an on the go water softener to keep calcium level low.
bud16415:
--- Quote from: d00nut on April 17, 2018, 12:45:18 pm ---
--- Quote from: bud16415 on April 17, 2018, 11:33:31 am ---For some reason and I’m not a chemist this Active Oxygen claim made with diamonds in the electrode, they call OH made from H2O and different from O2 or ozone O3 just doesn’t set well.
The claim as I understand it is they convert the salt in the water into chlorine and they also crack the water into this OH similar to electrolysis where you would get hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen acts like a non chlorine shock being produced at the same time as the chlorine sanitizer. That leaves hydrogen left behind as a gas in a sealed up hot tub.
Something doesn’t seem correct with all this. I will have to talk it over with some of my chemist friends and see what they think.
Bottom line for me is chlorine is what I want made and I want it dispensed slowly and when I’m away from the tub for a week or more at a time. It is easy to add dichlor also but it should be done daily. I tend to shock when needed once a week max and every other week min. Dichlor has way more stabilizer than I need and why now I switch to liquid after a few weeks of dichlor. Dichlor is fairly cheap and liquid bleach is very cheap. Salt is super cheap.
For me salt conversion is for ease of maintaining the tub and the added feel of bathing in salt water.
The ACE measuring the salt level is nice I think some of the new after markets are measuring and adjusting levels based on usage and demand. Those are nice features, and some people might be willing to pay the price for that.
--- End quote ---
My experience in selling and servicing the ACE system for the last 8 years... People don't purchase it because it's cheap... or because they want to save money. No way. In fact, I tell them straight up, it's the most expensive way to go in maintaining their hot tub, outside of Silk Balance probably.
Yet people spend $600 a year easy on Silk Balance, $850 for a cell every 2-3 years seems cheap ;)
If you are about cost effective sanitization, stay away from ACE. You won't be able to sell yourself.
It's more about the experience with it. I'll be honest, I've had ACE on my personal tub coming up on 4 years. I don't necessarily see myself switching unless something better comes along. I love it. My wife loves it <-- more important. I HAVEN'T replaced my cell yet... but I am anticipating soon. I leave ozone in my tub, leave output around 2 (maybe 3,) and I have an on the go water softener to keep calcium level low.
--- End quote ---
I agree with that.
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