Rainbow 320 Chlorinator Tips & Troubleshooting 

Nice!Glad to have helped you out. 👍

LOL - 😜👍

Yes, you can try to plug it off in the meantime.

@@SPL Thanks for the response and thank you once again for all the great information!

Replace the o-ring in the lid.

whoops...

I have a similar problem - it seems to drain completely everytime the filter terms off

Odds are you need this right here... www.amazon.com/Pentair-R171099-Replacement-Automatic-Chlorine/product-reviews/B008HYOKJ8

Matt thanks I will try that kit out.

+Lou Flores I got the Pentair Intelliflo VST. I know what you're dealing with. lol

Thanks! 👍

I think I know the video you are talking about. The guy who filmed it sent it to me a while back. Basically he turned his inline 320 chlorinator into a 300 offline one with the flow adapter he attached - basically he is pumping water into his. The 320 works good "as is" without the gauge, you just have to be aware that water will react with air in the chamber and will evacuate back into the pipes somewhat until the check valve activates. That is the nature of water - it flows to the least resistance. Let me know if you get your working.

No way to know. Too many variables.

In your case I would just use the minimum amount of tablets to keep your pool at 3-5 ppm of chlorine. Depending on your pool size and where you are located it can range from 1 to 3 tablets. I like to leave the dial on 3- 5 and just add less tablets - if you overload it the paste in the tablets can clog up the Chlorinator and also lower your pH down to corrosive levels. So experiment with one tablet and see how the chlorine level holds for 5 days. You will need to run your pump on high speed for two to three hours a day in the Summer to get the chlorine in the pool. In the Winter just turn off the Chlorinator and switch to liquid chlorine when needed - which won't be much as the water temp drops low. I prefer the Rainbow 300 vs. this one. I have an installation video for that one: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Y_AQw8fTf1o.html

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To -MrDgvb1 Thank for the reply. I don't have a Chlorinator yet, I was thinking about getting it and installing it... So that I could just stack it up with tablets and let it go for a long time. This seems not be the case :-) Now we are thinking about getting a Salt water pool setup. Not sure how it will work with our pool plumbing... We might still have the old copper pipes ? Will do some more research ..

Dutch Marc Some copper pipes are okay. A small amount going in and coming out of the heater are acceptable. Large areas could cause problems. The best thing to do is call Pentair 800-831-7133 and tell them you are considering installing their IC40 salt system but have some copper pipes. Describe your set-up over the phone and they will give you a go or a no.

Set it to 3 or 5 for best results

I prefer the off-line chlorinators myself. Less troubles. If you take the cap off does it fill with water when pool is running?

@@SPL Yes, the high flow kit is installed and with the cap off it fills rapidly. Doubled checked the screen and can hear the check valve rattle so no obstruction there. I'm thinking of going to the offline model. There is a problem with differential flow with this feeder. Thanks for your videos, always a learning experience watching you work!

Could be that there is damage at the connection. Try replacing the pieces that the tubes go into.

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To -MrDgvb1 thanks. As it turned out when another tech looked at it, that is the case. The part of the connector where the hose attaches is very short. But it's such a clean even break that it looked normal, so I never gave it much thought. Thanks so much!

Glad you got it fixed! 👍

Maybe hold the chamber with large channel locks. Then turn the lid.

Same exact thing for me, I am freaking out cause I can’t open the chlorinater

I just watched another video and found out that there should be a flathead screw on the bottom valve side of the chlorinator, when tightened it should not move. I need to take a look at my one too.

Yes, that is normal. There is an are pocket on top that pushes the water out, but it should not completely drain.

That might work.

Typically you have to play with it a bit. Try one tablet with it set at 5 and see how long it dissolves and what the chlorine level is. Then adjust down if needed. It is not an exact science.

***** I prefer the Rainbow 300 offline chlorinator. Easy to install and maintain. The Hayward has issues with many parts. Steer clear of that one.

It should be fine.

You are fine. It may be filling but not returning to the pool. The lid can take the water pressure just fine.

Make sure the output dial is all the way on 5. Hopefully clearing the air out has helped it.

I also took tongs to the tabs and emptied it. The bottom tab was eaten almost all the way and was crusty. I flipped it over and put in the top. When the tabs were out I started the pump and had it on 0 verifying it works as it’s supposed to and then opened it to each level up to 5 and watched it. Seems to be “working” hopefully the tabs start dissolving!

I am not 100% sure but the check valve just prevents acid from the tablets getting in there. I would think it is a good idea.

You might need to add liquid chlorine or Cal hypo to bring it up to 10 ppm. Then the 3" tablets should work. They dissolve too slowly to raise the chlorine up from zero

@@SPL okay

Start on full with one tablet and then check the chlorine level after 1 week. If it is too high dial it down.

Try breaking it up with a screwdriver and a rubber mallet. Then pull out the broken pieces.

@@SPL Thanks, worked like a charm!

I prefer the 300 model. The offline versions work better.

Thanks so much for the quick reply. I went ahead and ordered the 300!

Try just putting the lid on with pump off. Sounds like you have really good pressure inside the chlorinator.

It's better if you do, the tubes tend to snap easily as they age.

According to Pentair -the manufacturer - It should hold water in the chamber until you open it to add tablets. Some water will go back towards the check valve but the majority should stay in the chamber until you remove the lid. I will have to do some research on the Delta UV system for you. I know UV has been used in Koi Ponds for years effectively to eliminate algae and keep the water clear but I haven't tested any in swimming pools. It sounds interesting.

It depends on the pool run time, water temperature, tablet brand so no way to know.

Sara B Maybe the black tube at the elbow nut is cracked.

Maybe try a clamp on it to stop it from moving when tightening it.

Could be a clog causing this issue. It should fill up on it's own each day when the pool turns on.

Any thoughts on how to clear the clog?

Depends on the pool run time, water temperature, amount of tablets you put in, tablet brand and dial position. Hard to say.

No, you wouldn't need one.

Thank you and thanks for the prompt reply

If you use Tablets it is a more effective way introducing it into the pool. Plus there is no danger of the tablets falling into the pool and staining it from a floater that breaks.

A pressure gauge.

I don't have one for this, the 300 model -yes.

I think they add just about the same. Try adding less tablets and using more liquid. PoolRx really helps also to reduce chlorine use.

I heard the water flowing from top is for larger pools while smaller pools use the bottom. My one is also on the top, nothing to worry about.

Not 100 sure but they do sell an optional pressure gauge.

Dino Orlando It is that elbow on the bottom. It is clogged with the paste from the tablets. Once they get clogged you need a new one. www.amazon.com/Pentair-R172061-Combination-Rainbow-Chlorine/dp/B002NJIP08/ref=sr_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1430691923&sr=1-2&keywords=Pentair+R172061+Combination+Check+Valve+and+Elbow

Figured it out. Was not the Elbow that was clogged. But at the very bottom under the screen there is a small hole in the center. I put a Phillips head screwdriver in there and it broke the hard piece of chlorine that was clogging it. Filled it up a couple of times & it works perfectly. Thanks.

Dino Orlando Cool. Glad it worked out for you. Then you have a 300 inline chlorinator I think? Lets hope this is the only problem you have this year - ha,ha.

Oh there will be others I'm sure. My Polaris still acts wacky sometime. Glides on it's side with just a cupful of sand & leaves. But I just empty it and it seems to back to it's upright position.

It unscrews

ok, while trying to replace it the old black tubing tore. So I ordered new tubing. Is there any way to bypass the water running through the Chlorinator, so I can still run my pool pump while waiting for the part? @@SPL

@@Music-Tech-Life For that chlorinator you would just need 2 1/2" threaded plugs - simply plug off the tubbing lines. Maybe HomeDepot has them? Not sure. Take the tubing part in and measure it against the plugs to be sure. - Nice hearing from you Dino!

@@SPL Are those the same ones that cut off a Sprinkler? And where would I put them?

@@Music-Tech-Life similar. In the threaded parts. where the tubing goes into.

Once used for Tri-Chlor tablets they suggest not using it for any other type of chlorine.

Cal-hypo should NEVER be used in a chlorinator! It WILL have a severe reaction with any trichlor (from the tablets) left inside.

Yes, any water leaks mean air is also getting into the lines.

@@SPL there was a ceil inside the pvc pipe that go's to the hose and im not shure if it went in the hose but it was leaking before i took the ceil out of lost it and i dont know what to do should i still run the system if it is leaking

wpetronc Not sure. Never had to do it yet as that part seems very long lasting on the 320 units.

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To -MrDgvb1 Thanks for the response! I thought that 320 clogs were usually caused by that part, no? (I am in a top-feed configuration and that valve is flowing great) Is there an easier way to clean out a clog (hot water/poke it with something/special solution)??

Was it always like this or is it a new problem?

Some will leak in since that one doesn't have a check valve. Better to just leave it empty.

Thanks for the help!

One more question. I am currently running the pump for the pool about 4 hours - 6 hours a day. Is there a minimum amount of time that I can be running the pump everyday, assuming that I am able to keep the chlorine, ph, etc., balanced?

Yes. You can add as many as needed.

@@SPL Thanks I was wonder why such a tall tube but only putting 1 in when I could put 5 tablets in and check every 4 months..

Does having 5+ in there versus one to two impact the amount of chlorine returning to the pool?