So, which one is better? I get asked this question all the time. I have a TruClear at my personal residence only for the default reason that I have Jandy Equipment on my equipment pad. I always say if you have all Pentair or all Hayward and, in my case, all Jandy equipment then it is logical to go with a salt system from that manufacturer. Since I have Jandy equipment I went with the TruClear system and if you have all Pentair equipment I am going to tell you to stick with the iChlor system.
Let me break it down so that you can easily see the differences.
Pool Size
Winner: TruClear, it can generate chlorine for up to a 35,000-gallon pool.
Loser: The iChlor 15 is rated for a 15,000-gallon pool and the iChlor 30 is rated for a 30,000-gallon pool.
In the total output, the TruClear is the better choice.
Salinity Level Reading
Winner:
The iChlor will display the pool’s salinity or salt level right on the menu. This makes it very easy to know if you have the right salt level in your pool.
Loser:
The TruClear does not have a salinity meter. So you will need an outside digital tester or salt test strips. I big negative for many.
Cost of System
Both are pretty close to each other in total cost so there is no clear cut winner in this category.
Cost of Replacement Cell
Winner:
TruClear is clearly the winner here. Since there are no electronics on the cell itself a replacement cell is under $300. So updating the cell when it gets old is a real bargain.
Loser:
The iChlor has everything built into the cell so basically, when the cell goes out after 10,000 hours of use, you will need to get a whole new system. So the price of the replacement cell for the iChlor 30 is over $600 or almost double the price of the TruClear.
The price of the iChlor replacement cell is a big negative.
Cell Cleaning
Winner:
The TruClear cell is a snap to clean, literally. You simply turn off the pool system, twist the TruClear top and the cell snaps right out. Soak it in a 10 to 1 water to the acid solution and when done simply snap it back in. The clear plastic top allows you to see into the cell and let you know when it needs to be cleaned. It really couldn’t be easier.
Loser:
With the iChlor, you need to unplug the salt cell and then remove the two unions holding the cell onto the plumbing. This is a task and the unions may not be easy to reach or remove. Getting the unions back on with the o-ring inside can also be challenging. The iChlor also requires a cleaning stand sold separately and the TruClear just needs a bucket.
Electronics
Winner:
This is where the iChlor really shines. You can set the chlorine output by increments of 1% allowing you to fine-tune the system and extend the life of the salt cell. It also will let you know when the salt cell needs cleaning and it will display the pools salt level for you. This system has all the bells and whistles.
Loser:
Jandy wanted to keep the TruClear very simple so that there would be no issues with the system. You can set the output in increments of 10% vs the iChlor's 1% increments. There is no dirty cell indicator but the clear top serves that purpose. Having no salinity reading could be a drawback to some.
It depends really on what you are in the market for. I would say that the TruClear is like a Honda Accord, dependable, easy to use and you will be happy with it. The iChlor is like a luxury car, a Lexus for example. It comes with all the indicator lights you would need and has an excellent build quality and feel to it. Each system has its good points and drawbacks. It is simply what you can live with and what you can live without when comparing both systems against each other.
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