21
Rev 13
Operating Instruction
To successfully use the ionizer the water does need to be balanced properly. This means you should
measure the water’s properties with a test strip and then adjust the total alkalinity in the 80-120 ppm range
and the calcium water hardness in the 150 - 300 ppm range. pH should be in the 7.2-7.6 range. High pH
and total alkalinity and/or hard well water above 400 ppm and/or water containing sulphur may result in
Copper compounds such as CuSO
4
forming around the electrodes and the water may need to be treated
first with a water softener and then a pH reducing compound such as muriatic acid. If ever total dissolved
solids reach 2000 ppm, it’s a sign that it is time to change the water.
The ion concentration is measured with a liquid copper ion concentration measurement kit. The test kit, if
a Motte’s 3619 test kit, requires 5 drops of two different liquids to be added. The resulting colour (viewed
through the top of the test tube) is correlated to a copper ppm concentration. When a tub is first filled with
fresh water (and after the water is balanced as above), the ionization controller is adjusted to maximum
(push large dose button). At this setting it produces 100mA of current and this can theoretically ionize 1
litre of water to 0.4ppm copper in 6 seconds. To do so the water must be conductive. Normally it will be,
but should there by any doubt the addition of two table spoons of regular salt into the hot tub will ensure it
is conductive.
The 0.4ppm copper concentration should theoretically, if the water is quite conductive, be reached in the
time given in the table below. But typically, it takes much longer. First time you use the ionizer, be sure
you don’t forget to turn the setting of large dose hours down, so you don’t inadvertently overdose. When
the time given in the table has elapsed, test the copper concentration level. It is not unusually for the con-
centration to increase at a much slower rate than the table indicates. If the 0.4ppm level has not been
reached keep the controller on the maximum setting until it has and record the total time it took for future
fresh fills. The ideal concentration for hot tubs is between 0.4-0.8 ppm. If it is much higher, you need to
drain some water and dilute the remaining water with fresh water. (Overdosed water will have a distinc-
tive greenish hue and may also result in greenish scum and even dye skin or bathing suits green.) Once
you have the concentration near the 0.4ppm, set the controller to the normal “ion/action” mode and adjust
the output to 1-2 %, or even turn it to 0%. Monitor the concentration initially once every week, to get a
feel if you need to adjust the ionic action makeup rate. The ion concentration will normally stay reasona-
bly constant unless you add a fair amount of make-up water. In that case, you can switch the unit to large
dose mode again until the 0.4-0.8 ppm Cu reading is re-established. Concentration can rise on its own if
water evaporates and you don’t add make up water.
Note: The A400H controller has persistent memory.
If power fails the unit will remember the settings.
The metal ions do nothing to remove dead organic matter or organic compounds such as oils. For this rea-
son an oxidizer is needed (either an ozone oxidation system or a non-chlorine oxidizer compound such as
Oxy-Pur
(MPS), or both…occasionally adding Oxy
-Pur
(MPS)). It further requires good filtering proce-
dures to be used, because filtering is what keeps the water clear looking. For example, clean the filter
once per month and use a flocculent (
Sea Blue
) to remove fine particles when water becomes somewhat
turbid, and use enzyme-based descummer weekly or bi-monthly).
Proper filtering and filtering enhancement products are described in section 9.2. It is important that chlo-
rine products be avoided, because chlorine makes the silver ions ineffective. High pH (above 8) must also
be avoided.
If using an ozonator as the normal oxidation means, set the filtration cycle of the spa pack to at least 6 hrs.
At a filtration cycle of 6 hrs every 12 hours, enough ozone will be produced to oxidize the organic con-
taminants. If you wish you can instead, use the powder oxidizer product,
Oxy-Pur
(MPS), after each
bathing session. If you do use an ozonator, it is still a good idea to add some
Oxy-Pur
after a heavy bath-
ing session.
