Pentair R171099 Hi-Flo Tubing Replacement Kit Rainbow Automatic Chlorine/Bromine In-Line Pool and Spa Feeder

Update: 2 days after Installation: This modification kit enabled me to raise my chlorine from a long term historical trend of 0.5 ppm for the Model 320 chlorinator (Alone) to 3.0 ppm in less than 2 days (with this high flow kit). Very impressive for a 40,000 gallon in-ground pool. However, I’m keeping it at 4 stars because the flat clamp sucks and should be replaced by a round “O” clamp. However, I was able to install it without any leaks.Here’s my original review:So the kit appears to have greatly increased the flow rate of water into the model 320 chlorinator. It makes sense. You run the tube from “between the pump and filter” into the chlorinator,… so essentially from a high pressure line into a low pressure environment inside the chlorinator… naturally water will flow more rapidly than the flawed design of the model 320. The model 320 just doesn’t create enough flow on its own to work effectively - without this high flow kit. The real test will be the available chlorine levels in 3 days. Without the high flow kit I was struggling to get 0.5 ppm. I’ll update my review in a few days. Oh and by the way, the flat clamp really does suck… but if you mess with it enough it works… and mine doesn’t leak. Here’s some recommendations when you use the clamp. 1) put it onto black plastic curved flange BEFORE you affix the pipe to the flange. As the oblong hole in the clamp will score the plastic tube as you slide it over the tube once it’s on the flange and potentially make the tube leak. 2) put some silicone liberally all over the rubber gasket before you put it onto the flange; also put silicone on the part of the flange that sticks into the PVC pipe 3) buy a 9/16 drill bit… don’t try to use a 1/2” drill bit and reaming it out to fit the 9/16 flange. It needs to be in there tight. 4) make sure the flow of the water moving from the pump to the chlorinator is going in the same direction as the arrow on the back flow preventer. 5) Run the black pipe into the top of the chlorinator and not into the bottom, as it increases the rate of dissolution of the tabs. Now with the maximum possible flow rate you can just use the dial to adjust flow rate . 6) At winter time ensure you disconnect the back flow preventer and drain the water from each side of it or it will freeze and break. More to come in a few days once I test my chlorine levels.Remember to also do two maintenance repairs while you have everything disassembled on your original model 320: 1) Take off the lid and remove all the chlorine tabs. You will see there is a black plastic removable screen on the bottom. Pop it off and clean it thoroughly or replace it with the replacement part. (#R172255 ). 2) Undo the bottom screw on the bottom of the chlorinator, unscrew the whole chlorinator counterclockwise off the 2”pipe and replace the back flow preventer. It’s a black round part that screws into the bottom of the 320. Here’s the part number (#R172248 )If it’s clogged you won’t get any flow rate at all. You can find all of the parts here on Amazon. You can even find a parts diagram on the internet if you search for it.

Inferior Kit for Pentair 320 Chlorinator:Several weeks ago, I wrote a scathing review of the Pentair Chlorinator Model 320. Go here on Amazon if you're interested:http://www.amazon.com/Pentair-R171096-Rainbow-Automatic-Chlorine/product-reviews/B001DO0QKQ/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0Because of the flaws in the Pentair 320, the manufacturer offered this retrofit "Replacement Kit" to correct their previous mistakes. However, this replacement kit, like the Pentair Chlorinator, is also flawed, primarily because the stainless steel clamp that is supposed to hold the flex tubing onto your 3" (or 2.5" in some cases) is a cheap one. On the plus side, all of the parts, except for the large stainless steel clamp (mentioned previously) are of good quality and are useable.But this large stainless steel clamp is cast as a straight piece of metal, which you then have to bend significantly, in order to fit around your existing 3" pipe; what Pentair SHOULD HAVE OFFERED is a circular 3.5" stainless steel clamp. As a result, retrofitting this metal piece around your 3" pipe is rather difficult to do. Another problem with this pipe clamp is the screw and locking mechanism, which is, by itself, also a flawed design. The NET RESULT is that after you've completed your work in adapting this retrofit kit, you will likely have water leaking between the seal (i.e. flex tubing to 3" pipe seal). A very inferior product kit!

After installing an Intelliflo VS Pump, my Rainbow Chlorinator barely worked at high speeds and not at all at low (as many have noted). This kit completely corrected the problem. Installed between the filter and heater, it provided so much flow that I had re-configure the chlorinator from a top feed to a bottom feed. I now run the regulator at 2. As opposed to 5 during my single speed pump days.I do agreed that the hose clamp assembly is difficult to form and connect. A pre-shaped clamp doesn't seem like much to ask. But once installed, worked fine with no leaks at all.

I was having a issue with reoccurring green algae, and was spending a fortune on shock and algae kill solutions, until I found that other people were having the same problem, after looking into replacing the chlorine feeder. I read on and found the Hi-Flo tubing replacement kit after watching the video of feeders not working properly due to the negative pressure created from incorrect plumbing assembly. I ordered the kit and easily installed it. Aside from having to remove the whole filter housing to fit the drill in the small area of my system, to drill one hole it all went well and gave me the incentive to clean the filters since they were out. My feeder is now consuming chlorine tablets and my pool is crystal clear just in time for summer. Thank you Thank you

Took my pool from no chlorine to chlorine. Our pool contractor installed the Pentair chlorinater the factory suggested way. We never were able to keep any amount of chlorine in the pool. I installed this kit and now we have chlorine in our pool. In fact, we’ve had to turn the dial down from 5 to 1 to keep from having to much chlorine.