The output percentage on a Hayward AquaRite salt chlorine generator controls how much chlorine the cell produces relative to its maximum capacity. Tuning this correctly is the difference between a perfectly sanitized pool and either over-chlorinated (eye irritation, faster cell wear) or under-chlorinated (algae risk). Here’s how to dial it in.
What the output percentage does
The percentage represents how much of each operating cycle the cell is actively generating chlorine. At 50%, the cell generates for ~50% of each minute the pump is running; the other 50% it’s idle. At 100%, it generates continuously while the pump runs.
This means: output percentage interacts with pump runtime. A cell at 50% with 12 hours of pump runtime produces the same total chlorine as a cell at 100% with 6 hours of runtime — but the 50%/12-hour combination is much easier on the cell.
How to find your correct output setting
Don’t guess high or low. 50% is a good neutral starting point for any salt pool.
Use a liquid drop test, not strips. Target 2–3 ppm.
- Free chlorine reads above 3 ppm consistently → drop output to 40%
- Free chlorine reads below 1 ppm consistently → raise output to 60–70%
- Free chlorine stable at 2–3 ppm → leave it
Hot summer with heavy use → increase output. Mild spring/fall → reduce. Winter (pool open) → drop significantly. The cell’s ideal setting moves with bather load and UV intensity.
Boost mode vs. percentage
The AquaRite has a “Boost” or “Super-Chlorinate” mode that runs the cell at 100% for 24 hours. Use this for:
- Post-shock recovery
- After heavy bather day
- Pool opening when chemistry is lagging
- Combating early algae
Don’t leave it on permanently — cell wear accelerates dramatically at 100% sustained.
Common output mistakes
- Setting output to 100% “to be safe.” Wears the cell out 2–3x faster.
- Forgetting to adjust for season. Summer 70% may be winter 20%.
- Blaming the cell for low chlorine when stabilizer is the issue. Salt pools need 60–80 ppm cyanuric acid. Below that, generated chlorine evaporates from UV before it can sanitize.
- Trusting the cell’s salt readout instead of a separate test. See our salt testing tutorial.
Salt pool products
Hayward T-CELL-9 (25k gal)
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Taylor K-2005 Salt Test Kit
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Durachlor Stabilizer
Shop NowIf your AquaRite output is set right but chlorine still reads low, send PST Pool Supplies your test results and we’ll diagnose the underlying chemistry issue.