Salt cell control that reads the water.
Clyr connects to the Hayward, Jandy, Pentair or MadiMack salt chlorinator already on your pad and sets chlorine output from live water readings, so nobody’s guessing at the dial.
The basics
What is a salt cell and how does it work?
A salt chlorine generator, or salt cell, turns ordinary pool salt into chlorine through electrolysis. It’s the same chlorine you’d pour from a jug, made on-site.
Salt goes in the water.
You add pool-grade salt to your water, typically 3,000–3,500 ppm. That’s about 1/10th the salinity of ocean water, so you’ll barely notice it.
The cell makes chlorine.
As water flows through the cell, an electrical charge splits the salt (NaCl) and recombines it into hypochlorous acid, the active sanitizer.
Chlorine works, then reverts.
After it kills bacteria, the chlorine converts back to salt. Then it goes through the cell again, so the salt keeps getting reused.
The dial
What does “output percentage” actually mean?
Most salt cells have a dial or setting from 0–100%. That number sets how long the cell runs during each cycle. The chlorine itself stays the same strength.
Example
If your pump runs for 8 hours and the cell is set to 50%, it makes chlorine for 4 of those hours and rests for 4. At 100%, it runs all 8.
Most owners set it once and leave it. But chlorine demand changes every day with temperature, bather load and sunlight. A fixed setting comes up short (green water) or runs over (damage and waste).
Chlorine production
Based on 8-hour pump runtime
How it connects
Two ways to wire salt cell control.
Most modern salt cells talk RS-485. Older or basic units can be switched through a relay. Clyr handles both. Which one you use depends on your cell.
RS-485 digital control
For Hayward AquaRite, Jandy AquaPure, Pentair IntelliChlor and other supported cells
Clyr Nano
RS-485 port
4-wire cable
Salt cell
RS-485 port
Reads salt level (ppm) right from the cell
Sets output % from 0–100% in software
Watches cell health and error codes from anywhere
Relay on/off control
For older or basic salt cells that don’t talk RS-485
Clyr Nano
AUX port
relay cabinet
Salt cell
Power input
Switches the cell on and off from chemistry readings
Uses a relay built into Clyr+, or in a separate relay cabinet with Nano
Set the cell to 100% and let Clyr manage runtime
Supported salt cells
Hayward
AquaRite
Jandy
AquaPure
Pentair
IntelliChlor
MadiMack
InverCHLOR
Closed-loop control
pH and ORP sensors close the loop.
With Clyr’s pH and ORP probes installed, you can see if your chlorine is actually working. When levels drift, Clyr adjusts the salt cell for you.
What is ORP?
ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) measures how actively your water can sanitize. Higher ORP means more killing power. Clyr targets 650–750 mV for residential pools.
Why pH matters
Chlorine is 3× more effective at pH 7.2 than at pH 8.0. Clyr factors pH into every decision, so you’re not making extra chlorine just because your pH drifted.
How the loop works
Probes read the water.
pH and ORP probes measure your water every few seconds.
Clyr works out chlorine demand.
It uses ORP, pH, temperature and time of day.
Cell output adjusts.
Salt cell % goes up when demand is high and down when it’s met.
Then it checks again.
The loop repeats to keep chlorine in range.
Result: Chlorine stays in the 1–3 ppm range without anyone touching the dial.
Why it matters
Your cell works only as hard as the water needs.
Less wear on the cell
Salt cells wear out faster at 100% all the time. Clyr matches output to what the water needs, so the cell isn’t running hard for nothing.
Stop over-chlorinating
High chlorine fades swimsuits, irritates eyes and damages gear. Clyr holds levels in range, so the pool isn’t getting more than it needs.
Stay ahead of green
When bather load spikes or temps climb, Clyr raises output before the pool turns.
Less runtime
The cell runs only as long as it has to. That means less electricity and less heat on the parts.
See it from anywhere
Check salt level, cell output % and chlorine status in the app. You’ll get an alert if the cell throws an error code.
Keep your cell
If your cell is supported, you don’t need a new one. Check your equipment profile in the Clyr app before you commission.
Put your salt cell on Clyr.
Pair a Clyr controller with our monitoring probes for closed-loop chlorine control. Support depends on your exact cell, so check the model before you install.