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Arctic Spas Manuals

SPA BOY® OWNERS MANUAL

75. Definitions of Terms

1.8 Definitions of Terms

 

TERM DEFINITION
Spa Boy Spa Boy is an advanced salt water maintenance system designed to data log pH and ORP readings and self manage the ORP level within the specified range (545-550mV).
Spa Boy Output Electrode

Five plate platinum-iridium Titanium electrode – equipped salt cell converts the saltwater solution to sanitizer, and as this solution reverts back to its natural form (salt) after sanitizing. Unless large volumes of water are added to the spa you never have to add more salt. The five plate electrode plastic outer casing is grey in color.

Note: When the Spa Boy System has activated the Output Electrode to generate sanitizer, the electrode gives off smoke effect.

Spa Boy Output Electrode

Version

Modification status of the electrode fitted to the spa.
Spa Boy Sensor pH and ORP sensor (probe) used to measure pH and chlorine (ORP) readings along with many other reading and transfer the readings to the My Arctic Spa web site. The Sensor is connected to the Spa Boy Generator and the Spa Boy Communication Cable from the generator is connected to the Global Eco PAK.

Spa Boy Communication

Cable

Cable that connects the Spa Boy Generator to the Global Eco PAK. The communication cable is  sed to establish continous two-way communication between the Spa Boy System and myarcticspa.com.
Arctic Pure Arctic Spas range of products developed especially for maintaining your spas water.
My Arctic Spa My Arctic Spa is a Web based after sales support system designed and built by Arctic Spas especially for Arctic Spas owners that have Spa Boy installed in their spa. My Arctic Spa has been designed to receive data from your spa over the internet through the spas Wi-Fi system. The data is logged and saved by My Arctic Spa on a continual basis.
Calcium Hardness (CH)

Calcium Hardness is a measure of the total amount of dissolved calcium salts in the water.

CH helps determine how scaling or corrosive the water is. It is believed that calcium helps control the corrosive nature of water. Calcium has two major problems in Hot Water Chemistry:

●       1. CH has a tendency to precipitate (fall out of suspension in high temperatures, where pH is above 7.8ppm).

●       2. High pH will cause calcium to precipitate. The problem with calcium falling out of suspension is that it collects on the heater and pump, and shortens their life. High pH also reduces the life of the Spa Boy Output Electrode.

Any natural corrosiveness in the water can be combated by maintaining a slightly

higher Total Alkalinity Level.

Alkalinity Total Alkalinity (TA)

A measure of how stable the pH is (a measure of the total levels of carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides, and other alkaline substances in the water). TA is referred to as the water’s “”pH buffer””. In other words, it’s a measure of the ability of the water to resist changes in pH level. If the TA is too low, the pH level will fluctuate widely from high to low. Fluctuations in pH can cause corrosion or scaling of the spa components. Low TA can be corrected by adding Arctic Pure, Perfect Balance to the spa water. If the Total Alkalinity is too high, the water will be more susceptible to scale and high pH. High pH may be difficult to bring down.

Note: Salt systems naturally drive pH levels to increase. High TA can be lowered by adding Arctic Pure, Adjust Down to the spa water. Once the TA is Balanced, it normally remains stable, although some sanitizers, and the addition of more water with a high or low alkalinity will raise or lower the TA reading of the water.

Potential Hydrogen (pH) The pH level is the measure of alkalinity. pH is measured between 0 and 14 denoting various degrees of acidity or alkalinity. Neutral water has a pH of 7.0 Water below 7.0 is acidic and becomes more acidic as it approaches zero. Water above 7.0 is alkaline and alkalinity increases as it approaches 14. When the pH of water is 7.0 or below, chlorine will act primarily as a sanitizer. At this level, it is very effective at killing bacteria. At 7.4, chlorine will act equally as a sanitizer and oxidizer. Above 7.8, chlorine will act principally as an oxidizer. The pH of chlorine is 11.7. Spa water is considered balanced if the pH level is within the target range, between 7.2pH to 7.6pH. Adding chlorine either automatically through a salt system or manually, into spa water with high pH, above 7.6pH, will further increase the pH level and dramatically reduce the effectiveness of the chlorine as a sanitizer. This must be avoided by first reducing the pH level into the target range 7.2pH – 7.6pH. The chart below reflects the loss of sanitizer effectiveness/sanitizer effectiveness based on the spas water pH level:

 

pH Level

Sanitizer (Chlorine)

Loss of Effectiveness

based on pH Level

Sanitizer (Chlorine)

Effectiveness

based on pH Level

6.0 pH 4% 96%
6.5  pH 10% 90%

 

pH Level

Sanitizer (Chlorine)

Loss of Effectiveness

based on pH Level

Sanitizer (Chlorine)

Effectiveness

based on pH Level

7.0 pH 27% 73%
7.2  pH 38% 62%
7.5  pH 50% 50%
8.0  pH 78% 21%
8.5  pH 90% 10%

 

 

TERM DEFINITION

Potential Hydrogen

(pH)

(continued)

Maintaining a Balanced pH level between 7.2pH and 7.6pH is extremely important for:

●       • Optimizing the effectiveness of the sanitizer.

●       • Maintaining water that is comfortable for the user.

●       • Preventing equipment deterioration.

●       • Note: Salt systems naturally drive pH levels to increase, strive to achieve a balanced pH level.

If the spa water’s pH level is too low, the following may result:

●       • The sanitizer will dissipate rapidly.

●       • The water may become irritation to spa users.

●       • The spa’s equipment may corrode reducing life expectancy.

Low pH can be raised by adding Arctic Pure, Adjust Up to the spa water.

If the pH level is too high, the following may result:

• The sanitizer is less effective.

• Scale will form on the spa shell surface and the equipment.

• High pH will cause calcium to precipitate (fall out of suspension).

• The water may become cloudy.

High pH can be lowered by adding Arctic Pure, Salt Water Balance to the spa Water. It is important to check the pH on a regular basis. The pH will be affected by the bather load, the addition of new water, the addition of various chemicals, and the type of sanitizer used.

ORP Oxidation–Reduction Potential. This is simply a measurement of the water’s ability to cleanse itself. ORP is measured in millivolts (mV). Also refer FCL
Free Chlorine (FCL) FCL is the active form of chlorine that actually kills bacteria and algae (It is a Sanitizer). Sanitizer is extremely important for killing algae, bacteria and viruses, and preventing unwanted organisms for growing in the spa. At the same time, you don’t want too high a sanitizer level, or it can irritate your skin, lungs and eyes. Always maintain the sanitizer level in your spa within the recommended range. Also refer ORP.
Chlorine Residual The actual level of chlorine in the water after the chlorine demand has been satisfied.

 

 

TERM DEFINITION
Sanitizer Chemical used to kill bacteria. Generic names: Chlorine, Bromine and Biguanide. Arctic Pure, Boost Adding Arctic Pure BOOST should be avoided unless the ORP level is very low. Also Refer Section 1.15 Caring for your Spa Boy System, Question 3 If the Spa Boy System is not working, what should I do if I need to add Arctic Pure BOOST or other sanitizer to the spas water? Note; resetting the spas breaker could speed up sensor recovery.
Refresh Oxidiser that is pH Neautral An oxidizer that “burns off” the organic wastes which cause cloudiness and algae. It is a generic term for a chemical used to oxidize organic wastes. If your spa is equiped with an Arctic Spas OZONE System such as Peak 1 or Peak 2 in most cases there should be a reduced need to add Arctic Pure, Refresh to your spas water. This is dependent on bather load and OZONE run time. But weekly maintenance is required.
Parts Per Million (ppm) ppm: parts per million, a standard measure of chemical or mineral concentration.
Organic waste

Debris such as microorganisms, perspiration, urine, etc. which needs to be

burned up or “oxidized” regularly to prevent haze, algae, chloramines, etc.

Shock An oxidizer that “burns off” the organic wastes which cause cloudiness and algae. It is a generic term for a chemical used to oxidize organic wastes. Arctic Pure, Boost. Warning Adding a Chlorine agent such as Boost to the spas water should be avioded as this will affect the Spa Boy Sensor Probe which will cause inacurate ORP and pH readings to be sent to My Arctic Spa and registered with My Arctic Spa. If chlorine is added to the spas water it will take at least three days for the Spa Boy Sensor Probe to clense itself and start sending accurate readings to My Arctic Spa. Also Refer Section 1.15 Caring for your Spa Boy System, Question 3 If the Spa Boy System is not working, what should I do if I need to add Arctic Pure BOOST or other sanitizer to the spas water? Note; resetting the spas breaker could speed up sensor recovery.
Salt Water Balance Arctic pure product specially formulated by Arctic Spas to lower pH without causing any damage to the Spa Boy Output Electrode.
Drop Test Kit Test kit for testing spa water sample using additives instead of test stips. This type of test method is more effective at measuring the 0.5ppm residual amount of chlorine generated through Spa Boy. 0.5ppm Chlorine reading = approximately 550mV