Motorcycle Intercoms – How to Choose the Best Motorcycle Intercom For You
January 20, 2012 | 
Author Without a motorcycle intercom, motorcycle riding is a solitary experience. When you’re riding alone it’s a good way to clear your head or get your thoughts together. But if you’ve got a passenger, or you’re riding with another biker, inevitably you’ll want to talk to them. Motorcycle intercom systems that mount in your helmet let you do that.
The problem is that there are so many to choose from in such a wide price range. It’s hard to decide which one to choose. And given that motorcycle intercoms have to work in an extremely difficult environment, choosing the right one can make the difference between enjoying your new purchase or hating it. This motorcycle intercom review will hopefully make your decision easier.
Let’s start with a broad overview of the types of motorcycle intercoms available.
Acoustic Motorcycle Intercom
The most basic form of motorcycle intercom is the acoustic intercom. By acoustic I mean that it doesn’t use electronics at all. It just uses hollow tubes that your voice travels through. They’re like the old ships where the captain yells down a tube to the engine room to tell them to “give it more steam.”
These systems have rubber-tipped tubes that insert in your ear the same way an earplug would. There is also a mouthpiece tube for you to talk into and all the tubes connect into a junction box.
One of the positives is that there are no batteries or electronics to mess with. That makes them very dependable. However, there is no amplification which means there is no way to adjust the volume or filter out wind noise. So at higher speeds, it will be more difficult to hear. Another problem is that some people find the “earplugs” uncomfortable in their ears for long periods.
Obviously these acoustic intercoms only work for rider-to-passenger and not bike-to-bike.
Wired Motorcycle Intercom
The next step up is wired intercoms. These systems have wires that run from the rider and passenger into a central control box that houses the electronics and battery.
Just like the acoustic intercom, with a wired system you don’t have to worry about any external interference like you do with wireless technologies, unless you add a radio handheld communicator for bike-to-bike talking to your system. Some wired units let you plug in an FRS/GMRS radio, which is described in the wireless technology section below. The radio requires voice activation for it to work.
One of the issues some people have is that the wiring can be a little bit of a pain. Every time you and a passenger get on and off the bike you have to remember to unplug the units. Depending on how you have it set up, this could be two or three plugs.
Wireless Intercom Technology
There are four types of radio technologies used in the U.S. for motorcycle intercoms. They are GMRS, FRS, FM, and Bluetooth. There are also wired intercoms that enable you to plug into a handheld Citizens Band (CB) radio that has voice activation.
Frequency Modulation (FM) radio is similar to the FM radio you listen to, but for motorcycle intercoms a narrower frequency is used. Like FM radio, these systems can produce clear sound, as long as the distance between them isn’t too great. FM radio works best when there are no obstructions such as hills between the transmitter and receiver. If long range is the most important feature, then GMRS intercoms will provide better performance.
The Family Radio Service (FRS) and the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) are the modern equivalents to the old walkie talkies you may have had when you were a kid. FRS radios typically have a maximum range of two miles with few obstructions in between, while GRMS radios communicate up to several miles. Like FM, these are public frequencies so other people can hear your conversations and vice versa. In some heavily populated areas these FRS/GRMS radios are heavily used, while out on the open road you should have fairly private conversations.
One nice thing with the FRS and GMRS radios is that you can go to your local discount store and purchase a cheap handheld radio that will communicate with these units. If someone were following you in a car, or they had a wired motorcycle intercom system that lets them plug in an FRS/GMRS handheld radio, they can communicate with you. The downside of this was just mentioned in that there are millions of these radios out there so in heavily populated areas you’ll pick up lots of other transmissions. Also GMRS radios require an FCC license for legal use.
Bluetooth is the latest technology to hit motorcycle intercoms. Not only can these systems communicate totally wirelessly from rider to passenger, they can be used to communicate from bike to bike. Although with these systems the range is not in miles, it is in hundreds of feet. Since you are likely riding close to your buddies, this is not usually a problem. Although, range can be as much as 800 to 1600 feet.
The Bluetooth range limitation actually works as an advantage since it limits the amount of outside interference you’ll get. Also, since you must program two units to work together, you won’t pick up conversations from other people with Bluetooth devices…and they won’t be able to hear you. You won’t have to worry about your conversations listened to by anyone else.
If you want Bluetooth wireless communication there is one thing to watch for. Some units that say they are Bluetooth use FRS or GMRS to communicate bike-to-bike and the Bluetooth is just used to communicate with a Bluetooth enabled cell phone or other device.
Bluetooth intercoms also usually have some other features you won’t find on other types of intercoms such as:
Integrate with Bluetooth enabled cell phones and automatically answer calls totally hands free.
Enjoy your favorite stereo music from your A2DP enabled cell phone or MP3 player
Listen to the audio navigation message from your Bluetooth enabled GPS.
Some Bluetooth intercoms only have one ear speaker while others have two.
Motorcycle Helmet Intercom Features
Here are features to look for as you are shopping for an intercom to use with your motorcycle helmet:
If you may be riding in the rain, get a system that says it’s waterproof and not just water resistant. Some riders will put a water resistant system in a plastic baggie and that works for them.
You can get systems that have a headset speaker for one ear or both ears. Installation and moving the intercom to another helmet is easier for systems with only one ear, but some people want to hear sound in both ears.
Most systems have voice activation of some kind to keep the headset quiet when no talking is occurring. This voice activation often has the ability to be disabled and a push-to-talk switch used instead.
Many intercoms have noise reduction capabilities with digital signal processing to help reduce the noise they pick up from the microphone. The faster you drive, or the windier it is, the more important this feature is.
If you want music, look for a system that has a built-in FM stereo radio tuner or an auxiliary stereo input for a Walkman, MP3, iPod, or satellite radio unit. You can also use this input to receive driving directions from a voice prompted GPS unit.
Some systems mount on your helmet, while others have capability to mount on your belt clip or bike. If the system is big and bulky, you may want the ability to mount it on your bike.
You can integrate some intercoms with cell phones so you can talk while you ride. They require special cables or you can get motorcycle intercoms that have Bluetooth capability so they connect to your Bluetooth-enabled phone wirelessly.
Once you find the right motorcycle intercom for you, it will really make your ride with other people much more enjoyable. You’ll wonder how you got along without it. You typically get what you pay for when you buy motorcycle intercoms, but even a bad motorcycle intercom is better than none at all.
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Tags: Choose, Everyonequot, Finance, Intercom, Intercoms, Motorcycle, quotWe, Should | 
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How to Clean a Carburetor
The carburetor is a part of the engine that allows it to do the job it is intended to do. It carefully mixes the right amount of air and fuel to allow combustion and produce power. Without this device, the engines would not work. During the 1980s this device was replaced by the automatic fuel injector. However, the carburetor is still very common in some high-performance vehicles, as well as motorcycles and many other small engines.
Maintenance Steps
It is very important to keep the carburetor clean for it to run properly. If the carburetor is not periodically cleaned and maintained, its ability to regulate the combustion can seriously be compromised, resulting in the motor to not run properly.
The first step in keeping your carburetor running properly is to remove it from your motor. After you have done so you will be able to clean it, disassemble it, and keep it in running condition.
How to Clean
After you remove the carburetor from the motor, cleaning it in a cleaning solvent would be the first thing you should do. You can do this by using a special tool designed for cleaning carburetors. After you have cleaned the carburetor with the cleaning solvent, as well as finished disassembling it, you must then make sure that all ports and jets are cleared. You can accomplish this by flushing out these parts with compressed air.
It is very important that you use proper care when cleaning out the carburetor. If you intend to do this, make sure that you use the proper equipment necessary perform this function. Do not use wires, or other machine-powered products to clean the carburetor. This is because the carburetor is carefully calibrated to a specific setting. Using those products might damage the product.
Find the Free Auto Repair Manual You Need Online
You can easily get a free auto repair manual for whichever repair need you might have. You need an internet access and have to follow a certain procedure searching for auto repair manuals, but when you have done this procedure a few times it will be very easy to find the right instructions for do it yourself auto repair and it won’t cost you a dime.
There are four types of automotive description documents that you will need to choose from when you want to do a repair;
General manuals
Diagnosis descriptions
Repair manuals
Maintenance manuals
General Manuals
In addition to some general manuals, most of these are related to the make. Here you can get step by step guidance on how to repair most of the makes in the vehicle market. Let’s say you have a Honda Acura 2002 model and you want to find a manual for that make and model. What you do is perform the following search in a search engine: “free car manuals+Honda Acura+2002″. Then you will have a long list of sites that provide you with all kinds of descriptions for your Honda Acure 2002 model, and you can choose what you want.
Diagnosis descriptions
Automotive diagnosis manuals can also be sub-divided by make and model. But it can also be divided by the area of the vehicle that is affected, for example engine intake problems, brake problems, cooling problems, exhaust problems, start or stall problems, transmission problems etc. Let’s say you have a start problem. Your search would be “car diagnosis manual+ start problem”, then you should get more than enough repair information to choose from. You can even get diagnostic trees where all options are covered for nothing.
You have probably more than one time heard some annoying noise from somewhere in your vehicle, without finding the source of it. This is one of the most kinky situations to run into because you don’t know if it is a serious signal or just a small thing. Some websites gives you the opportunity to diagnose vehicle problems by the noise, sound and vibrating signals – and that is great. The sooner you find it the sooner you can fix it and then you can relax. When you search, you can describe the sound, for example “whine noise” or “shifter knocks” or “driveline vibration” plus car diagnosis manual plus eventually the make.
Repair Manuals
In addition to regular manuals you can also get very instructive and detailed descriptions in other internet document or websites like articles, etc. The natural way to sub-divide such repairs before searching, is by the area of the vehicle that is going to be repaired, for instance body repair, exhaust repair, suspension fix, interior repair and even general car repair.
You do the search the same way as above; “car repair manual (or description) + the area of repair and go through the list of resources you get.
Maintenance manuals
Though vehicle maintenance is closely related to your vehicle make and model, there are some maintenance issues that are pretty much common whether you have a Cadillac, VW or a Mercedes, for example changing oil, changing air filters, engine wash, fluid maintenance, tier maintenance etc. You can get access to maintenance descriptions by searching for the kind of maintenance plus “car maintenance manual (or description)” plus eventually your make and model.
I think you’ll be amazed of the amount of automotive repair free stuff online.
Download a Factory Auto Repair Manual Online – Do it Yourself
How you can benefit from do it yourself factory auto repair manual.
Cars have become so technologically advanced in today’s automotive marketplace that mechanics, repair shops and dealerships are faced with the difficult task of maintaining current and up-to-date repair guides to match the ever-changing service needs of their customers. Gone are the days of simple and basic repair jobs as contemporary mechanics face an ever-changing barrage of hard to master vehicles and their intricate mechanical systems. Additionally, the outdated repair manual has become another dinosaur of the automotive repair industry as most repair shops are opting to incorporate online factory repair manuals into their arsenal of tools.
Automotive manufacturers, parts suppliers and repair procedure publishers all have adapted their traditional methods of providing repair documentation to include computer-based and online solutions. Original Equipment Manufacturers, (OEM) are the best source for providing timely, accurate and up-to-date repair manuals as well as Technical Service Bulletins, (TSB). The dilemma arises when attempting to find just the right computer-based provider of online repair manual documentation. Evidence has shown that switching the repair shop to a computer or web-based solution, increases productivity and lowers total cost of operation over the old paper based manuals.
An effective online or computer-based repair manual solution is optimal for increasing time management productivity as the manuals and information are made available to any computer worldwide. Additionally, the information provided by an online repair manual can be updated quickly and easily, in real time, thus making the most current information available to everyone in the organization.
This timely information will include specifics such as year, make, model and also intricate elements of automotive repair like wiring diagrams and engine schematics. Also, advice and tips on how to accurately perform the repair job are made readily accessible to the mechanic making use of these efficient, computer-based methods. Factory part numbers and typical labor times are also provided and updated regularly via the online repair manual product. This has proven itself invaluable to smaller repair shops and private mechanics by allowing them to more accurately provide bids on labor and parts.
Industry-specific information like diagnostic flowcharts, maintenance schedules and procedures, vehicle identification numbers, exploded diagrams and specific information pertinent to make, model and year of the car, are at the fingertips of the service manager or mechanic. Also, tech and repair articles specific to most any possible car are made available through these time-saving, online repair manual options. This is important as advice and training can be made readily available to mechanics and managers of service operations.
It’s plain to see that having a computer-based technical manual at the ready can actually pay for itself in a short period of time with the increased productivity and quality control benefits they inevitably provide. In these modern times a company that relies on efficient, accurate and technologically sound information would definitely benefit from an online repair manual software package.
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Signs of Mild Autism – A Guide For Parents
If a child is showing symptoms and signs of Autism, the symptoms will be apparent before the child reaches age three. The symptoms will manifest themselves in three different ways: First, the child will have a hard time communicating and relating to others. Second, the child will have a hard time learning to speak and keeping conversations. Third, the child will have a lot of withdrawn or repetitive behaviors. If a parent notices any mild signs of autism, they should take their child to a doctor as soon as they can so the child can be evaluated. The sooner Autism is diagnosed and treated, the better life will be for the affected child and his or her family.
First, let’s talk about the social symptoms and signs of Autism. An Autistic child will make poor eye contact with others. Even if they do make eye contact, they will not hold it for very long. If spoken to directly, a child showing symptoms and signs of Autism usually will not look, even if their name is called. They may seem like they are not paying attention to the person speaking, or they may seem like they are unaware that person is present.
Children displaying mild signs of Autism often seem like they are in their own world. They often do not pick up on body language. Children displaying symptoms and signs of Autism have trouble comprehending different emotions. They have no sense of other peoples’ feelings. Children exhibiting mild signs of Autism will turn inward. They do not like to be touched, hugged or held. This is because they are very sensitive to people or things touching them.
Next, let’s discuss the symptoms and signs of Autism that deal with speaking and language. Children who are displaying mild symptoms of Autism are way behind their peers in acquiring speaking skills. If children don’t babble by the time they are 12 months old or say phrases made up of two or three words by the time they are two years old, they may be demonstrating symptoms and signs of Autism. Another common symptom of Autism happens when children forget words or phrases they could say earlier.
Another symptom shows up in the child’s tone of voice. Children showing symptoms and signs of Autism will often times talk like a robot, saying everything in the same tone of voice. Other times, they may sound like they are singing everything they say instead of saying it. Children who demonstrate signs of mild autism have a lot of trouble beginning a conversation. Even if they are able to start one, they will be unable to sustain it.
Another mild symptom of Autism is to repeat certain words over and over again. These words may be completely insignificant. The child often doesn’t even know what these words or phrases mean or understand how to use them in a sentence. Lastly, let’s outline the symptoms and signs of Autism that pertain to withdrawn or repetitive behaviors. One of the most frequent symptoms is called “flapping.” This is when a child flaps his or her hand or an object back and forth very quickly in front of his or her face.
Autistic children may become infatuated with ordinary objects, especially if they spin, move quickly, or have shiny colors. Autistic children also tend to rock back and forth a lot, especially when they get anxious or when they are experiencing emotions that they don’t understand. They form specific routines that they do not waver from. When the routines get interrupted for any reason, the child gets very agitated. Children who display signs and symptoms of Autism may be very bothered by bright lights, certain sounds, like the vacuum cleaner, and things that touch their skin. They have a very high tolerance for pain.
Preparing Your Swimming Pool For The Winter Shut Down
The first thing you need to do is take care of the water. Start by checking your pH level. It should be about 7.5. If it isn’t, simply add some dry acid or soda ash.
Next on the list is the chlorine. You want to raise the level of chlorine to somewhere around 6 to 10 ppm.
Now add a special winterizing product that will ensure your swimming pool is will protected from algae during the coming winter months.
Once you have added everything required you will need to leave your pump running for a good 12 hours. This will make sure the chlorine and winterizing product is completely distributed throughout the water.
To get the water level in the swimming pool correct you should switch off your skimmer valve and let the water drain until it is 6″ below the skimmer’s bottom. This will prevent flooding due to rainwater.
Prepare your summer cover for storage by giving it a good clean with either a pressure washer or some fresh clean water. Once it is thoroughly cleaned it can be put away and your winter cover taken out of storage.
Before fitting the winter cover place something in the pool to prevent wall damage if the water in your swimming pool freezes. Anything that will absorb the expansion will do such as some empty chemical containers half filled with water. When you fit the winter cover, make sure it is tight to prevent anything from getting underneath.
Make sure children know the swimming pool is now closed and off limits to visitors. A pool cover is designed to keep leaves, dirt etc. out of the water. It is not designed to take the weight of a person or even a pet. If you do have mall children their are products now available that are winter/safety covers. After a few days you will probably have to tighten the cover again so keep an eye on it for the first few days. You should then check your cover a couple of times a week throughout winter to ensure it is still secure and tight.
With the cover securely in place you should now drain the water from your filter, pump and heater. You will find a drain plug at the bottom of each. If you don’t do this, when the water freezes inside the equipment it will most likely damage them beyond repair.
Once early spring arrives and the worst of the weather is over, you should run your pump for a good 6 to 10 hours, depending on the size of your pool, to circulate the chlorine and long life algicide throughout the entire swimming pool.
Lung Repair After Smoking – How to Clean Your Lungs
Aside from the brain, the lungs are the most delicate organ in your body. Healthy lungs are filled with tiny passage ways and air chambers. As you breathe, fresh air containing life sustaining oxygen, is drawn into your lungs. Once inside these tiny chambers, oxygen is passed to the red blood cells in exchange for carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is expelled from your system as you exhale.
This process takes place about 17,000 times each day.
In order to complete this process, the passage ways in your lungs must be clean and free of sediments that could clog the tiny passage ways and interfere with the oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange. In order to keep the chambers clear, your lungs contain thousands of tiny hair like stalks called cilia. The cilia continually sweep impurities and sediment out of the lungs to keep them clear.
When you smoke, toxins and chemicals are drawn into the lungs. If you are just an occasional smoker, the cilia can easily keep the lungs clean. But if you are a heavy smoker, the cilia cannot effectively do their job. As you continue to smoke, many of the tiny cilia are damaged, making the cleaning process even more difficult. Over time, toxins from cigarette smoke begin to clog the tiny air chambers.
Because the smaller number of healthy cilia can no longer keep the lungs clean, your body resorts to a second method in an attempt to clean your lungs; a cough. This smokers cough is your body’s way of assisting the cilia to clear your lungs.
So, what can you do if you’ve been smoking for a while and have a nasty cough? The solution is simple. You should help your body clear the lungs. You can do this using a simple combination of food supplements and vitamins that rinse the toxins out of your lungs and flush them out of your body. This easy process will clean out your lungs 15 – 20 times faster than your body can do it on its own.
How To Clean A Coffee Maker
Ever wonder how to clean a coffee maker the right way? Drip coffee makers need to be cleaned at least once a month to keep your coffee tasting good.
Cleaning your coffee maker takes away hard water mineral deposits, old oils from previously brewed pots and other impurities that can make your coffee taste bad.
A mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water is the best way to clean a drip coffee maker. Mix a full pot of the vinegar and water mixture, pour it in your water reservoir and turn the coffee maker on.
Once the mixture has run completely through, it’s important to turn the drip coffee maker off and let it cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
Pour the vinegar and water mixture down the drain. If you are cleaning a coffee maker that hasn’t been cleaned regularly, repeat this step again with a fresh vinegar and water mixture.
Next, rinse the pot out thoroughly with warm, plain water. Then, fill the water reservoir again with clean water and turn the coffee maker on to start the rinsing process.
To make sure all of the vinegar and water solution is completely gone repeat the rinsing process one more time after letting the pot cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
This is how to clean a coffee maker the right way. Cleaning your drip coffee maker on a monthly basis will make it last longer and keep your coffee tasting the best it can possibly be.
Copyright © 2005 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com. All Rights Reserved.
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Why You Need to Shock Your Pool
Shocking your pool is Step 2 in good pool care.
Shocking is as important as regular sanitizing with chlorine (step 1) and adding algaecide (step 3). All pools need to be shocked on a regular, weekly or bi-weekly basis. Period.
Shocking your pool weekly helps rid the pool of organic & inorganic wastes such as sweat, cosmetics, suntan lotions, body oils, urine, contaminants brought in by rain or wind, bird droppings (most pools are outside, exposed to the surrounding air), dead bugs and small animals that “visit” your pool or even make up water. Proper shocking helps ensure that the sanitizer (chlorine) can concentrate on killing bacteria & algae rather than having to fight these other foreign materials.
When a pool is properly shocked, the pool stays cleaner, more sparkling, is less prone to algae blooms and cloudy water. An added bonus is that you will use LESS chlorine over the course of the average swimming season. Shocking should be done at least every week or 2 weeks from pool opening to pool closing depending on use & current conditions.
Even pools using other sanitizing systems such as bromine, ionizers, salt generators (chlorine is still being generated), biguanides such as Arch Chemical Baquacil® or BioGuard® Soft Swim® must use the appropriate shock treatments to oxidize swimmer and environmental wastes on a regular, routine basis following the particular manufacturer’s instructions.
But there’s more to it! Are you shocking, trying to reach “break-point” chlorination or curing a chlorine demand? Let’s take a closer look.
Regular Shocking.
“Regular Shocking” is just that. The pool is otherwise clean & clear. Algae is under control. There is no haze to the water. When you test the water (done twice each week), the Total Chlorine is the same as the Free Available Chlorine (FAC) – when using a DPD test kit. There are no Chloramines (chlorine combined with swimmer and organic waste) present.
Regular shocking should be done once every one to 2 weeks from the time you open the pool until closing or winterizing.
Regular shocking oxidizes swimmer and organic wastes that accumulate in the pool water over time. These wastes include sweat, urine, lotions, cosmetics, “stuff” that is introduced from the wind & rain. More recently, there is a concern for “stuff” or wastes that are brought in from normal “top offs” of municipal (tap) water or well water.
These wastes contribute to red, irritated eyes, hazy water, algae growth, and water that smells like it has “too much” chlorine. Actually there is not enough FAC. Shocking helps to “re-chlorinate” the chlorine. A properly treated chlorine pool should smell fresh and be sparkling in appearance.
Mono-persulfate shocks are OK to use from time to time to oxidize wastes, but chlorine shocks such as Cal-hypo or lithium are the preferred product. Liquid shocks? Sorry, but they are just not strong enough (11% versus about 50% available chlorine) to do a thorough job. Household bleach? Save it for the clothes in the laundry! Would you use pool chemicals to wash your clothes?
Typical doses: BioGuard® Burn Out® Extreme: 1 bag per 10,000 gallons (or any part of) every week or 2 weeks depending on weather and usage. BioGuard® Burn Out® 35: 1 bag per 6,000 gallons (or any part of) every week or 2 depending on weather and usage.
“Break-point” or super-chlorination.
The need for “break-point” or super chlorination comes when there is a build-up of chloramines or combined chlorine in the pool water. Chloramines are a combination of chlorine and usually nitrogen. When the chloramine situation becomes “bad” it is because hydrogen has combined with the nitrogen to form ammonia. This is also the preferred treatment for algae blooms and cloudy water.
The more chloramines present, the more dull the water becomes. The pool doesn’t sparkle as it should. The added nitrogen becomes food for algae. The water smells like there’s too much chlorine, but the actual FAC (the chlorine that is killing bacteria) is low or maybe even zero!
Here’s an example: The total amount of chlorine in the pool is 2.0 ppm but the FAC is 1.0. That means there is 1.0 ppm of chloramines. Those chloramines must be completely destroyed or they will produce MORE chloramines and the situation will worsen. When you are treating chloramines, it’s an “all or nothing” proposition.
In cases of very high chloramines, it is often a good idea to use a mono-persulfate shock (MPS) which will break up most if not all of these nitrogen bonds without adding more chlorine to the pool. This is good to do in cases where the FAC is over 1.0 ppm.
If your pool has less than 1.0 ppm FAC and lots of chloramines, follow that MPS shock with a solid chlorine shock of Cal-hypo or lithium shock. about a day later. Retest after 2 – 3 days for an accurate chlorine reading (MPS shocks will distort the actual chlorine for a brief time).
To reach break point, 10 times the amount of chloramines present must be reached to destroy the chloramines. In the example above, you would need to reach 10 ppm of FAC to reach break-point! So, a 10,000 gallon swimming pool with 1.0 ppm combined chlorine will require 4 (round numbers) lbs. of Calcium hypochlorite shock to reach breakpoint chlorination (or about 6 lbs. of Lithium hypochlorite).
Typical doses: At least Double or Triple the amount of regular shocking.
Chlorine Demand.
These are the typical symptoms if your pool has a chlorine demand problem: an inability to hold or maintain a normal Free Available Chlorine residual (1.0 ppm or higher) over several days, cloudy or hazy water, visible algae that just won’t clear up. Behind the scenes, there are most likely chloramines that are combining and re-combining due to inadequate shock treatments. When “break-point” is not reached, chloramines recombine with a vengeance & become more difficult to destroy. Mono-chloramines can become dichloramines which, when allowed to worsen become trichloramines (used in tear gas!).
Treating a chlorine demand is similar to break-point chlorination except that the stakes are higher. Treatment must be complete and done at ONE time. It’s like long-jumping the Grand Canyon; you must do it in one jump. You can’t be short!
Most folks don’t know that their pool has a chlorine demand problem until they have shocked & shocked & shocked but nothing has happened. The water won’t clear. The algae persists. A solid chlorine level is almost impossible to maintain. Even a clear pool can have a chlorine demand. If the pool can’t hold chlorine, yet the water balance (pH, total alkalinity & calcium hardness) is good and proper, then a chlorine demand most likely exists.
The best way to determine a chlorine demand is to perform a chlorine demand test. The BioGuard® Accu-Demand 30 is the best method available for testing. The test takes about one hour and is very accurate. In extreme cases, the test may call for shocking the pool with up to 50 lbs of shock in a 20,000 gallon pool. Don’t be “shocked”! Sometimes, that is what’s needed. There’s no getting around it.
Here’s another analogy: Let’s say you have a leaky roof. The house is over 50 years old and there are already 2 layers of shingles on the roof. You want to save money by not removing the old layers so you insist that the roofing contractor (who knows what he’s doing) NOT remove the old curled up shingles and simply install the new shingles right on top of the old. You sign the papers that YOU are responsible for the roof and its leaking, not the contractor. What happens with the first serious rainfall? The roof fails and it leaks. What must be done to correct the situation? Start from scratch! Rip everything off and start again.
The good news is once the chlorine demand is met., it is met. The pool will normally stay in great condition for weeks or months on end. But remember to shock the pool weekly or you could be back to a break-point or chlorine demand situation.
When shocking your pool, always…
Use the full dose or amount of shock needed. Don’t skimp!
Don’t guess the amount of shock needed. Know your pool’s actual gallonage & calculate properly. For example, if you think you have a 16×32 foot inground pool with a 6 ft deep end, but the pool is actually 18×36 with an 8 ft deep end, the gallonage is going to differ by several thousand gallons and you will not reach break-point.
Do not use the pool until the chlorine level comes back down to 3.0 ppm or less.
Make sure that the filter system is operating properly.
Remove the solar blanket or automatic pool cover to allow oxidized wastes to “gas off” and away from the pool water.
Shock the pool the evening before a party and immediately after the party to maintain sparkling, clear water. In this case a slightly higher chlorine level will help bathers with added protection from bacteria.
Shock the pool after heavy rain storms.
Be sure to rinse out and properly dispose of empty shock bags or bottles or containers. Do not reuse them.
Brush the pool to help distribute the chlorine to all levels of the pool water.
Indoor pools should have plenty of good ventilation to properly draw out contaminants that have gassed-off during the shocking or super-chlorinating process. Without good ventilation, waste gases will literally hit the ceiling and fall back into the pool.
Follow all chemical label instructions.
Shock regularly, prevent problems. It’s that simple.
Automatic Pool Cleaner Review
First off, if you don’t use the appropriate pool cleaners for your swimming pool you might perhaps end up wrecking the pool; and the money of repairing a destroyed pool can be very expensive.
It’s certainly vital to know that the add-ons that one makes use of for his or her pool cleaners can sincerely deepen the swimming pool cleansing experience and make it a lot easier; do you certainly know the appropriate add-ons to use?
You can visit the various Internet discussion forums out there where pool lovers gather to talk; you’ll be stunned at the very helpful info you’ll uncover there about cleaning equipment.
The reality that you could purchase a pool has to convince you of the necessity to also invest in a swimming pool cleaner that will safeguard the bigger investment you have made in having it in the first place. Remember there exists a lot of types of pool cleaners for residential pools and commercial pools; don’t expect to use the exact same swimming pool cleaner for residential pools as well as for commercial pools.
Don’t be confounded if the last time your good-looking little kid fell unwell was simply because of the germs in your pool; I recall that one of my friends kid was constantly falling sick until the health worker blamed it on the germs from his swimming pool ; the particular disease ceased as soon as he started using swimming pool cleaners, especially those which got rid of the germs when cleaning. If you are having setbacks then ascertaining the right swimming pool cleaner you need, with the input from the Internet, it’s easy to find the right swimming pool cleaner info you are looking for, with ease.
Certainly there exists various budget models of robot pool cleaners out there to select from, but before you purchase one, don’t forget that you should view permanence over price when buying your swimming pool cleaner.
I don’t know about anyone else, but why would I expend hours to cleanse my pool the hard way when I can automate the system with a robotic pool cleaner that does a certainly better job of cleansing the swimming pool ?
To close up, don’t forget that the form of swimming pool will dictate and be dependent on the Spa pool you want to use the cleaner for; not every pool cleaner can be used for a pool it often depends on the form of the pool.