Watkins ACE-Freshwater
The OEM ACE cell is expensive. The FW Cartridge doesn't last long. Many of the cheap knockoffs have questionable performance and no support.
Water Quality and Saltwater System Specialist
For people who simply want to enjoy their hot tubs. The Wizard has been helping folks ditch the itch and the maintenance hassles for over 30 years, so you can skip the chemistry homework and just enjoy!
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The OEM ACE cell is expensive. The FW Cartridge doesn't last long. Many of the cheap knockoffs have questionable performance and no support.
ControlOMatic closed. We still offer parts, heavy duty replacement salt cells, and repair help.
Tired of itchy skin & maintenance nightmares? Convert to saltwater.
Hot Spring ACE
The Scepter Salt Cell® ACE® replacement salt cell
COUNTERFEIT SCEPTERS ARE ON AMAZON. WE ARE THE MANUFACTURER.
ACE System Replacement
The Scepter is our own proven factory-direct replacement for the Hot Spring ACE cell. Unlike the original, it works sitting outside the filter, not inside it.
Knockoffs exist for both ACE cells and Freshwater cartridges. Buy from the Wizard to get a supported part that is guaranteed.
Freshwater owners, we also make a longer-lasting replacement cartridge.
ACE and Freshwater are registered trademarks of Watkins Manufacturing Corp., makers of Hot Spring and Caldera Spas. The Hot Tub Wizard & Pool Spa Efficiency, LLC are not affiliated or endorsed by Watkins MFG. in any way.
ControlOMatic Help
Parts, heavy duty replacement salt cells, boards, manuals, and repair help for ChlorMaker, SmarterSpa, and MegaChlor. Call or text to confirm your part.
Mild Saltwater Benefits
Step by Step
The Hot Tub Wizard will take you by the hand and show you how to easily convert, maintain and enjoy your hot tub.
Time-based or chlorine detection? Pick the system that fits your tub.
Keep hardness 250-350 ppm. Tub Defender helps raise hardness.
Quick connect cell, no control box rewiring needed.
Soak, and call or text if needed. Real people help. We are here to make sure you have success.
Real Owner Feedback
The Hot Tub Wizard works great. Highly recommend buying it. Also, I needed a little product support and I was totally impressed how they stand by their product.
Thank you Mr Wizard!!
We love our salt water jacuzzi. When we installed the unit, it took a few days to start really producing. We cheated and pushed the boost button multiple times to speed up the production. Zero oder and really nice on the skin. Im a daily hot tub user, i normally have to buy lots of bromine. I have not needed any chemicals for over 2 months. It comes from the factory preset to level 3, I have mine set at 6 to keep up with our usage. Also I touch one of the buttons or booster button when I get out so the unit knows the spa is being used, if you dont do that the system will automatically slow the production as to not make to much chlorine. Ill leave another review in a year or so but as for now we are so happy. A+
I use a saltwater hot tub because I do a lot of stupid things athletically, and the salt helps to relieve pain. I’ve been using The Hot Tub Wizard - The Scepter Salt Cell® Replacement for my ACE® Sanitizing System for about 9 months, and I couldn’t be happier with its performance!
Affordable and Great Value:
First off, the price is fantastic. I was hesitant to buy a replacement cell because of the high cost of some other options, but the Scepter Salt Cell gave me top-quality performance at a much better price point. It’s a significant cost-saving option without compromising on quality.
Easy to Install:
Installation was a breeze! I was able to replace my old salt cell in just a few minutes. The step-by-step instructions made it very simple, and I didn’t need any special tools or expertise. As someone who isn’t particularly handy, I really appreciated how easy it was to get everything set up and running smoothly.
Reliable Performance:
After 9 months of regular use, this replacement salt cell has performed flawlessly. My hot tub water stays clean and clear, and the ACE sanitizing system continues to work as it should. The salt system is efficient, and I haven’t had to worry about any issues with water quality or maintenance. It's nice to know I can rely on it, even with consistent use.
Overall, I highly recommend The Hot Tub Wizard - The Scepter Salt Cell® Replacement. It’s a reliable, cost-effective solution that works perfectly with my ACE® Sanitizing System. If you’re looking for a replacement cell that’s both affordable and easy to install, this is the one to go for!
Installed this on my 2017 Hot Springs Grandee several weeks ago. I have had nothing but trouble with this system since day one, even had to have our dealer replace the first cell after a month. I gave up on the system working another month later, and I've just been manually adding chlorine.
This was very easy to install, total time of less than 30 minutes. It's worked perfectly ever since. With just this change the system completely works now for the first time since I bought it.
While I really hope this last longer, even if it only lasts a year it will be far and away better than the OEM part. I'll update if this gives out in less than a year, so if this post is up longer than that and it's not changed, assume this product has lasted at least that long.
Edit: we’ve now had this cell for almost one year. This cell is far better than the one that came with the hot tub. It’s worked very efficiently and is easy to clean. More than happy with their purchase and I absolutely recommend it as a replacement for the stock salt cell.
After having gone thru 3 original cells at $1000 a pop and only lasing about 18 months each, I started searching for another option. After reading all the other reviews, I purchased one here.
First: Let me say, that this is such a SUPERIOR DESIGN over the original cell that is sold! The clear body allows you to just look at it to see IF it's working and IF it needs to be cleaned. None of the trying to peek into the tiny hole at the bottom to see if the cell needs cleaning nonsense. I think the additional larger holes around the sides of the body allows for better water flow thru the device and will make it more efficient.
This really was just "Plug and Play"..... just swap out this new cell and plug the wires in and presto....the display recognizes the device, and you can actually SEE the chlorine being produced (tiny bubbles ) ( also easy to see since it's NOT hidden inside the filter )
**My wife usually takes care of the chemical maintenance of our hot tub, and she was Very Skeptical about purchasing this cell and whether it would work....she was actually thrilled when everything worked sooo easily.
* I like the helpful videos and cost saving tips on their website....very helpful.
** Installation Tip** After unplugging your existing wires, Attach a 6 foot "Drag Line/ piece of string" to the wire with some electrical tape. Then pull the old wire out ( as shown in all the videos) Leave the other end of the string dangling in the service compartment. ( you can even tie it to somethin if you want just to be sure ) Follow the video instructions, THEN attach the string to the end of your New Wire. Now....just gently pull the string from the service compartment end and push the wire from the other at the same time...this will help you guide the wire along the way into the service compartment where it belongs.
**This tip will make your life so much easier ! My wire had a couple turns to make, so the drag line made it very easy to do. The entire installation only took less than 1/2 an hour. ( that would have cost me $300+ with the old system )
**If I follow the cost saving tips on their website to help prolong the life of the cell and it only lasts 18 months....then I'm way ahead of the game ! It will be a huge win !
I have a 2010 Hotspring Grandee with the ACE saltwater system, and it has been a phenomenal tub. I fully expect to get at least another 10 good years out of it! 2010 was the first year to include ACE as an option, and I've never regretted opting in. The only issue I've had to deal with was swallowing the price of the Watkins salt cell replacements every 3 or so years. I'm sorry, but $800 is ridiculous for a salt cell replacement that they're only going to warranty for 1 year, and only realistically lasts 3 years. I get that Watkins can't accept responsibility for water chemistry or lack of maintenance, which may prematurely damage the unit. However, they could take some initiative to source a cheaper solution that is just as effective. *Cough, Cough* Enter the Scepter! I've only had the unit a short time, so I can't comment on longevity, but I see no reason why it shouldn't last at least as long as the ACE unit with proper maintenance (3 years or so). The build quality is actually better than the Watkins unit, and I like the fact that it resides in the filter bay area, but not in the filter pipe, so it doesn't restrict flow. I've also noticed that I seem to be getting slightly higher chlorine output with the Scepter unit (turned down my output level from 4 to 3 based on our usage; note, size should stay the same). Installation is about as easy as it gets as well, and there are several youtube videos. For potential buyers, I recommend Googling and going to the Hot Tub Wizard's website. The pricing was better here on Amazon, but there is a lot of good information and tips/tricks there. If he's checking in here, no affiliation on my end (just a happy full price paying customer), kudos to the wizard for offering a great product at a great price and for being a wealth of information!
Here are some additional things I didn't specifically see on his site that I would add, after having lived with a saltwater hottub for 10 years now... 1st, take the time to get to know your water chemistry early on. If you don't have a good water test kit, get one! It will make your hottub ownership and user experience so much better. I recommend the Taylor FAS-DPD K-2006 kit. It covers everything you'll need to test, and you can buy larger replacement bottles separately. 2nd, what comes out of your tap isn't going to change from fill to fill, so you'll likely need to add/subtract the same chemicals/amounts to get your pH level, calcium, etc. in check. The wizard's list of alternatives to the store bought chemicals is spot on! If you take good notes, it makes things that much easier! 3rd, you will need to do adjustments to water chemistry after the initial fill adjustment, even with saltwater. However, if you nail it right after the initial fill, it will extend the period in between subsequent adjustments. Normally, after I get my initial fill levels to where they need to be as confirmed by the Taylor test kit, pH is the main thing that really needs adjustment in between fills, and even then only a few times. Even with heavy usage, I don't need to refill more than once every 6 months, and can often go 9-12 months on a single fill with lighter usage in summer months. 4th, you're going to want some cyranuric acid (CYA) in your tub, even with saltwater. CYA is a chlorine stabilizer that will make your water chemistry better by making chlorine produced by the salt cell last longer in your tub; thereby, it will also reduce the output setting for ACE and the need to use Boost as well! I have no evidence on the next point, but I'd venture a guess that it will also make your cell last longer due to the lower output settings, and may cause less scaling on the cell as well. I recommend 30ppm CYA measured on the Taylor kit , and it can be added as a stand-alone (all at once) or as part of a powder based hottub chlorine available at pool stores (add slowly over the course of the 1st week after fill to avoid high chlorine levels). Once you get the level right, it dissipates very slowly, so you will likely use unscented concentrated liquid chlorine bleach to shock rather than the chlorine powder with CYA, as it can cause high levels of CYA, which aren't good and will force you to refill more often. Last but not least, nothing will kill your cell faster than scaling, which is still more dependent on water chemistry than anything. Make sure you do the recommended maintenance on your salt cell using either the Wizard's recommended product or pH down (sodium bisulfate or muriatic acid). I apologize for the lengthy review, but there is so much misinformation out there. As someone who spent the better part of my teens and early 20's lifeguarding and caring for commercial pools, and 10 years of hottub ownership, I hope others find this info useful. Happy Tubbing!
Free Resources
Free e-books by Lance Fitzsimmons, aka The Hot Tub Wizard. Get firsthand advice and watch install videos.
Unlock the secrets to maintaining your saltwater spa.
Avoiding hot tub rash is easier than you think.
Essential maintenance tips for Hot Spring ACE owners.
Get E-Book: The Ultimate Guide to Your Hot Spring ACE Hot Tub
Installation and troubleshooting videos from the parts maker.
Satisfaction Guarantee
If you aren't happy and actually enjoying your hot tub, simply let me know and send it back for a full refund. You have 60 days.