Water care system, device, and method

A chlorinator device for regulating an amount of sanitizer in salt water contained in a spa or swimming pool, comprising:

• at least two electrodes, which when energized in the salt water, generate the sanitizer via electrolysis;
• an electrode tube having first and second open ends, the electrode tube for enclosing the at least two electrodes;
• and
• first and second end caps each of which closes one of the first and second open ends of the electrode tube;
• wherein one of the first and second caps includes a projecting locking member for releasably engaging a locking slot of a mounting socket that removably positions the chlorinator device on the floor or wall of the spa or pool.

A method for operating the water care system, the method comprising:

• inputting into a controller of the water care system a sensor signal indicating a presence or an absence of sanitizer in water of spa or pool;
• inputting into the controller a selected level setting;
• inputting into the controller a quantity of an electrolytic compound that is present in the water of the spa or pool;
• determining with the controller whether the sensor signal has fallen below a predetermined sensor signal value of the level setting, wherein if the sensor signal has fallen below a predetermined sensor signal value of the level setting there is the absence of sanitizer in water of spa or pool and if the sensor signal is above a predetermined sensor signal value of the Level setting there is the presence of sanitizer in water of spa or pool;
• determining with the controller whether the quantity of the electrolytic compound in the water of the spa or pool is within an acceptable range for electrolysis;
• and
• if the controller determines that the sensor signal has fallen below a predetermined sensor signal value of the level setting and the quantity of the electrolytic compound in the water of the spa or pool is within the acceptable range, then the controller causes a chlorinator device of the water care system to commence electrolysis for a duration of a sanitizer production cycle defined as part of the selected Level setting.