at the end of the day you could be chasing your tale and the longer you leave it without fixing it the more it will cost to fix, maybe increase your time to at

least 4 hours per day, your local pool shop will analyze your water (like you didnt know) but sometimes it's like throwing good money after bad with pools. get the pool guy in.

Put a multi meter on the termInals you plug into the chorinator thingy and see if the voltage changes when you turn the dial from high to low output (winter vs summer mode)

Chances are it's running flat out all the time ?!

 Firstly if the pressure gauge is on the outlet side of the pump and the filter is blocked before the pump the pressure will go down. But if the sand filter is blocked after the pump you will see the pressure increase. Like dizzy said it sounds like the clorinator cell isn't getting voltage from the control box.

 Reading your post again it sounds like you sand filter could need cleaning. When the pump shuts off the water in the lines drains to an extent. So when you start the pump you will see low pressure until the lines and filters fill up and prime the air out off the system. Then it hits the restricted sand filter and up goes the pressure. I might be wrong but that's the theory I have come up with. Pools have always been my nemesis as well. Good luck

Fuggin pool does my head in. I have palms around it and not sooner do I turn my back and the fuggin things fruit and drop all sorts of shit in the pool. The problem with high pressure is not the fault of the pump. It's about what is happening in the sand filter. Backwash as much as possible and then, if all else fails, get the pool guy in to service the sand filter. Fuggin pools! More trouble than they are worth IMO. To replace my chlorinator cell costs nearly $500 FFS. As a quick fix John. shock the pool and add some floculent. At least that will sort the problem out for a while and it is winter so no need for too much chlorine. Good luck mate.

Yep, I read your post again too and it's unlikely to be related to what I suggested before. I assumed that you were cleaning the cell and it was calcifying / clogging too quickly reducing the flow. (ie TOO MUCH current ) - but this would mean your chlorine levels would be way too high, especially in winter. Tapout's suggestion is good and it all depends on where the gauge is.

Try backwashing for 90secs followed by a 90sec rinse and see how it goes ?

Could also be a blocked / sticky / broken rotary valve thing on the top of the sand filter - not fully open when in normal operating position? Maybe give it a good workout / test to make sure it's doing what it's supposed to in every position ?

Definitely backwash first for a good 5mins at least. Check your pump baskets and move any debris - that should be a given.  If the conrol box fell off it may be functioning properly but connecting wires to the chlorinator are damaged. Check the connection to the chlorinator unit bu turning power off and disassembling the unit so that you can see the connections that provide the charge to the chlorinator cell. I burnt two of these out in short time at $400 a throw - so be mindful that they aren't or haven't got too much power after dropping the control box- you'll be able to see as in some cases they get that hot they fuse together (mine did!!!) As the Trigger said add extra chlorine and run the pool - this will burn off the algal growth and clear  the pool - frustrating I know.

P.S. Although its expensive initially I puchased a new pool pump Viron P300 ($950) - they have new tech motors in them and use fractional energy compared to the older pumps

something like 150 amp per hour compared with 1080 amp to do the same job. This reduces electricity use to the extent that the P300 will almost pay for itself in electricity use save in 1 year of regular pool use. They are an amazing pump & quiet as all get up too! Good luck with it - if all else fail - Pool Werx saved me and the call out fee veirtually goes into their labour cost - you could easily spend the same money chasing diagnosis of the issue - not to mention loss of fishing time!

Sorry boys, it's a cartridge filter, should have made that clearer. Don't know if that makes much difference to your answers.

The pressure gauge sits at the top of the filter.

Quick rundown:

Pool: approx 60000 litres, salt water.

Filter: cartridge

Chlorinator: 3 years old, tested and fine.

Control box: can't remember the name, but standard with rotating time dial.

I've shocked a few times now to keep it going, the only problem is is that the DIY genius who had the house before us hasn't built a waste pipe into the system when he rebuilt it.

It's not been right since we went back to the UK for Christmas and the girl who was looking after the house let our dogs swim in it for exercise.

I've had the box attached to the cell at the shop and they said it was ok. I'm going to ask them to test it again, but this wouldn't have anything to do with the pump pressure, would it?

We've got a shit load of palms and yukkas (sp?) around the pool Vince, as I think the previous owners had an obsession with Bali. Spend half of my life in spring/autumn hanging out of those farking things with the chainsaw on a stick cutting down seed pods.

We're thinking of ripping them out and selling some of them, especially the yukkas and ponytail palms as there's some big ones. Beautiful trees, just not good for around the pool. So if anyone wants any of them, get in touch, we've got some good mature ones.

Thanks for the help

The cheapiest and easiest solution is to empty the pool and put a deck over the top and use the local beach or pool, they are nothing but a bloody headache.  I feel your pain

Marron farm!!

Anyone want a free concrete pool? You remove and fill in.

 same probs this end. given up on it till summer then might throw some barra in it for fun.(jk).im thinking my prob is the salt cell not putting enough out, tested fine when we got it but just doesnt cut the mustard.at a loss here. might just go the chlorine

giday there john the pom, your cell will not make clhorine (cl2) if your salt count is to high, your range should be around 3000/4000 ppm, take a sample in and have it tested. found out mine was up too 10.000 ppm. Might be worth a shot ?

Seriously mate - the headache you're going through, time spent getting nowhere fast, frustration of the scenario - Ring someone like PoolWerx - ask them how much for the call out  and explain your prob - cartridge filters are a different cat for sure- not your usual Chlorinator scenario - got a mate whose got one and they are samesame different!I had issues with my pool - got the guy out and his $85 call out fee came off the cost of what he did to effect first class quality repairs - all sweet now. But Jeez its frustrating when your in the midst of it ( as you are)