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Warning - Please read this section first !
This section is presented for the do-it-yourselfer who needs some help either troubleshooting or repairing their own hot tub spa. Here we are assuming that if you have chosen to work on your own unit, you have a basic knowledge of electricity.
Please remember that water and electricity DO NOT MIX. If you are not capable of performing a repair yourself, please contact a local spa professional or a licensed electrician in your area.
Also realize that the wiring and equipment described herein represents the "average" spa equipment pack. Your unit may vary significantly from the components described below. If you are in doubt as to how to properly troubleshoot or repair your specific unit, please contact a local spa professional or a licensed electrician in your area.
Use any of the information contained herein AT YOUR OWN RISK. We will not be held liable for any injuries that may result from the troubleshooting or installation of any electrical components in your hot tub spa unit.
Multimeters
In order for you to service any spa equipment, you absolutely must have and know how to use a multi-meter capable of measuring 120 and 240 single phase voltage, ohms, and amperage. Without this equipment, any repairs made to the electrical parts of this equipment will be strictly by trial and error or guessing which usually results in parts replaced that weren't actually bad. If you do not have a meter capable of each of these functions, either buy one at a local electrical supply house or borrow one. Either way, you must have one to work competently. Your meter instructions will explain how to hook up the test leads for each of the tests that follow.
Voltage Testing
Voltage tests of any circuit inside the equipment can be done using much the same principle as testing for good line service (covered in LINE SERVICE CHECK section of this guide). Simply decide what voltage you expect to find at a test point, set your meter (if not preset) for the scale showing this voltage, and apply your leads to the circuit in question. It is always best to put your test probes on the leads supplying the actual circuit, rather than in locations you would assume are of the same polarity.
When most people test, they conveniently apply one lead to the ground, and look for voltage with the other lead. The results of this method will easily mislead you because even a neutral wire carries electricity when a component is running. There’s no reason not to expect to see voltage when tested in this fashion. If it is a 120 volt circuit, one lead must go to a neutral connection point, and the other to the point at which there should be 120 volts. A 240 volt test must include two separate points where individual 120 volt supply leads are providing power.
Amperage Testing
An amperage test can only be conducted when a component is actually running. The components that you might test with your ampmeter are the heater (120v should read 12.5 amps, 240 volt should read 25 amps), the blower (1 Hp will read 5-6 amps, 1-1/2 to 2 Hp will read 7-9 amps), and the pumps low and high speeds (look at the plates on the motor for the amperages you should see and your actual reading should be within 10% of that). If your voltage supply to the pack is lower than the 120 volts or 240 volts as mentioned, then your amperage draw will be somewhat lower as well, (especially noticeable on heaters).
On 120 volt tests, an amperage reading should only be taken on the lead actually supplying the voltage to a component (not on the neutral). For 240 volt components, either wire supplying power will give you a good reading.
WARNING: A reading several amps higher than the component is rated for will ultimately result in a premature failure of the equipment or worse, an electrical hazard.
OHMS Test
Using the ohms scale on your meter, you can determine whether or not you have continuity in a circuit. Continuity is the ability for electricity to pass unrestricted between two ends of a wire or circuit. Ohms is the unit of measure of that restriction or resistance. The more resistance you have, the weaker the circuit is. Therefore, when testing a switch for continuity, your meter needle should read 0 ohms if the circuit is closed or "on" (unless the battery in your meter is weak in which case the needle will move but not all the way to 0). There should be infinite resistance such that the needle does not move at all if the circuit is open or ‘off.
WARNING: NEVER CONDUCT A CONTINUITY TEST ON A LIVE CIRCUIT It is recommended that you disconnect any switch or part being tested for continuity before conducting the test.
Line Service Check
Many installations have faulty line service. Before assuming that your problem is with the equipment, always check for the proper voltage coming into the equipment.
If after testing, you find an improper line service voltage, shut the power off at the circuit breaker and contact a licensed, qualified electrician to make the necessary corrections.
Ground Fault Circuit Interruption PROTECTION (GFCI)
GFCI protection is necessary in case anything electrical should allow electricity to leak to grounded metal in connection with the spa. This is especially possible if after years of use a heater element should rupture and the ground wire (that may or may not have been originally connected) should happen to become disconnected. A GFCI will sense this leakage and shut the voltage to the power pack oft.
As of January 1, 1994, all equipment packs used with a spa or hot tub must be protected by a Class A ground fault circuit interrupter. This is called for in the N.E.C. code book in paragraph 680-42. If the equipment has a GFCI built into it,that GFCI may only protect certain components such as the blower, light ozonator, and sometimes the pump. The GFCI may not provide full protection, especially if the unit is wired for 240V service. To be sure, have a qualified electrician study the wiring diagram that came with your unit (or the manufacturer of the unit you are working on) for verification.
Keep in mind that when buying a 240 GFCI for an installation, be sure to get one that has neutral protection. The 60A Square D GFCI does not have neutral protection and therefore cannot be used on a hybrid equipment system. (Hybrid means the unit contains both 240V and 120V components.)
NOTE: Any GFCI protecting a circuit should be tested periodically to insure proper operating protection. If it fails to operate properly, it must be replaced.
240V BREAKER INSTALLATION:
There are two easily installed properly rated 240 volt GFCI breakers on the market today (as of the time this page was written). They are the Square D model QO 250GFI and the ITE Siemens model QF250, each rated for up to 50 amps. The square D 60 Amp GFCI can not be used with our equipment because it does not have load neutral protection.
Most people who install the Square D GFCI breaker do not follow the instructions accompanying it. A common mistake is made by connecting their load neutral (from the equipment), the large white pigtail on the GFCI, and the power supply neutral to the connection block on the mounting bracket. The instructions show where the load neutral is supposed to attach to the GFCI. Before suspecting a pack malfunction, check the installation of this device (when used) and make sure it was installed correctly.
The connection points for the pack on the Siemens GFCI are more obvious, but again, make sure that only the load neutral is connected where indicated and that the white pigtail is only connected to the line service neutral.
Equipment Pack Troubleshooting Guide
Heater Failure - Due to Water Flow
Are the ball valves open? Is the water level correct? Is the filter cartridge dirty? (remove if in doubt) Are the jets wide open? Is the impeller clogged? Is the system primed? Are the fillings tight?
Heater Failure - Other Possible Causes
Are the 0-rings in place? Is the bib fitting tight? Is the thermostat set properly? Is the Hi Limit switch tripped? (If so, why?) Are the heater wires burnt? Are the contactor wires burnt? Is there proper voltage to the pack? Is the timer in control (if so, was pack run long enough?) Are all wires in place? Is there power to the heater? (Indicator light would be on.) Is the pack in the proper mode for heater operation? Does the heater work on high speed? With a 110 volt pack, was the pack run on low speed only? A 110 volt pack will only heat on low speed at a rate of 2 to 3 degrees per hour. See also Total Lack of Heat section below.
Pump Will Not Run At All
Is the pack supplied with the proper voltage? (Most 1 hp require 120v, 1-1/2 hp require 240v.) (Check motor dataplate.) Is the timer set to have it operate (low speed only)? Is the GFCI tripped? (120 volt packs have GFCI protected pumps.)
Pump Runs But Does Not Move Water
Is the spa filled above all intake ports? Is the impeller clogged with debris? (see Pump Servicing.) Is the pack plumbed to the spa correctly? (Skimmers to front of pump, Jets to discharge.)
Low Speed Pump Does Not Function
Is the tubing attached between the spa and airswitch? Is the pump flood primed? Is the impeller clogged with debris? (See Pump Servicing.) Is the airswitch set for low speed operation? Is the pack set for timer operation? (See Timer Trouble Section.)
Hi Speed Pump Does Not Function
Check each of the things under LOW SPEED PUMP DOES NOT FUNCTION except the last one about timer operation. Is the hi limit switch tripped? (See section on Hi Speed Shutdown Circuit.) Is the impeller spinning inside the pump? (See Pump Servicing.)
Blower Does Not Function
Is the GFCI reset? Does the air switch work? If the GFCI trips, is there water in the blower or blower lines? Is the top of the air loop mounted higher than the water level, as it should be? Also see Air Blower Does Not Work At All section below.
Total Lack of Heat
This section applies only to the total lack of heat, not to the lack of enough heat rise. First, make sure the pack is in the mode of operation such that it should be heating. (Low speed pump only is standard.) After each check, if a correction is made, check heater for amp draw to verify problem or corrected problem.
1. Make sure valves are open and water level is high enough in spa.
2. Remove filter cartridge and recheck heater with amp meter. (120v should read 12.5 amps; 240v should read 25 amps, however this may vary on specific spa models - check your instruction manual for proper readings for your unit.)
3. If #1 and #2 check OK and your water flow is still weak with air bubbles coming through (the air induction being closed) check for loose pipe connections at all joints. (A slow drip may result when the pack is turned off at such a loose joint.) Also, be sure all jets are open for maximum water flow.
4. REMOVE PACK COVER. Using volt meter on a minimum 240 volt scale (120 on a 120 pack) check to see whether the power coming in is enough to power the pack: 210-240 on 240v, 110-120 on 120v. If not, have an electrician look into it.
5. On 240v observe contactor or heater relay. If it activates when the thermostat is turned up and still no amperage is being drawn, check for 240 volts at the wire ends of the heater cord. If it does not activate, go to check #6. If 240 is found where the cord meets the relay but not at the element, check the "Hi Limit’ switch breaking power to one line on the element. To do this, look to see if the heater indicator light is on. If not, check to see if the "Hi Limit" switch is tripped. Press on the red button sticking out of the bottom or front of the control box. If it resists just a little before stopping and you hear a "click, it was probably tripped. The indicator light should now be on to indicate power to the element. If the light does not come on, check Amp draw on the heater anyway - the light may have gone bad. If the heater draws amperage, the light is broken and needs replacement in order to indicate power to the heater. (No harm will come to the pack if the light does not work.)
6. If heater relay does not activate, check for proper voltage at the point where the black or red wire meets the relay coil. (Your specific wiring diagram should identify the coil voltage.) Also verify that the right relay is in the unit by checking the ratings against the diagram.
7. If voltage is not found at the relay coil, check flow switch/pressure switch as described in #8. If flow is OK, check thermostat for power out. The wire leading to the flow switch from the thermostat should be carrying 120v. When checking for this voltage, disconnect the wire from the pressure switch so you do not get test interference from voltage that might be coming from the other side of the heater relay coil. Be sure the thermostat is turned all the way to "Hi" before looking for voltage. Also, make sure the thermostat sensing bulb is located properly to sense the water temperature. If the bulb is exposed to air, COVER IT. If out of the well, insert and center it. If no voltage is found, adjust calibration on the thermostat by turning Allen screw at top of switch clockwise until a "click" is heard or you reach 1/4 revolution (whichever comes first). If you turn it around 1/4 way without hearing the click, your thermostat must be replaced.
8. If you have a pressure switch, adjust it as described in Pressure Switch section below.
No Heat - Details For Straight, Flo-thru Heaters
Heaters are considered Flo-Thru type heaters because the water flows through unrestricted by elbows or thermowells. Most are 6kw and are rated for 240 volts. Some have the elements welded directly to the manifolds such that if the element wears out, you replace the entire heater assembly. Some elements can be removed for replacement but are more fragile. If you go to replace an element, be sure to hold the base of the post with a 1/4" open-end wrench to prevent twisting of the post. Otherwise you stand a good chance of breaking off the post. Be sure to hold it tight again when reinstalling the wires on the new element.
To determine if the element in a flo-thru is bad, test it the same as you would a regular element. If the wires have been removed, check it for continuity. You should see approx. 9-11 ohms of resistance if it is good, maximum resistance if bad. Be sure to measure resistance between a post and your ground to make sure the element is not ruptured. You should see maximum (infinite) resistance if it is good. If the needle moves at all on the meter, you have a rupture in the element sheath. You would need to replace it. The continuity test to ground is best done when the manifold is full of water.
The hi limit and thermostat bulbs are usually positioned under a protective metal insulated cap secured to the manifold by a wing nut. Make sure the sensors are fully under the cap and that the cap is tightly secured. If insulated properly you should not be able to see the side of either bulb under the cap once the nut is tight. If you can see it, ambient air can get to it and affect the temperature control performance. If you are sure the bulbs are straight in the grooves on the manifold, and that the cap is tight, you could add some insulating tape or something to help block ambient air from that area of the heater for more consistent performance.
Grounding of the heater is achieved through the use of nuts with external tooth lockwashers securing the manifold to the control box. Be sure to reuse the same nuts if you remove them. The lock washer breaks through the protective coating in the box to establish ground.
Air Blower Does Not Work At All
1. Be sure GFCI is reset and working. If not working, replace it.
2. If GFCI cannot be reset, you probably have water in the blower or GFCI receptacle. These must be totally dried out. Try using a hair dryer on these components. If water is found in the blower line, it may take several hours to dry out. If water is not the problem, check for improper wiring, and if this is not the case.
3. Check for power where the black wire from the blower meets the air switch. If power is found, the blower may be bad. Replace. (Be sure your neutral wire is hooked up and that you do not have an open neutral condition on the GFCI before replacing the blower.) If power is not found, the air switch may be bad. Check the wire powering the air switch and check the switch for continuity. If no power, check the wire leading to the switch for continuity and replace as needed. If you have power but do not get proper switching action, replace the switch.
4. If none of these things fix the problem, the blower may need to be replaced.
Heat Works, But Tub Does Not Reach 104 Degrees
1. Be sure thermostat is turned all the way up and that the equipment area is well ventilated. Hi ambient temperatures around the pack will effect thermostat calibration. Also make sure the thermobulb is properly located and protected to sense water temperature.
2. Slowly turn the thermostat from "Hi’ back toward "Low. See if you hear a click.
3. If a small click is not heard, the thermostat may be set too low. To adjust, insert a properly sized alien wrench into adjustment screw found just below the shiny silver plate on top side of the thermostat. Turn the screw clockwise to raise the setting. One quarter revolution is equal to a rise of 100. If you have to turn the screw more than 1/4 revolution to achieve the desired effect, replace the thermostat. If the "click" is still not heard, replace the thermostat.
4. If replacing the thermostat does not correct the problem, call a spa professional.
Pump Will Not Go From Low To High Speed
1. The equipment may be equipped with a special safety circuit that activates when the pump is left running on high speed for extended periods of time. This would cause the water in the spa to reach temperatures high enough to cause the hi limit switch to trip, disengaging high speed operation (as well as the heater.) If this is the case, when the air switch is in the position intended for high speed operation, the low speed pump will not shut off with the timer operation (turning the bypass). When the airswitch is in the position intended for low speed operation, the timer will be able to shut the low speed pump off. If this accurately describes the present operation of the equipment, reset the hi limit switch, make sure the high speed pump now works.If the hi limit switch is not the problem, follow the instructions below.
2. Check wiring inside to be sure nothing came off. If so, use the unit's wiring diagram to put wires back. Be sure they fit tightly on the airswitch. If not, crimp down on the edges of the connector carefully. (If overdone, it will not go on without breaking the air switch.)
3. If wiring inside is OK, check for loose wires at rear of pump. Correct if necessary as described in #2.
4. If wiring inside is OK, the air switch may be faulty. Using your volt meter check to see that power is alternated from your high to low pump wires when the air switch actuator button is pressed. (Usually, black for low and red for high.) Be sure that the air hose is not pinched between the button and the air switch, and that there is no water in it. If the air switch does not work, remove actuator button and blow into the line as the button may be bad. If power does not transfer from Hi to Low, replace the air switch and try again.
5. If power does transfer but the pump does not respond, check for power at the pump and if it is there, replace the pump. If it is not, replace the cord to the pump. HINT: Make sure common wire is hooked up before replacing pump or cord. If power is found at the rear of the pump but the pump does not respond, replace the pump.
No Low Speed Pump
1. If your pack is not equipped with a timer, and your air switch is in the low speed mode:
2. If your pack is equipped with a timer, your timer interrupts power between the air switch and the pump (low speed only):
Pump Will Not Come On At All
First, determine what voltage the pump you are troubleshooting requires to work. The plate on the side of the motor will tell you this. Then also check to make sure the pack it is connected to is wired appropriately for this pump to be used. (Some replacements are improperly applied in the field.)
Once you are sure the motor requirements match the wiring method, check for proper voltage at the airswitch where the pump wires attach to it using the method described under VOLTAGE TESTING. If proper voltage is not found, check the wire that powers the airswitch for voltage. If proper voltage is found where the wire feeds the airswitch, and not where the pump wires attach, replace the airswitch. (A continuity check of the airswitch function will verify this problem area.) If power is found at the pump wires, check the back of the pump for voltage. If none is found, replace the cord. If proper voltage is found, replace the pump.
Water Gets Too Hot
Water that is too hot can be caused by several things:
1. Thermostat out of calibration: Recalibrate as described under Heat Works, But Tub Does Not Reach 104 Degrees, only in this case turn the calibration screw counterclockwise to reduce the temperature setting.
2. Thermostat sensing bulb not applied: Make sure the sensing bulb is applied to the manifold under the heat tape (older models) or inside a thermowell if provided. If in a thermowell, make sure the bulb is centered in the well.
3. Heater relay contacts may be stuck closed: Replace relay and determine cause (could be chattering thermostat, low voltage, bad pressure switch, or pump cavitation). If contacts are damaged, install a suppressor on new relay coil.
4. Hi speed pump may have been run for too long: If water exceeds 122 degrees and equipment includes new hi speed shutdown relay, check circuit and hi limit operation.
5. Hi limit may be defective: If water exceeds 122 degrees and includes the hi speed shut down circuit, the hi limit probably needs to be replaced. If it does not include the new circuit, see if the hi limit is tripped. If the limit is not tripped, it is out of calibration and must be replaced. NEVER RECALIBRATE A HI LIMIT SWITCH.
Timer Troubles - Various
Most trouble associated with timers involves the lack of understanding of how it works. Here are the general rules:
1. The timer only controls the low speed pump - NOT THE HIGH SPEED.
2. When the pack leaves the factory, the timer switch controlling the low speed is open such that the low speed pump will not come on. All trippers are in the OFF mode so the low speed will not come on unless the bypass is used or the trippers are pulled and lined up with the arrow on the dial.
3. The only way the low speed pump should come on without the use of the timer (if the pack is fresh out of the box) is if the installer happens to push the airswitch and instead of high speed they get low speed. This can happen if during shipment the equipment is stored in a room or truck that gets very hot inside, in which case the hi limit will trip and engage the hi speed shut down circuit (see HI SPEED SHUT DOWN CIRCUIT).
4. Usually, each tripper on the timer is good for only 30 minutes of low speed operation, however this will vary from unit to unit (some are good for 15 minutes). If continuous low speed operation is desired, all trippers must be pulled to the ON position.
5. The bypass (if you have one) will only affect operation until a tripper set in a position that will nullify the effect of the bypass function comes in front of the arrow. That is, if the tripper in front of the arrow is pushed in, and the next several trippers are also pushed in, turning the bypass to have the low speed pump come on will only be effective until the next consecutive tripper pushed in comes in front of the arrow, or a maximum of 30 minutes. If you wish to have the low speed remain on, you must either turn the bypass again when it shuts off, or pull the next several trippers to their "ON" position for as many minutes as you desire the pump to run. The opposite is true for the use of the bypass in conjunction with trippers pulled out in the "ON" position. The bypass would only keep the low speed pump off until the next pulled out "ON’ tripper lines up with the arrow.
6. The clock on the timer is rarely going to be bad. If it loses time, consider whether there may have been a power outage or if someone is welding nearby. A neighbor’s welding can affect your timer’s ability to keep time. The arcing has an affect on the cycles (usually 60Hz) and can change them. If it gains time, someone could be changing the dial position on the timer. Simple adjustment of the tripper positions can inadvertently affect the timer dial setting whether you are aware of it or not. If a timeclock is legitimately not keeping good time, it should consistently need the same time adjustment every 24 hours. Monitor it’s performance untouched for a period of several days. If you truly have a bad clock, consistent time loss or gain will be evident. Replace timer.
Pump Servicing - Various Problems
If you have a problem related to the wet end of the pump, this is the section to be in. Please note that these are generic instructions for the "average" pump. Your unit may vary.
1. The impellers must be matched to the motors. Do not mix them up. 1-1/2hp impellers must only be used with 1 -1/2hp "full rate" motors (those that have a service factor of 1.0) and 1 hp impellers with 1 hp "full rate motors" Mixing them up will result in improper motor amperage loads and subsequent premature failure of the motors.
If your motor has a service factor (SF on the data plate) of other than 1.0, it is an uprated motor. In this case, match the impeller based on amp rating.
To be sure you have matched them correctly, once the impeller is installed and the pump is running under full load, take an amperage reading while on high speed. The reading you get should be within 10% of the high speed amp rating on the data plate. If it measures higher, the motor will prematurely burn up. If it measures lower, you simply are not getting as much out of that motor as it is designed to deliver.
2. If a motor seems to run fine but is not putting out the water like it should, remove the faceplate and check the blades of the impeller. If debris has gone through the pump, some of it may be stuck in the blades which will reduce the effectiveness of the pump. Also, while the impeller is accessible, check the tightness of the impeller on the shaft. To hold the motor shaft, remove the cap at the corded of the motor such that the metal shaft is exposed. The motor shaft has a large screwdriver slot in it. Insert a screwdriver with one hand and while preventing the shaft from moving, check to see that the impeller does not turn with the other hand. WARNING: USE A RAG AT THE IMPELLER. THE IMPELLER MAY HAVE EDGES THAT ARE VERY SHARP!! You will not need a tool to hold the impeller to check tightness. Hand tight is all it needs. A stripped shaft will be rather obvious.
3. When changing an impeller, it is best to examine the motor shaft and remove any build up of rust that might have occurred during the life of the pump. If not removed, the rust may prevent proper tightening of the motor shaft resulting in rubbing, leakage, or stripping of the impeller threads inside the impeller. The impeller should glide on easily and turn onto the shaft easily until the threads bottom out with a very solid stop. If it turns hard, remove the impeller and check the motor shaft threads for debris from the previous impeller or dents that would prevent their mating with the plastic impeller threads. If damaged, correct the threads with a thin metal file or a shaft thread file designed just for this purpose. (A motor repair place may be able to help you obtain this. A thread file makes shaft repair very quick and accurate with little effort.)
4. When replacing a pump seal, wet
the impeller shaft a little with water to make sliding it on
easier. WARNING: DO NOT LUBRICATE WITH ANYTHING BUT WATER. The
rubber doughnut on the seal will displace the water and a secure
seat on the shaft will result. Other lubrication will allow the
seal to spin on the shaft once the pump is turned on. This will
melt the impeller shaft with the friction it creates, thus
causing a new leak. Once applied, the stainless steel side with
the rubber doughnut should be against the impeller blades while
the carbon ring side should face the shaft end of the impeller.
The rubber cup on the ceramic 1/2 of the seal can also be
lubricated with water in the same fashion in order to be pressed
into the housing. The white flat side of the ceramic should be
facing the impeller after installation in the housing. (The side
of the ceramic facing the rubber cup has a groove in it.) It is
important that the seal be pressed squarely down into the
housing. If crooked, a leak will often result.
NOTE: The Waterway and Martec seal set parts have reversed location, that is, the spring portion is in the housing and the ceramic portion goes on the impeller. Still use water to easily seat the ceramic, but you may want to apply a thin film of silicone sealant (not to be confused with silicone lubricant) to the steel cup before pressing it into the housing. BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET SILICONE ON THE BLACK SURFACE THAT PRESSES AGAINST THE CERAMIC RING. The contamination could cause premature failure of the seal.
5. When mounting a housing to the motor, be sure to center the motor shaft inside the ceramic. Tighten the motor bolts carefully and once all are tight, check once more to make sure the shaft is centered. If too close to the ceramic, the impeller will be more difficult to mount and will often rub enough to cause damage to the impeller and/or motor. It may even rub enough to prevent the motor from running at all. As a "rule of thumb’, always check the motor shaft for free movement after applying the impeller to the shaft and after assembling the face of the pump.
6. Be sure to re-install the eye seal to the impeller before applying the faceplate. Without it, the pump will not move as much water, and will cavitate causing it to run noisily. Be sure to mount it with the wide side of the seal facing the pump faceplate.
Troubleshooting Pressure Switches
A pressure switch will allow power to pass through it as long as there is a measurable amount of pressure in the cavity to which it is connected. This pressure can be created whenever the pump is running and as long as there is some water in the bottom of the pump housing whether the rest of the pack is full of water or not. That is, as long as the valves are shut creating a sealed cavity in order to build pressure. Therefore, when the valves are open, the heater will not come on when there is not enough water in the plumbing to maintain pressure.
If you see that you have good water flow and your heater will not operate, check to see that the thermostat makes a "click" noise. If you hear the "click" and the contactor will not close, check (with your volt meter) to see that the power is found at both terminals on the thermostat. Disconnect the thermostat wire leading to pressure switch before checking thermostat for voltage. Then, check for power at the coil where the wire from the pressure switch meets it. (Double check as to what coil voltage should be.)
If you have proper voltage at all three points, the pressure switch is not at fault. If you do not find power at any of the three points, your air switch may be at fault or you may be expecting the heater to operate when it is not supposed to be in the first place.
If you find power on one side of the thermostat and not the other with the thermostat turned all the way up, the thermostat is either defective, out of calibration, or the spa water is already hot. If you find power at both terminals on the thermostat and none on the contactor coil, the pressure switch is either out of calibration or is not functioning and must be replaced.
To check calibration, see if the black toothed gear on the back of the pressure switch is turned as far counter-clockwise as it can be. With the pump running it should turn the heater on. If it does, turn in clockwise now until the heater shuts back off and re-loosen it one-and-one-half turns. If it does not turn the heater on, replace it.
On the other hand, if you cannot get the heater to shut ‘off while the valves are open and the pump is running "dry", then the switch is either broken or frozen shut and must be replaced, or the contacts of the heater relay are welded closed.
To replace it, first shut off the power and then remove the two wires going to it. If you have service valves to the equipment pack, shut them off. If not, and the pressure switch is of the type that has a barbed fitting and a hose connecting it to the heater, have the new switch close by and proceed as directed in the next paragraph. If you haven’t any valves and the switch screws directly into the heater manifold, you will have to drain the spa in order to change the switch.
If your switch is connected to the manifold with flexible tubing, pull the tubing off of the switch and cap, plug, or clamp off the tubing to prevent water spillage. (If you have service valves to shut off, you won’t need to worry about this.) Then remove the retaining nut holding the switch in place on the control box. Remove the switch from the control box, install the new switch, re-attach the nut, and re-attach the tubing.
If your switch screws directly into the heater manifold and you have service valves, you might want to drain water from at least the heater before removing the switch. Otherwise, depending on how the heater is oriented, you may get water inside the control box and on your wiring.
Once removed, we suggest you replace the switch with one that has stainless steel threads. (The one you removed may have plastic threads as they are less expensive.) To install a plastic thread switch properly with a mass of wires around may prove difficult if not impossible as the threads are prone to cross-threading if it doesn't go in perfectly straight. This will result in a leak, either now or later. A stainless steel pressure switch is easier to install with a little PTFE applied to the threads.
In either case, once the new switch is installed, re-attach the two wires and BE SURE TO OPEN THE SERVICE VALVES. Now turn the power back on. With the system running, you must calibrate the switch as previously described.
Relays vs. Contactors
Relays look significantly different depending on the brand of the spa pack. On many packs, the small "ice cube" looking things in the packs are called relays, while the larger, open-circuit counter parts are called contactors. They each do the same thing, allow control over a circuit that can’t be controlled directly by the component powering the relay or contactor coil. This could be due to high amperage (such as in a heater) or due to a GFCI protected circuit needing control over a non-GFCI protected circuit.
Either way, they each have two things in common, a coil, and a switch or set of large contacts. A relay coil is always identified as terminals A and B on the relay while the switch terminals are numbered. The contactor coil and switch terminals are generally more obvious.
The thing to remember is always be sure to replace a relay with one of the same coil voltage and equal or greater contact rating. Check the wiring diagram to be sure the relay you are removing is of the correct coil voltage in the first place. If the contacts of the component are burnt up, it is usually due to problems with the component controlling it such as a chattering pressure switch or thermostat. You will however run into the occasional burnt coil or lightning strike victim. If the relay is mounted with the protective shell facing down, drill a small hole in the bottom of the shell so that condensation cannot collect inside and short out the contacts. Water leaking into the pack can collect and cause this as well.
Thermostats - Mechanical vs. Electronic
Mechanical thermostats have been used on equipment forever. There are some electronic types available, but they are usually more expensive and therefore not so widely used. Mechanical thermostats are prone to calibration swings due to changes in the temperature around the switch body, capillary tube, and sensing bulb. Electronic types only respond to temperature changes at the bulb, generally the very tip of the bulb. In both cases, a thermostat gives the best performance if the bulb is inside a dry-well (also known as a Thermowell), completely surrounded by the spa water.
The next best location is under the insulated cap of a flo-thru manifold. This is only true provided the cap is kept tight and the air around the manifold remains at a somewhat constant temperature. If the air temperature changes, the water temperature will swing too. The colder the air around the manifold, the warmer the spa because that cooler air takes away the heat being transferred to the sensing bulb under the cap.
As for calibrating electronic thermostats, it is usually not possible. They must be replaced. They generally have trimpots inside that are very easily broken. A little too much pressure on the screw could create more problems for you.
Spa Side Controls
There are many, many different types of Spa Side Controls, and each can have their own specific problems. Here we will consider the most common ones. There are three manufacturers of basically the same 6 pin spa-side control. They are Tridelta, Len Gordon, and Press-Air-Trol. Each will plug into a socket provided on the control box of many models. Which one will be used depends largely on the preference of the spa manufacturer.
There are two methods of sensing the temperature with these controls. Some controls still have the mechanical bulb and capillary thermostats in them. Most now have electronic temperature controls (called a Thermistor) available with the spa-side control heads. The mechanical have historically proven to be unpredictable and subject to the same problems as thermostats mounted directly in the equipment packs because that is in fact what they are. Electronic temperature controls are generally more reliable. They employ thermistors in their bulb-like sensing units. These bulbs are shaped just like the mechanical sensing bulbs in order to fit into the same applications. Instead of the fluid used in the mechanical units, the electronic models have wire leads conveying a small electrical current from the thermistor in the sensor. The two controls are otherwise the same with the lights inside working as they always have.
Over and above the problems you may have with the mechanical thermostats, the common problem you will occasionally encounter with either control is a faulty harness that they plug into or a bad cord going to the control. In many cases, the spa side control sometimes cause nuisance tripping due to water getting inside the socket on the control box. This normally will occur sometime after installation. When you have trouble with this tripping upon installation, it is often due to a problem inside the cord of the control itself such that one of the light supply leads is touching the ground lead.
In order to determine if one of the leads is shorting out against the ground, simply do a continuity test between each terminal and the ground terminal. If any continuity with the ground terminal, you will have trouble.
If your Spa Side Control is not like those described above, contact a local spa professional to check it out for you.
Remember:
Use any of the information contained herein AT YOUR OWN RISK. We will not be held liable for any injuries that may result from the troubleshooting or installation of any electrical components in your hot tub spa unit.
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