Hayward electric spa heater

[riseandrun]

Good afternoon!
My spa has a Hayward 5KW heater attached and I'm instantly blowing the fuse when I turn the temp. indicator up. I suspect the heater element is bad because I'm only reading 10.3 ohms. Not KOhms.
That seems very low so I suspect a short.
Should add it's 220V.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated. There's not too much to it and my call to Hayward tech support never got answered.
TIA
KW

 

[Bama Rambler]

10.3? is exactly what you should be reading for a 5kw heater. Is that reading with it installed? I'd say your problem is somewhere else.

 

[riseandrun]

Hi Bama Rambler,
I see I never sent the reply I thought I did. I was on hold for so long with Hayward that they responded after I sent this post. But here's the new twist: I disconnected the wires to the heating element and turned the heater back on. Everything lit up like it should, I heard the relay click, I measured the voltage at the two disconnected wires (to the element) and got 220? I don't know how, but don't you think it's the element?

 

[Bama Rambler]

Did you check continuity to ground? The element appears good but it could have a short to the case and that would trip the breaker.

 

[riseandrun]

I'll check on Monday. Thank you for staying with me on this.