Gfci clicking, motor pulsing

[Spatropy]

Hi!
Just plugged in the tub for the first time!
110v Marquis 212/Rendezvous 150gal .

GFCI at the end of cord is repeatedly clicking a few times per second.

Pump (or perhaps heater?) is also making a pulsing hum sound at the same rhythm as the gfci.

20amp circuit.

I have run a ground wire from the tub to my grounded water pipes, but that didn’t change anything).

Any thoughts?
Thanks!

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

I know nothing about your particular spa, but it sounds like the flow or water sensor that controls your pump has water and when the pump turns on it sucks all the water out and then the sensor shuts the pump shuts off, rise and repeat.

I suspect you have an air lock somewhere in the pipes.

Did you read the directions on how to fill the tub, or did you just throw a hose in a let er rip?

If I don't fill my tub through the filter port it will also get an air lock.

Let's see what @RDspaguy has to say.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Spatropy]

S,

I know nothing about your particular spa, but it sounds like the flow or water sensor that controls your pump has water and when the pump turns on it sucks all the water out and then the sensor shuts the pump shuts off, rise and repeat.

I suspect you have an air lock somewhere in the pipes.

Did you read the directions on how to fill the tub, or did you just throw a hose in a let er rip?

If I don't fill my tub through the filter port it will also get an air lock.

Let's see what @RDspaguy has to say.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Oh I definitely threw a hose in and let it rip.I should add I also changed the filter.
But I did read the instructions, and it didn’t say otherwise…
I’ll look into the air lock. Thanks.

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

When a GFCI trips, it does not normally reset itself.

I re-read your initial post and the first time I incorrectly read that the motor was shutting off and then restarting.

It appears you have a different issue than what I first thought.

Let's see what our other members have to say...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Methuselah]

First and foremost when a 120v tub misbehaves, I see recommendations to verify the tub is the only load on the circuit, that it will support a 20 amp load, and that you do not use an extension cord.

Beyond that, I'd think the first step would be to verify proper terminations of the cord inside the tub and check that there is no excessive vac drop at that point when you are trying to run it.

 

[Mdragger88]

Remove whatever ground wire you added. Grounding your stand alone hot tub to your pipes isn’t something you need to do & may only complicate matters.
Is the spa the only thing that is on the 20 amp circuit?
Is this a new spa?
A newly run circuit?
If so, test your circuit to confirm you have proper polarity & voltage. If that is confirmed you may have a bad gfci cord end & they should send you another one/ or someone to check out your tub before you go tinkering.
@RDspaguy

 

[Spatropy]

Remove whatever ground wire you added. Grounding your stand alone hot tub to your pipes isn’t something you need to do & may only complicate matters.
Is the spa the only thing that is on the 20 amp circuit?
Is this a new spa?
A newly run circuit?
If so, test your circuit to confirm you have proper polarity & voltage. If that is confirmed you may have a bad gfci cord end & they should send you another one/ or someone to check out your tub before you go tinkering.
@RDspaguy

Thanks,
It behaves the same with or without the ground wire.
It is the only load turned on on the circuit. I’m assuming that a 20amp circuit could handle a few lights at the same time as a 15 amp tub…
Circuit is not new.
Not a new spa, previous owner didn’t have the problem (maybe I damaged it in transit?).
I’m also thinking that replacing the gfci plug would be the easiest next diagnostic move, beyond replacing fuses in the tub circuit board…

 

[JamesW]

Not a new spa, previous owner didn’t have the problem (maybe I damaged it in transit?).

How do you know for sure that the tub didn't have issues, because they said so or did you verify that it was working correctly?

How old is everything?

What year?

Which is the correct manual?

Marquis hot tub owners manuals and downloads

Our collection of Marquis manuals, downloads and guides.

www.marquisspas.com

 

[JamesW]

The chattering indicates a problem, which could be a relay.

A GFCI should not “chatter”.

If there is a problem, it should just trip and not chatter.

Can you show pictures and video of everything?

120 Volt

120 Volt spas shall be plugged into a properly grounded, grounding type 15 amp receptacle on a dedicated circuit.

A dedicated circuit is a circuit with no other components that consume power, such as lights, televisions, radios, computers, or other electronic devices.

These could cause your spa to malfunction by any of the following: unusual text on the control panel, slow heating, poor jet action, tripping house breaker, or blown fuses.

Failure to follow these instructions could lead to premature failure of spa components that would not be covered under the warranty.

The dedicated circuit shall meet the following specifications:

• Rated 120V, 60Hz, 15A (2 wires plus ground)

• Circuit breaker or fuse size: 15A

• The receptacle must be at least 5 feet (1.52 m) from the spa.

• The 15 foot GFCI power cord provided with the spa must be plugged directly into the receptacle.

Do NOT use an extension cord or any other adaptor.

Actual exposed length of cord will vary by model, but will never be less than 12 feet.

https://www.marquisspas.com/documents/2013/2013_MarquisE-seriesOM.pdf

 

[Methuselah]

Is it possible the added ground wire damaged the GFI cord? Perhaps if replacing the cord, leave off that ground wire. Was that wire there the first time you turned on the tub?

Do you have an outlet tester or dmm you can use to verify the outlet is wired correctly?

@JamesW is right, and pics of the outlet wiring might help too (kill power to it first!).

 

[RDspaguy]

Those cord-end GFCIs are known for problems. I'd start there. You do not need 2 GFCIs, so a gfci receptacle (plug) in the wall and a standard 20 amp cord end will do. If it is not on a dedicated circuit it may cause breaker trouble.

 

[Spatropy]

How do you know for sure that the tub didn't have issues, because they said so or did you verify that it was working correctly?

How old is everything?

What year?

Which is the correct manual?

Marquis hot tub owners manuals and downloads

Our collection of Marquis manuals, downloads and guides.

www.marquisspas.com

Because I’m choosing to believe the previous owner.
It was manufactured in 2004, everything seems original.
It’s the 2004 “Everyday” series manual , model 212

 

[Spatropy]

Is it possible the added ground wire damaged the GFI cord? Perhaps if replacing the cord, leave off that ground wire. Was that wire there the first time you turned on the tub?

Do you have an outlet tester or dmm you can use to verify the outlet is wired correctly?

@JamesW is right, and pics of the outlet wiring might help too (kill power to it first!).

I’ll check the outlet with a tester tomorrow.
It was clicking before I added the ground, I was hoping that would fix it…

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

As RDspaguy pointed out... is your GFCI cord plugged into a GFCI outlet?

If so, remove the GFCI cord, and run with the spa plugged into just a GFCI outlet.

Thanks,

Jim R,

 

[JamesW]

Because I’m choosing to believe the previous owner.

Ok, but a tub that old can be expected to have problems.

I'm sure that someone selling something would never exaggerate the condition of the item they were selling.

Maybe it was damaged in transit?

 

[Mdragger88]

By their very nature this would also apply to cord end type gfci’s. It is the weakest link & the place to start. Along with verifying - with a meter - that the power source is supplying adequate voltage with proper polarity.

 

[Spatropy]

S,

As RDspaguy pointed out... is your GFCI cord plugged into a GFCI outlet?

If so, remove the GFCI cord, and run with the spa plugged into just a GFCI outlet.

Thanks,

Jim R,

Yes it is. Do two gfci outlets have some kind of argument with each other and cause this clicking?

 

[wireform]

If it's simpler to do you can remove the gfci receptacle and replace with a non gfci just to verify issue or non issue. If it does change things you'll need to decide what should be your gfci protection, wire or receptacle.

 

[RDspaguy]

Yes it is. Do two gfci outlets have some kind of argument with each other and cause this clicking?

Wired properly, there is no problem with multiple GFCIs. But you don't need 2, and it's likely the cord end that's bad from my experience. So I'd go to the hardware store and spend $10 on a cord end and try that first. If that's not it, you've only lost $10.

 

[Spatropy]

Okay! I've solved the problem. I replaced the gfci plug with a standard plug going into a gfci outlet. I can't say for sure whether the gfci plug was bad or if the two gfci together were the problem, but I'm guessing it was the plug. Thanks everyone!