Hi, does anyone know where I can get a parts list? I need a new transformer and possibly a control board. Thanks!!
Thank you. I did not see your response until today. I believe the problem is the heater sensor. I have had it disconnected from the board for several days and the problem seems to have gone away. I do have a multimeter. The problem was that the circuit breaker kept tripping.Why don't you explain what is going on and maybe we can figure it out without throwing $1k of parts at it.
Do you have a multimeter?
That is strange. If both breakers behave the same it is unlikely, but not impossible, that you have a bad breaker or loose connection.
How long has the sensor been unplugged? Long enough that you are sure it has stopped? That would indicate a heater issue, but 99% of heaters that trip the breaker will do so immediately.
Is the circulation pump still running with the sensor unplugged? They rarely cause a gfci trip, but it does happen.
Another common cause is water in the blower from a high water level and failed check valve. Does it act up only after use?
If you disconnect the ground wire it will determine if it is a ground fault or amp draw/heat issue. But your gfci protection may be compromised by doing so, and you would be unable to use or even touch the water or any metal part while testing. If the ground wire is bare copper, be sure it is not touching any metal at the box connector as well. If it is in metal conduit this test will not work.
With heater and jets running, take an amp reading on one of the main power wires.
Thank you for your great help. I will disconnect “everything” this morning. One question, when I disconnect and reconnect, should I disconnect and reconnect the high voltage side of the transformer (and forget about disconnecting and reconnecting the low voltage side)?That is even more confusing. I can't imagine why it would not reset with the heater disconnected.
If you have a good ohm meter (not a $10 harbor freight piece of junk) you can stop the guesswork and test each component, disconnected from the board, for continuity to ground when the breaker is tripping. If it is tripping with nothing showing ground continuity, including the spa main wiring, it is a breaker issue.
A blower that is wet will trip the breaker until it dries. An ozonator will trip it any time it is on if wet. A circ pump rarely trips a breaker unless it is wet, but can really only be tested individually with the heater disconnected. A heater will trip it immediately, as one leg of the heater is hot as soon as the breaker is turned on. A jet pump can trip a breaker if leaking at the shaft seal (wet). A transformer can trip it if wet or shorted, but it won't be intermittent. A board can trip it if wet, or a mouse electrocuted itself or something.
But a breaker can trip from heating up. If it is reset right after it trips it will trip again immediately. If allowed to cool it will reset and run intil it heats up again. You can often feel the difference in temperature between the side of the breaker and the box it is in. A breaker can heat up from wire that is too small or damaged, loose connections, too many amps on the circuit, ambient heat source (sunshine, close to something else getting hot, corroded bus bar, loose/corroded main lug connections, etc).
Your issue is what we call "nuisance tripping" or "ghost tripping", and is one of the most difficult things to diagnose in a spa since there is such a long list of possibilities. But when you have eliminated all the equipment, all you have left is a breaker and wiring.
Disconnect everything but the circ pump. If it doesn't trip, reconnect one thing at a time, starting with the heater, until it starts tripping again. Disconnect the heater before trying the pumps to eliminate over-amping as a possibility. Obviously give it plenty of time between each one to be sure.
Thank you very much. I have disconnected everything except the circulation pump and we will see how it goes.Not the transformer. Nothing will work with it disconnected. If it's not wet and the controls are working it's not the cause. It's mounted on the back of the control pack.
Good morning, the breaker has not tripped for several days. What should I connect next? The heater? Thanks!Keep us posted.
OK so I have run it for four days with the heater on and the breaker is not tripped. Should I connect the jet pump? And should I disconnect the heater before I hook up the jet pump? Thanks for your help.Heater or a jet pump.