RayPak Heaters

Raypak Heaters

Raypak has a few product lines of heaters. Raypak residential pool and spa gas heaters include above ground heater models; in-ground heater models from 200K to 400K BTU; and low NOX versions of the in-ground heatrs from 200K to 400K BTU.

Raypak also has a product line of residential pool and spa heat pumps with five models from 48K BTUs to 140K BTUs. The higher BTU heat pumps are available in a model with heating and cooling.

The Raypak Professional series heat pump pool heaters, from 140K BTUs to 170K BTUs, are designed specifically for commercial properties such as apartments, condos, hotels, motels, schools, parks, community and high-end private pools. It’s also appropriate in tough coastal weather conditions where salt air challenges durability.

Raypak also has a wide range of commercial gas pool heaters with BTUs up to 2,340,000 BTUs.

Rapak is a Rheem company and most HVAC companies know their way around the units and can get parts. You are not locked into installation and service through pool store channels. Raypak has a good warranty for heaters purchased separately and installed by a professional contractor, not necessary a pool company.

Raypak heaters have a traditional burner tube geometry like a BBQ or hot water heater. Gas is injected into a manifold of burner tubes with the heat driving the flow of exhaust out the stack. This design is susceptible to wind and atmospheric issues causing flame roll out problems and dirty combustion tubes.

Low NOx Heater Model

Low NOx heaters normally have somewhat higher efficiencies and exhibit much lower NOx emissions.

They were developed to satisfy low NOx emissions requirements as first imposed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District in California. Your area might require a low NOx heater. You should consider a low NOx heater in any case.

Raypak Model Numbers

• Designation for a Digital heater using propane gas is "EP"; a Digital heater using natural gas is "EN".
• Designation for a Millivolt heater using propane gas is "MP"; a Millivolt heater using natural gas is "MN".
• Prefix "P" is for plastic (polymer) headers.
• Suffix "X" is for cupro-nickel tubing; "C" is for copper tubing.
• Example: P-M406A-EN-X = Plastic headers, 406 model size, digital, natural gas, cupro-nickel.

Raypak 5450/6450/8450 Heat Pumps No Longer Have the Internal Automatic Bypass

There is an April, 2020, report that the newest Raypak 5450 / 6450 / 8450 heat pumps no longer have the internal automatic bypass. It has been removed, though their website, data sheets, etc. still advertise this feature. The member has a new 5450 and the water flow is terrible - not enough to drive the Polaris cleaner.

Raypak Heat Pump High Pressure Trip Lockout

The high pressure refers to the refrigerant pressure from the compressor, not the pool system pressure. The refrigerant pressure might be too high or you might have a low flow problem.

There have been reports of a few newly installed Heat Pumps where Raypak needed to send out service under warranty to adjust the high pressure switch.

High Pressure Switch Lockout

If the high pressure switch opens, the control de-energizes the compressor output and the fan continues to run for 15 minutes after the HPS opened and the display will show “Hi Press Trip”.

If the high pressure switch trips 7 times in a single cycle, the display will show “Hi Press Lockout” and the unit will be locked out of operation for 4 hours.

The unit will automatically reset after 4 hours or the lockout can be manually reset by pressing the MENU button or cycling the power.

The high pressure switch must close for 3 seconds for the control to recognize it as closed.

Heater Hits Max Temperature before Actual Temperature

When automation is controlling the heater the automation temperature and the Raypak heater temperature can be different and the heater can hit its maximum temperature while the water is not yet to that temperature.

The default maximum temperature for the pool and spa can be raised.

See page 28 of the Raypak INSTALLATION AND OPERATION MANUAL

Spa Max Temp – Spa Setpoint Maximum Adjustment

Refer to step one on page 28 to access the program screen. Press the MODE button until SPA MAX TEMP appears on the digital display. Using the UP and DOWN buttons will change the Maximum Temperature Setting to your desired value. The control can be set for a maximum of 107°F (42°C).

Pool Max Temp – Pool Setpoint Maximum Adjustment

Refer to step one on page 28 to access into the program screen. Press the MODE button until POOL MAX TEMP appears on the digital display. Using the UP and DOWN buttons will change the Maximum Temperature Setting to your desired value. The control can be set for a maximum of 107°F (42°C).

Altitude Adjustments

Air is thinner and less dense as the altitude increases. A natural gas or propane heater needs an optimum mixture of air and gas. If the air/gas mixture is incorrect you will have an orange yellow flame instead of a good blue flame.

At higher latitudes the gas needs to be adjusted for the proper air/gas mixture.

• The Raypak Standard Digital is good to 2,000 feet.
• The Raypak Digital low NOx is good to 5,000 feet.

Atmospheric heaters: Rated inputs are suitable for up to 2,000 feet elevation. For elevations above 2000 feet, reduce gas input 4% for each 1,000 feet above sea level, as high elevation reduces combustion performance.

Lo NOx heaters: Rated inputs are suitable for up to 5,000 feet elevation. For elevations above 5000 feet, consult the factory.

Rollout Switch Failures

If high winds are blowing out the rollout switch consider installing the Raypak Outdoor (High Wind) Stack for Gas Fired Heaters. You can find a YouTube video on the installation.