Garrett S

Thanks for the reply! If the low speed motor is not wired the fuse does not blow. I do show juice through common, and I'm pretty sure I did through hi/low also (not sure how long the pack takes to energize low for circulation?). But the LED panel failed to come on, which was clearly an issue (it shouldn't be affected by the disconnected motor I imagine). I definitely thought maybe I mis-wired the motor, but I triple-checked it. And I built a pig-tail to test it and the motor runs great. I do see some burns where the arcing occurred, so I'm afraid the board traces at the bottom may be melted. I may end up calling the dealer at this point -- but to expand on Dr. Spa's analogy -- I often find car dealers/mechanics are overpriced and often push unnecessary addons/fixes for profit margin on unsuspecting consumers. That's why my cars rarely (and my motorcycles never) see a dealer. Maybe spa dealers and service techs are different, I don't know.

Wow, thanks for the non-answer. The pump was off the motor when I tested it. A fully functioning motor should not blow fuses. Is anyone a little more enlightened here?

So we're relaxing in the tub a couple weeks back, and after awhile the low-speed pump just stops. It's only 18 months old (the pump), but I figure, "must have been a lemon". All lights on the control panel function normally, just no motor action (high speed worked fine). So I had been through this drill before, and assumed the motor was fried. To save a few bucks I bought a new 2.5HP 48-frame from Spa Depot -- just the motor, since the pump was pretty new. Put the new pump in and got the exact same behavior (control panel fine, no motor). Now this is were it gets weird - I turn off the disconnect and came back a little later -- I then turn it back on and hear a "pop". It blew the 30 amp fuse to the low-speed pump on the control pack. Stupid me tries another fuse (without having a root cause) and it stays on long enough for me to walk back to the control pack when it pops again and I see some nice arcing fireworks. So... now I am thinking that the new pump has a short in it (because the old one at least wasn't smoking $5 fuses) -- so I decided to dry-test the new motor. And here's the real fun -- the motor works perfectly fine. Ran it on low speed and high speed. Stopped, started multiple times. Working like a champ. So what the heck is going on? Is my control pack shot? Did it stop working but then decide to short out for good measure? Oh, and I powered up the control pack without the low speed pump connected -- the display no longer is working (fried maybe?), but the fuse isn't blowing and there is clearly 240V at the low speed pump connectors. I'm thinking my only option at this point is a new control pack -- but that's like a $500 gamble. Or call in the pros for double the cost. But really, what else could POSSIBLY be wrong here? If you made it this far in my saga and have an idea, help would be appreciated! thanks! Garrett

Looks like the new capacitor totally exploded. I guess there is a short in this motor (small chance this new capacitor was also defective). http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/K5Ej5j3YgD_t6Q7UpLwra4YFWaCMYqPJjRbcALX9VH4?feat=directlink I'm ordering a pump from Spa Depot -- any luck with these guys?

wow, so the tub has been running perfectly for a week. Soak for about 90 minutes today and then the motor starts the same humming routine -- I wonder if there is a short in the motor and the brand new capacitor has now blown out after a week? Looks like I'm finding a new motor, in any case :-(

It took stopping at 5 electrical supply houses/appliance part stores to find it -- but I found my 53-64MFD capacitor for $3.52 and now my tub is happy again! thanks for everyones help.

I swapped the capacitor accessible on the top between the low-speed and the high-speed motors. The high-speed continued to work (on the suspect capacitor) and the low-speed still hummed. So I went ahead and pulled the pump out completely -- what I did find is that there is a *second* capacitor hiding under the ventilation shroud -- and it looked like it had partially exploded! My hope is that this is all that is wrong. Looks like about a $10 part, so well worth the gamble.

thanks - I just swapped the capacitors and that motor still doesn't work. Looks like I'm searching for a new one. Has anyone used Spa Depot? They have a 3HP 48 frame for $234 shipped. Seems like a good deal, but won't be if it burns up in 6 months!

I have a 3-yr old Caldera that I bought used this summer. After about a month of use, the low-speed stopped working (the motor would just hum), eventually tripping the breaker. The high-speed worked fine. I could recycle the breaker and things would be fine, sometimes for a month or more. But at this point, I'm thinking the motor is shot. I've tried tapping it with a hammer as well as turning the shaft. My best guess is that I'm looking at a new one. So... if that's the case, I'd love to find one on-line or locally and do the install myself. I'm pretty technical and it looks very straightfoward. However, I'm having zero luck finding a match online -- does anyone have any specific sites or dealers they would recommend? The part number on the Watkins pump (0982601) doesn't come up on any sites I've seen. Any help would be appreciated! Here's the pump tag: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZwwBGS8BtmTAp40F4wnJCNs90yQzuSRGr1BOy6qi4Kw?feat=directlink and the tub tag: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tS2m7BDYSOij5UmuGGaPE9s90yQzuSRGr1BOy6qi4Kw?feat=directlink thanks in advance -- and if this has been answered before I apologize. I used the search extensively and didn't find much to help. Garrett