This problem has been plaguing me for 15 years. Three years ago, we moved homes into one which had a hottub already, probably from late 2000s. It has a Balboa controller, VS series, model VS501Z. As we use Metric outside of the U.S., I was looking into how to change the temperature unit. There is a dip switch #8 that goes from F to C. I don't recall how I discovered this, but ...
While the hottub is powered, I open the heater unit, switch the #8 switch to F, then adjust the temperature up and down a few times. Then I switch to C, and increase the temperature. It lets you get beyond the 40C/104F limit. Namely, I can increase it to 41 or 42, which I find more comfortable. This must be a bug in the firmware, or an intentional back door to someone who likes Celcius!
Unfortunately, you need to repeat the above procedure each time you have a power failure or if you change the temperature below 40C. When restarted in C, the limit of 40 applies. Over the past three years, I've done this on average twice a year.
I guess one could make this a more permanement solution by mounting a switch on the side of the tub. But it only takes a few minutes so I havent bothered.
I hope it is obvious to the reader that opening a live electrical panel with 240V is not recommended. You could die. But if you are successful, you will enjoy a hottub with an accurate reading (versus the resistor approach, which I've successfully employed on other tubs), and the much more pleasant hot water.
Override 104' High Limit Hot Tub Is Luke Warm
in Portable Hot Tubs & Spas
Posted
Hi folks,
Solution!
This problem has been plaguing me for 15 years. Three years ago, we moved homes into one which had a hottub already, probably from late 2000s. It has a Balboa controller, VS series, model VS501Z. As we use Metric outside of the U.S., I was looking into how to change the temperature unit. There is a dip switch #8 that goes from F to C. I don't recall how I discovered this, but ...
While the hottub is powered, I open the heater unit, switch the #8 switch to F, then adjust the temperature up and down a few times. Then I switch to C, and increase the temperature. It lets you get beyond the 40C/104F limit. Namely, I can increase it to 41 or 42, which I find more comfortable. This must be a bug in the firmware, or an intentional back door to someone who likes Celcius!
Unfortunately, you need to repeat the above procedure each time you have a power failure or if you change the temperature below 40C. When restarted in C, the limit of 40 applies. Over the past three years, I've done this on average twice a year.
I guess one could make this a more permanement solution by mounting a switch on the side of the tub. But it only takes a few minutes so I havent bothered.
I hope it is obvious to the reader that opening a live electrical panel with 240V is not recommended. You could die. But if you are successful, you will enjoy a hottub with an accurate reading (versus the resistor approach, which I've successfully employed on other tubs), and the much more pleasant hot water.