Gregh

I stumbled across this forum after getting a 2006 Hot Springs Vanguard tub from a neighbor. After installing the tub, the heater relay board went out on it. I read the many posts online and saw the frustration that many are having with these boards. I have researched the Watkins IQ2020 heater relay board failure issue and would like to share a possible fix for some having this same problem. I want to start by saying I am just a homeowner and not a hot tub expert by any means. Take what I share with this in mind and feel free to verify what I post. Here is a little background on the boards from what I found in my research. All of this is from what others have put online and from several people I have talked to regarding the Watkins boards. The original board for my tub had three relays. I believe it was a 74618 board. This board was prone to overloading the circuits and it was common to see burning on the back of the board. The replacement board for my tub is the 77119 board. (This is the board that failed because the previous owner had replaced it a few months ago.) A common failure on the new board may be because of dirty or intermittent DC power. There is a chip (U1) on the upper right corner of the 77119 board that after repeated fluctuations in power will either turn off or lock out or whatever the term is. (Obviously I’m not an ET) There is no way to turn on or unlock this chip and the programming is proprietary and Watkins isn’t giving it out. Any attempt to access the data erases the chip and the board is useless. Replacing the chip is not an option because they are not programmed and you cannot get the program as explained above. Not plug and play. If you still have the 74618 board (or any older 3 relay board) there is a kit available on eBay with a higher rated set of three relays, and these new relays use jumper wires to protect the circuit from overload. (All of this is included in the kit) The chip that is susceptible to power fluctuations on the 77119 board is not on this board. The kit eliminates the two issues that most of you are seeing in these board failures. The kit is called the Bulletproof Kit and fits the Watkins IQ2020 Heater Relay Boards 73355, 74618 and 76071. The kit is available on eBay for 29.95 plus 5.00 shipping. I have attached the link below. I didn’t have the 74618 board that came with the tub. I talked to Steve who sells the Bulletproof Kits and he built a board that he had and sold it to me for 110.00. I installed the board and the tub is heating with no issues. The kit and boards are warranted for a year. I am willing to spend 35.00 or even 110.00 to see if this fix is viable instead of replacing a 150.00 board every six months or so. I told Steve I was making this post and asked if I could give his contact info and a link to his eBay site and he agreed. If you have any questions he is very willing to assist and would be a good resource for those who are having problems with these heater boards. I am not being compensated in any way for this referral. Good luck. I hope this helps some of you out. Steve 1+(434) 774-5242 bulletproofkit@yahoo.com Bulletproof Kit™ fits Watkins IQ2020 Heater Relay Board 73355,74618,76071. 77119 | eBay $29.95 Bulletproof Kit™ fits Watkins IQ2020 Heater Relay Board 73355,74618,7607... "Bulletproof" your Watkins IQ2020 relay board with this carefully designed relay kit. Usually, only the relays a...