DesertRat77

Editing this 1 year update response to delete my content, false alarm we restarted & everything is fine.

I did it! We installed the new spa pack in a day last week. Install was short & sweet, other than reconfiguring the beastly incoming electrical wires a bit. Everything is running great now, thanks again to everyone's help! I don't think I need to call the spa place here ever again 🙂

Yeah, scratching that idea.

My system is apparently "ozone ready" (2017) but I'll go confirm the little plugged spout area coming off the water line tomorrow before I order. And I'll see what kind of cords I have first. Man every time I think I'm ready to order I find something else I need to check. I've learned so much now though, no more spa techs coming here, it's on!

Thanks @chrispomeroy I'm going to bite the bullet and order it and add an ozonator while I'm at it. Did you order cords too or can you re-use existing cords?

Scratch that, I do not want a blower. Another thing that will break. So yeah, basic setup with a 2-speed pump & LED lights. Here's our topside - button for the nonexistent blower is on the rt.

Oh this is very helpful. Posted my last comment before I knew about your post. My spa currently has 1 pump with 2 settings (low/hi) and color changing LED lights (can't stand, never use). I would love to upgrade to include a blower - I know "turbo mode" (assuming blower?) was an optional item on the original Beachcomber spa model I have which they did not include. I know the one with "turbo" is an entire different board/pack so its probably a can of worms I shouldn't worry about.

I have now discovered the bottom corner of the Balboa board is labeled VS500Z. I believe that board has now been discontinued. I wonder if the 2 replacement boards I got were part of the discontinued lots. So it seems like I should be able to get a spa kit which would replace the VS500Z & not worry about any Beachcomber branding. But some sites say the VS500Z board has been replaced by the VS501Z so I was going to order a spa pack based on the VS501Z but other sites say the 2 parts are not compatible. I worry if I order anything else labeled VS500Z it will end up melting again.

Hi again. Last question I promise! My board is labeled model VS612 and for the life of me I can't find any spa packs that say they're compatible, they all say VS500 series etc. I can't find any reference anywhere on Balboa's site or elsewhere about the VS600 series. Mine says part number 55263-03 which I also can't find a reference to. Am I safe ordering the afore-linked "Balboa BP7 5.5kW Spa Control Kit"? Any upgrades I can/should make while I'm at it? (I should mention the only places online where I can find references to the Balboa VS612 board are posts & reviews about it burning & melting 😂)

Ok thank you. Yes it was the same tech both times. There's only 1 spa place within an hour of the tiny town I live in & he was their guy. I'm not even sure he's still there since it's been 1-2 years. I can call a place in a the city an hour away & pay a surcharge for them to come out here or I can DIY it. A little intimidating to DIY though so maybe I'll try to find another place. Edit: I see a spa pack comes with the board as well so I'll order one today. Thank you all so so much for all the help, I was really lost on this & you helped me narrow down what it could be so it hopefully never happens again. 🙂

@chrispomeroy I didn't see any evidence of water or drips inside, everything was covered with an even light layer of dust. The dust in our area definitely has some iron so I suppose that could be possible. Its odd, most homes in our area are short term rentals (not ours) thus many have hot tubs but I feel like I'm the only person with these continuous isolated problems so I don't think its the environment. @CanadianSpaTech I'm not sure how to tell - would there be a discoloration outside or do I need to take it apart to see? I contacted the spa store here but no word back yet.

Ok thank you - so just to make sure, this isn't a situation where running the dryer and the spa at the same time would cause issues? Anything anyone sees on any of my setups that should cause boards to fry? Is it possible I keep getting defective boards?

Hi, thanks for your patience everyone. We confirmed it is the one on the left labeled "Dryer Spa Dryer" - turns the power to the spa breaker box off and also the dryer. No idea why they are tied together like that. I tested the power going into the spa breaker box with the spa/dryer switches turned off, then on. I have 119v coming in at each of the 2 black wires under the GFCI with those switches on & nothing with them off.

I'm going to have to get those eggs ((shudder!)). I can try to label them tomorrow to figure out what is what. Its long overdue. I found the original photos of the main panel from our home inspection when we bought in 2018 (below). So the "spa" on the right is original and the "spa/dryer" on the left has since been added - not my handwriting. I'd bet a million dollars my HVAC guy changed some things around in there when he installed the central A/C as it seems like that would require an equivalent power draw. Maybe I should call an electrician again. But let me know what to check with my multimeter & I'll do it. Thanks so much for all the help.