Iq2020 - Hot Springs Grandee

[dbschaefer]

We just purchased a second-hand 2003 Grandee from a reputable "second-hand" dealer - 90 day warranty for parts. On Friday, I was running a clean cycle, got interrupted before I could put chemicals in, then went back and did another clean cycle and then went to check on it about 20 minutes later and smelled a "burnt" electrical smell. I turned everything off - thinking perhaps it was just hot. Turned everything back on a bit later and all OK until Saturday night when Hot tub was not heating. Took the panel off the next day and saw a burnt hole about the size of a quarter on the left side casing and terminals/wires inside were burnt and charred. Hot tub guy is trying to locate a new heater control panel today. I have a Bed and Breakfast and a house full of guests coming tonight. My question is what could have caused this in the first place. Is something not wired properly? Should I purchase a back-up panel to have around in case this happens again? Is it common? Is it something we can install ourselves? Help is much appreciated.

[Peteyboy]

There have been a few problems with those heater boards burning. It could be a power surge. On some repairs I just stop trying to figure out why. I haven't seen any problem with any new board I've installed.

[dbschaefer]

There have been a few problems with those heater boards burning. It could be a power surge. On some repairs I just stop trying to figure out why. I haven't seen any problem with any new board I've installed.

Thanks! The repair guy is here. Here is the siutation. I ran to the local HotSprings store and purchased a whole new board - $500 because the dealer said he didn't have a new part ordered so he scavanged a part (a 2001 heater control panel) . I have a 90 day warranty on parts. The spa dealer wants to replace the heater control portion only - even though the parts on the the rest of the board look charred. The service tech keeps tripping the breakers, currently he is trying to wire on the a "used" heater control board so the dealer doesn't have to pay for the one I just bought.

I am afraid if he puts on the new board and screws something up - that $500 board will be toast. On the other hand, I don not want a used part being put on when I am under warranty. I am afraid there is going to be a tussle.

The Hot Springs dealer told me these are very different from other kinds of boards and the installer needs to know what he is doing. The installer told me he is a certified "Hot Springs" guy and used to work for the company I bought the new part from - the local HS retailer.

What should i do at this point?

[lkneisler]

Thanks! The repair guy is here. Here is the siutation. I ran to the local HotSprings store and purchased a whole new board - $500 because the dealer said he didn't have a new part ordered so he scavanged a part (a 2001 heater control panel) . I have a 90 day warranty on parts. The spa dealer wants to replace the heater control portion only - even though the parts on the the rest of the board look charred. The service tech keeps tripping the breakers, currently he is trying to wire on the a "used" heater control board so the dealer doesn't have to pay for the one I just bought.

I am afraid if he puts on the new board and screws something up - that $500 board will be toast. On the other hand, I don not want a used part being put on when I am under warranty. I am afraid there is going to be a tussle.

The Hot Springs dealer told me these are very different from other kinds of boards and the installer needs to know what he is doing. The installer told me he is a certified "Hot Springs" guy and used to work for the company I bought the new part from - the local HS retailer.

What should i do at this point?

I don't understand what you just paid $500 for.

There are jumpers he may have needed to add or take off, depending on the voltage you're running vs. whatever the spa was running with that used board. Details are on the back of the control paned lid. But if he was a hot spring technician then he would have looked at that and it could be something else.

You can get a heater relay board online for $140 including tax and shipping.

If you're under warranty then the dealer should be sorting you out - or were you just in a hurry so called out whoever would come now?

[ps558]

Thanks! The repair guy is here. Here is the siutation. I ran to the local HotSprings store and purchased a whole new board - $500 because the dealer said he didn't have a new part ordered so he scavanged a part (a 2001 heater control panel) . I have a 90 day warranty on parts. The spa dealer wants to replace the heater control portion only - even though the parts on the the rest of the board look charred. The service tech keeps tripping the breakers, currently he is trying to wire on the a "used" heater control board so the dealer doesn't have to pay for the one I just bought.

I am afraid if he puts on the new board and screws something up - that $500 board will be toast. On the other hand, I don not want a used part being put on when I am under warranty. I am afraid there is going to be a tussle.

The Hot Springs dealer told me these are very different from other kinds of boards and the installer needs to know what he is doing. The installer told me he is a certified "Hot Springs" guy and used to work for the company I bought the new part from - the local HS retailer.

What should i do at this point?

I don't understand what you just paid $500 for.

There are jumpers he may have needed to add or take off, depending on the voltage you're running vs. whatever the spa was running with that used board. Details are on the back of the control paned lid. But if he was a hot spring technician then he would have looked at that and it could be something else.

You can get a heater relay board online for $140 including tax and shipping.

If you're under warranty then the dealer should be sorting you out - or were you just in a hurry so called out whoever would come now?

Yes there is jumpers installed on the terminal block were the wires go. All of them or some need to be removed

[dbschaefer]

Hi - Thank you. I know it sounds complicated. The dealer told me he wasn't sure he could get a part today so he pulled a used heater control board off of another hottub but it was from 2001. Because he could not guarantee that the part worked and admitted it was used, I decided to go get a part from the local retailer. Hot Springs retailer told me that we should replace the entire board - not just the heater control board - when they burn up like that. So I made the purchase of $500.00 for the entire control board and told the "used" dealer that I would pay the difference between what he would have paid for it wholesale by ordering it rather than me purchasing it through the retailer.

The used dealer sent out his service tech with orders to replace the heater control portion only, with the used one that was scavanged. I objected because the used part is older than the hottub itself. In the end, the "used" dealer agreed to pay me only for the "heater control portion" and I would pick up the difference. So, I paid $300 and he is picking up $200 and getting my old board because the service tech installed an entire new board. At any rate - I think the hot tub is working again but having just purchased this 45 days ago for $3900, it hurts a bit to add another $300 plus the cost of the labor - whatever that will be.

The tech told me to make sure the shed that the hot tub is in, is grounded - he felt the damage would have been caused by a power surge. Just after he left, sure enough, the lights in the house got brighter for a second and then dimmed back to normal. I hope it doesn't happen again!

The reason I needed the part today is that i have a house full of paying customers - this is a B&B. The reason I did not purchase a new hot tub after our Jacuzzi died is that I can't find a hottub company that would warranty usage in a non-residential setting, so why should I bother buying new if no warranty will apply anyway.

We have four guest rooms only, so they don't get that much use.

[Peteyboy]

Thanks! The repair guy is here. Here is the siutation. I ran to the local HotSprings store and purchased a whole new board - $500 because the dealer said he didn't have a new part ordered so he scavanged a part (a 2001 heater control panel) . I have a 90 day warranty on parts. The spa dealer wants to replace the heater control portion only - even though the parts on the the rest of the board look charred. The service tech keeps tripping the breakers, currently he is trying to wire on the a "used" heater control board so the dealer doesn't have to pay for the one I just bought.

I am afraid if he puts on the new board and screws something up - that $500 board will be toast. On the other hand, I don not want a used part being put on when I am under warranty. I am afraid there is going to be a tussle.

The Hot Springs dealer told me these are very different from other kinds of boards and the installer needs to know what he is doing. The installer told me he is a certified "Hot Springs" guy and used to work for the company I bought the new part from - the local HS retailer.

What should i do at this point?

I don't understand what you just paid $500 for.

There are jumpers he may have needed to add or take off, depending on the voltage you're running vs. whatever the spa was running with that used board. Details are on the back of the control paned lid. But if he was a hot spring technician then he would have looked at that and it could be something else.

You can get a heater relay board online for $140 including tax and shipping.

If you're under warranty then the dealer should be sorting you out - or were you just in a hurry so called out whoever would come now?

I agree. If you have a 90 day warranty, you have a 90 day warranty.

The previous poster is correct, if they do not change the power jumpers it will cause tripping.

This guy may be trying the used board because he can't figure out the tripping breaker. He needs to remove both of the power jumpers.

I would be surprised if the main board is fried. It may be soot from the other board.

You should have a 1 year warranty on parts BOUGHT, and this is from the manufacturer. You shouldn't have had to pay for those parts - you are under warranty.

Is he only replacing the heater board? Those aren't $500.

[dbschaefer]

He Only wanted to to replace the heater control board - but I wanted him to replace the entire circuit board because the HotSprings retailer advised us to do that. He told me it is HotSprings recommendation to replace the whole board when the heater control boards burn up.

So in the end, I paid the difference between the cost of the heater control board and the entire board because the "used" dealer agreed to pay only for a new heater control board.

My husband recalls asking the original installer about a burnt terminal wire in the panel but the comment was dismissed, he was told it was fine.

[lkneisler]

Hi - Thank you. I know it sounds complicated. The dealer told me he wasn't sure he could get a part today so he pulled a used heater control board off of another hottub but it was from 2001. Because he could not guarantee that the part worked and admitted it was used, I decided to go get a part from the local retailer. Hot Springs retailer told me that we should replace the entire board - not just the heater control board - when they burn up like that. So I made the purchase of $500.00 for the entire control board and told the "used" dealer that I would pay the difference between what he would have paid for it wholesale by ordering it rather than me purchasing it through the retailer.

The used dealer sent out his service tech with orders to replace the heater control portion only, with the used one that was scavanged. I objected because the used part is older than the hottub itself. In the end, the "used" dealer agreed to pay me only for the "heater control portion" and I would pick up the difference. So, I paid $300 and he is picking up $200 and getting my old board because the service tech installed an entire new board. At any rate - I think the hot tub is working again but having just purchased this 45 days ago for $3900, it hurts a bit to add another $300 plus the cost of the labor - whatever that will be.

The tech told me to make sure the shed that the hot tub is in, is grounded - he felt the damage would have been caused by a power surge. Just after he left, sure enough, the lights in the house got brighter for a second and then dimmed back to normal. I hope it doesn't happen again!

The reason I needed the part today is that i have a house full of paying customers - this is a B&B. The reason I did not purchase a new hot tub after our Jacuzzi died is that I can't find a hottub company that would warranty usage in a non-residential setting, so why should I bother buying new if no warranty will apply anyway.

We have four guest rooms only, so they don't get that much use.

Thank your clarifying! That makes more sense of what happened and who's responsible.

Did you find out why the breakers were tripping when he was trying to install the used heater relay board?

Under the circumstances I would hope they're not charging you for labor. The whole thing sounds too close to call, if you know what I mean. The main board may or may not be bad and now there's no way to know.

Usually the main board is fine, but once in a great while it gets scrambled too. I've seen one that was totally black from soot of the heater relay board burning up. After it was cleaned up, it looked like everything should have worked but it just didn't and had to be replaced. "Used" dealer guy will find out later if/when he tries to use the board.

Sounds like you a run a really nice B&B and care about your guests. I hope everything is all smooth and good from here on out! Probably wouldn't hurt to ask an electrician about any power surge situation.

[lkneisler]

My husband recalls asking the original installer about a burnt terminal wire in the panel but the comment was dismissed, he was told it was fine.

What panel? The house panel, the disconnect box...??

[Dan.The.Spa.Man]

He Only wanted to to replace the heater control board - but I wanted him to replace the entire circuit board because the HotSprings retailer advised us to do that. He told me it is HotSprings recommendation to replace the whole board when the heater control boards burn up.

Whoever the retailer is that told you this is ripping you off. There is no reason to replace the whole IQ 2020 if the heater board is bad under normal circumstances. 99.5% of the time it is just the heater board.

[lkneisler]

He Only wanted to to replace the heater control board - but I wanted him to replace the entire circuit board because the HotSprings retailer advised us to do that. He told me it is HotSprings recommendation to replace the whole board when the heater control boards burn up.

Whoever the retailer is that told you this is ripping you off. There is no reason to replace the whole IQ 2020 if the heater board is bad under normal circumstances. 99.5% of the time it is just the heater board.

I also got the impression she was just sold the PC board, not the whole box, which is very odd.

[Yadkin]

He Only wanted to to replace the heater control board - but I wanted him to replace the entire circuit board because the HotSprings retailer advised us to do that. He told me it is HotSprings recommendation to replace the whole board when the heater control boards burn up.

Whoever the retailer is that told you this is ripping you off. There is no reason to replace the whole IQ 2020 if the heater board is bad under normal circumstances. 99.5% of the time it is just the heater board.

I agree the guy got ripped off. Hot Springs has had trouble with the heater relay frying at the connection to the circuit board. When mine fried the first time (three months after the warranty expired) I bought a new relay for about $2 and soldered it back in. That worked for three years and when I went to replace the relay again found that the burned area had affected an adjacent relay as well. I looked into it and found that they had redesigned the heater board to place the heater relay away from the others, ostensibly to beef up the connections.

[Peteyboy]

I just unwrapped a new Jetsetter at delivery and it looks like they have redesigned the heater board. The new ones will be the Blue board.