Jets Go On For 30 Seconds Then Stop

[npanhuyzen]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the site, I'm hoping someone here can help me.

I have an older hot tub (model information below) that last season worked okay but now I have this problem. When I first turn on the external power (from a 60A breaker) the hot tub jets will come on when I push the switch. However, they only run for about 30 seconds and then shut off. I can still here the blower and the heater is working but the jets will not come back on unless I cycle power again.

I had this looked at by a local spa shop and the technician they sent out thought it was a pressure switch that was stuck open (or closed). He said this switch tells the Spa kit whether or not there is water in the tub. Since it is an older unit he said he couldn't find a replacement switch so he suggested to replace the whole spa kit ($900 estimate).

I'm wondering if this diagnosis sounds accurate and if there is a way to "hotwire" the pressure switch so it always thinks there is water in the tub and then I'll just need to ensure that is true when I turn on the jets. How would I go about this and where would this pressure switch be located?

Thanks!

Oh, here's the model info that I got off the sticker on the spa unit.

SpaBuilders

Product: 3-70-0010

Model: AP-1

Serial No: 960311021

Volts: 110/220

Amps: 20/50

Hertz: 60

[Spa_Guru]

Pressure switches should never be hotwired, that will always end badly, I'm not convinced iut is a pressure switch, but if it is, they are about $35 and anything with a 1/8" pipe thread end will work, the two wires are interchangable.

http://www.bwspaparts.com/servlet/the-314/Tecmark-3925-Universal-Spa/Detail?thissku=A456&site=www.shopzilla.com

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/310Sf8L%2BXLL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Install it using teflon tape on the threads.

http://images.bizrate.com/resize?sq=140&uid=1980837531

[npanhuyzen]

Thanks! I spotted what looked like exactly that part.

I need to add some info to my post. The jets will work for another 30 seconds after I wait about 15-20 minutes without cycling power. Could this be an overheating condition?

If you're not convinced it's the switch, what else could cause such a problem?

[Spa_Guru]

You could have a 220 volt spa wired 110v, and the pump is overheating, does it feel hot?

[ed3553]

It sounds like the thermal cutoff switch is tripping. This would cause the pump to shut off after a short time of operation. After the pump (Motor) cools down enough it will reset itself and start up again. It will keep repeating this process. Verify the correct wiring for the spa. If that is correct verify the proper voltage is going to the motor. When the motor stops working check to see if you still have voltage to it. If you do then you have a bad motor.

[npanhuyzen]

Are there two pumps? It's circulating the water okay, and that pump is spinning contstantly (it's not hot either). I think now that is the blower coming on, not the jets. Does that make any sense? Also the pressure switch is closed (checked contacts with an ohmmeter).

I only see the blower and that one pump, is there a dedicated jet pump? The spa is built into a deck so my access is very limited.

[ed3553]

Are there two pumps? It's circulating the water okay, and that pump is spinning contstantly (it's not hot either). I think now that is the blower coming on, not the jets. Does that make any sense? Also the pressure switch is closed (checked contacts with an ohmmeter).

I only see the blower and that one pump, is there a dedicated jet pump? The spa is built into a deck so my access is very limited.

It depends on the model. Easy way to tell how many pump there are is look at the spa pack and see how many cords plug into it. If you could take a photo of the spa pack and post it that would help.

[Spa_Guru]

OK, I recall now, what older Balboa systems used to do is kick on the blower for 30 seconds right after they were powered up, and it will also kick on for 30 seconds every 12 hours to flush the blower system, as it is not part of the regular cuirculation/filtration system, this prevents water mold growth in this area.

The water pump won't come on for a little bit after that.

[npanhuyzen]

Okay, I attached some pictures. Its very cramped under there. I found the main jet pump and traced the wires back to the spa kit. I don't understand why that pump seems to be wired into the Blower switch and why the Blower is wired into the Jets switch. It never used to operate like that so probably the guy that came out to try to fix it swapped it around to see if it was a switch problem. I guess that explains why the blower comes on when I push the jets button.

Anyway, I pulled the pump HOT lead off of Terminal B (see photo) and measured the voltage, weird, its only 6.5V with the switch in one position (not sure which) and about 4.5V with it in the other position. Terminal A (to the light) was hot with 120V so I moved the pump connector up to that Terminal but the jets still didn't come on. This leads me to believe the pump is bad, but still doesn't explain why I only get very low voltages at the other Terminal.

Any ideas?

Also, in the other labelled photo, what is that big silver thing that runs along the top of the spa pack? It had a wire lead that was not connected to anything.

Here's some pics of the spa pack itself:

[n1oty]

Okay, I attached some pictures. Its very cramped under there. I found the main jet pump and traced the wires back to the spa kit. I don't understand why that pump seems to be wired into the Blower switch and why the Blower is wired into the Jets switch. It never used to operate like that so probably the guy that came out to try to fix it swapped it around to see if it was a switch problem. I guess that explains why the blower comes on when I push the jets button.

Anyway, I pulled the pump HOT lead off of Terminal B (see photo) and measured the voltage, weird, its only 6.5V with the switch in one position (not sure which) and about 4.5V with it in the other position. Terminal A (to the light) was hot with 120V so I moved the pump connector up to that Terminal but the jets still didn't come on. This leads me to believe the pump is bad, but still doesn't explain why I only get very low voltages at the other Terminal.

Any ideas?

Also, in the other labelled photo, what is that big silver thing that runs along the top of the spa pack? It had a wire lead that was not connected to anything.

Here's some pics of the spa pack itself:

Looks like Spa Builders version of one of the old Len Gordon packs. Key question: What's the voltage coming into the Common terminal of the relays and are the relays actually switching between NO and NC??

John

[npanhuyzen]

Hi there, it's been a while since I worked on the tub. Of course, it's still not working. Here's what I tried today.

I disconnected the jet motor hot lead from the air switch terminal and applied 110V directly to the lead. Once the GFI was reset it immediately tripped.

I checked the voltage coming off the air switch terminal and found that with the jet switch on the voltage was about 40V, with it off it was around 3V. These are totally different values than I got last year.

I'm not sure if this thing is wired up correctly since it looked like the service guy I had come out last year was playing around and didn't put things back the way they were.

Oh I don't hear any relays switching. How exactly would I check that (what's NO and NC? Sorry!)

Any more ideas?

Thanks.

[SpaTechincian]

Okay, I attached some pictures. Its very cramped under there. I found the main jet pump and traced the wires back to the spa kit. I don't understand why that pump seems to be wired into the Blower switch and why the Blower is wired into the Jets switch. It never used to operate like that so probably the guy that came out to try to fix it swapped it around to see if it was a switch problem. I guess that explains why the blower comes on when I push the jets button.

Anyway, I pulled the pump HOT lead off of Terminal B (see photo) and measured the voltage, weird, its only 6.5V with the switch in one position (not sure which) and about 4.5V with it in the other position. Terminal A (to the light) was hot with 120V so I moved the pump connector up to that Terminal but the jets still didn't come on. This leads me to believe the pump is bad, but still doesn't explain why I only get very low voltages at the other Terminal.

Any ideas?

Also, in the other labelled photo, what is that big silver thing that runs along the top of the spa pack? It had a wire lead that was not connected to anything.

Here's some pics of the spa pack itself:

Looks like Spa Builders version of one of the old Len Gordon packs. Key question: What's the voltage coming into the Common terminal of the relays and are the relays actually switching between NO and NC??

John

The silver thing above your pack is your ozonator by the looks of it and the age of it I would say its dead.

When your pump turns on for those 30 seconds does the heater light come on? When the pump turns off does the light stay on or off? That little red light is connected to your heater.

If your technician is saying that it’s the pressure switch and that the whole pack has to be replaced that seems very fishy to me. If it is the pressure switch its only $35 part and are very accessible. Maybe try another tech from another company.

[npanhuyzen]

I made a mistake thinking it was the jets coming on, its actually just the blower. The tech that came out swapped the Jets and Blower switches while trying to troubleshoot. But the heater does work and heats the water just fine. Just no jet action. I thought what he said was pretty fishy too, I won't be calling him back.