Tripping Breaker - Gecko In.xm1 (Morgan Spa)

[reharbert]

First post here, and I'm looking for some help. I'm active on several forums related to other hobbies, but this is a new acquisition for me and I could use some assistance. I've downloaded both the service manual and owners manual, and neither shed light to my problem.

I just purchased a new house, and it came with a Morgan Spa. They owners said it worked, but there was a leak in filter housing that needed repaired. It turned out to be a missing gasket.

I turned on the breaker to power up the unit for the first time, and it tripped the breaker. I opened the panel to access the control unit. It's a Gecko IN.XM1. I unplugged every cable leaving the unit. Nothing is attached to the control unit.

I turned the breaker on and it tripped. I disconnected all of the supply wiring from the Gecko IN.XM and reset the breaker. Powered it up, and nothing tripped - I know its not a feed issue. I hooked the feed back up to the Gecko, and reset the breaker. Turned it on - and tripped.

I pulled the control unit out of the spa and brought it inside. I opened it up. There were some ants, but nothing extreme. I check continuity between all legs. Line 1, Line 2, Neutral, Ground. There was continuity between line 1 and 2, but nothing between the legs and the neutral/ground.

My questions are:

1) - I'm not sure if it would be reading through the coils of a small transformer or anything else, but should there be continuity between lines 1 and 2 on the control unit?

2) - I fear that the control unit is bad. What else should I look for to confirm this?

3) - If its bad, is there a preferred place to order? There are no Morgan Spa dealers near me. The only Spa company within 60+ miles sells Hot-springs and Fantasy Spas,and didn't express interest in coming to look at it.

Thank you guys very much!

Robert

Beaumont, Texas

[Dr. Spa]

" There was continuity between line 1 and 2, but nothing between the legs and the neutral/ground."

Yeah, removed from the spa and empty of water, it would NEVER show the short.

Most likely you have a bad heating element.

[reharbert]

I have the control unit completely removed from the the spa and am reading continuity between 1 and 2, so the heating element doesn't come into play.

There is a transformer that it could be reading through.

I called Morgan Spa today and they referred me to a mom and pop shop local to me. I scheduled them to come out next week. In the mean time, I ordered a replacement Gecko unit for around 400 dollars. If I can't get this one fixed, I don't want to be waiting on the new one to arrive. If I resolve it, I'll send it back.

Still open to suggestions!

[Dr. Spa]

"I have the control unit completely removed from the the spa and am reading continuity between 1 and 2, so the heating element doesn't come into play."

This is not correct. Sorry, not even close, as the two have almost nothing in common. Not only is it possible, but in most cases normal, for a heater element to have the correct amount of resistance (ohm reading), but STILL short out to the water, causing the GFCI to trip. Once the remove water as a factor, the GFI wont trip.

Having continuity between 1 and 2 is also completely normal and really doesn't tell you much. There's a transformer in the system and as long as the line side of it is intact, this will give you a continuity reading.

[reharbert]

I sincerely appreciate your advice, I do. I think we have a disconnect in communication, and I may not be using the correct terms.

What I am referring to as a “control unit” is the Gecko IN.XM1 that everything else plugs into. I disconnected everything (heater included) - and the breaker still trips. That would make my statement of “the heating element doesn’t come into play” true, wouldn’t it? The breaker still trips with the heater not plugged into the control unit.

I understand what you mean by line 1 and 2 not having anything in common. I also understand how a transformer works. However, I wasn’t sure how it was hooked up in this instance. I could not remove the circuit board from the housing without drilling rivets or breaking plastic tabs.

In short, I have the Gecko (http://www.geckoalliance.com/lib/images/produits/fProd_xm_produit.png) connected to supply power. Nothing is plugged in. It is not even in the spa, it is removed. Turn on the breaker and it trips.

[reharbert]

Someone gave me some insight last night that may go with what you were trying to explain to me.

Even if the heater and everything is unplugged, is the control unit still looking for a signal that there is water in the hot tub? I would still think it would power up and not immediately trip the breaker. This person was telling me I need to plug everything back in, and fill the tub. Then try to reset the breaker.

[reharbert]

Filled tub, power up. Still trips. Waiting on new control unit. Might try changing GFCI breaker to see if that's the problem.

[Leeo]

What was the fix? I am having the same issue. 

[mohsdavid@yahoo.com]

What did you find out?

I am having this exact issue.

[Guidofz]

I have IN.XM1 controller. It keeps coming up with Pump 1 error. This is a 2 speed pump. I unplugged the pump and only measured 100volts at the output . Should it be around 230v? And would that prove the control unit is faulty?