2009 Hotspring Jetsetter not heating

[heytat]

Thanks in advance.  I have a 2009 Hot Springs Jetsetter, Serial number JJ 1 L 1233 which is not heating.  I had recently refilled the tub after replacing the wallfitting for the light which was cracked.  Water had seeped into the mechanical compartment for the last few months.  The spa heated fine prior to being drained. 

I have the spa wired for 240V and have ran it that way for 6 years with no problems.  When I power up the spa I get the green light on the circuit board for Spa on, and the red light for heater on.  I pulled the black and white wires (after powering down) and got 120 across them, which seems low.

I puller the heater relay board and the relays do not show any blackening or signs of being burned out.  I suspect the heater itself but wanted to try and get some evidence to back that up.  How and where do I test the heater to see if it is fried?

 

I have tried Justanswer and have gotten nothing there.

 

I have tried the search function here and google and have not gotten what I need.

 

Can anyone tell me what and how I should check next?

 

Thanks again.

 

Steve

Edited June 26, 2017 by heytat
Fixed typos

[Hot Spring Official]

Hi Steve, you'll want confirm you are getting 240V arriving at the block when testing across terminals #1 and #3 for the heater circuit. You will also need to confirm 240V at the heater leads (black and white) when the spa calls for heat.which is when you see the red HTR ON LED lit on the main board. HTR ON lit with incorrect voltage to the heater usually indicates a bad relay board p/n 77119.

[heytat]

Thank you Hot Tub Official.   I replaced the heater relay board today with a new one from backyardsplus.  I am still getting 240V between terminals 1 and 3 but I am getting 0 between the black and white wires going to the heater when they are unplugged.  The HTR ON light is red so the power should be flowing through, but it isnt.  Ive tested the resistance between the black and white wires going to the heater and it is 9.6 ohms which is within limits.  Are there any other tests I can do to the heater to see if it is bad?

 

What position should the jumper on the new heater relay board be in that says 12V or 18V at the top left of the heater relay board?

 

Im attaching a photo of the main board.  Is this yellow stuff normal or is it melted?

 

If my problem isnt the heater and it isnt the heater relay board and the main board is saying HTR ON then what else could it be?

 

Thanks again

 

 

[heytat]

OK so this morning I hot wired the heater by connecting the black to red and white to 10AWG Blue.  Heater works fine.

When I test from H1 to H2 with either the old or new Heater Relay Board I get about 12V, not the 240V I should get.

I suspect something in the mother board by process of elimination.  Im concerned about that yellow "goop" around that one component in the attached picture. 

Am I correct in assuming that since the red HTR ON light comes on it means all the Thermistors and other sensors are giving the correct signal?  Or should I test or replace those components too?

 

Any help would be awesome.

 

Thanks

[heytat]

I suspect the mother board isnt actually sending the signal to the relay board to turn on the realys, even though the red HTR ON light is on.   Where on the mother board or heater relay board can I test to confirm the signal is being sent to the relays?

 

Thanks and happy almost 4th....just wish I could be soaking.....

[heytat]

Man, I really could use some help here.   I thought I was in luck when Hot Spring Official responded, but I havent been able to get another response from him.   I just replaced the Mother Board as well as the heater relay board with still no heat coming from the heater.   As I said above, the heater tests fine (9.6 ohms) and it heats the water when I wired it direct to 240.   But when I test across the black to white when HTR ON is lit up red, I get like 12-13 volts instead of 240V.   What is going on????

 

Im at a loss.   do I order a new heater?  Every part Ive thrown at it hasnt had any effect.

 

Help.

 

Please.

[Dan.The.Spa.Man]

Inspect the ribbon cable going from the control head to the board.  Sometimes mice can chew threw one of the several wires in the cable and cause this.

[heytat]

Holy mother of god!  That ribbon cable was chewed all to hell.   You couldnt see it unless you pull the control head out.   I ordered a new one and am cautiously optimistic.

 

Thank you Dan!   If this works I will buy you a beer!

[Dan.The.Spa.Man]

I like beer.  lol.  That should do it then if the old one was chewed.  You should be good for a while then with all of the new parts.