Jaws1965 Posted April 24, 2018 Report Share Posted April 24, 2018 The heater went out (0 Ohms) on my Hotspring Sovereign with 110V/1.5 kW Watkins 31255 4" flange mounted elem.ent. These elements are no longer available and I'm having no luck finding old stock. Anyone found a way to retrofit another heater? Thermcore has some flange mounted elements that are similar but I'm not sure the electronics would match up. This is a low flow setup; 1/2" fittings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cusser Posted April 25, 2018 Report Share Posted April 25, 2018 If it was mine, and new elements were no longer available or real expensive, I think I'd make a square block off plate and make a hole in the center so I could use a standard bolt-in or screw-in water heater element from the hardware store. Even the steel square plate from your old element might be able to be used for this. My 1988 CalSpa did not have a great set-up for the screw-in element as purchased, I had to modify that to enable easier element changes. Be innovative !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mordan1 Posted July 22, 2018 Report Share Posted July 22, 2018 I’m in the same predicament! Replaced my circulation pump and a relay, spent some real money. Found my heater element is gone as well. All due to a nasty winter storm back in February. So what did you do? I hope there is a solution, need my hot tub! My bones are creaking! dan 978-499-0562 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbohd1 Posted November 7, 2018 Report Share Posted November 7, 2018 I had the same problem I replaced the 31255 element in my sovereign hottub about 7 years ago called the dealer I bought it from who told me they were a discontinued item and I would have to buy a $350 replacement heater element. I went on amazon and found this replacement flange heater for $49.99 installed it and now my hottub is heating again , hope this helps .it won’t let me upload the picture of the heater here for some reason ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaltyDawg Posted November 10, 2018 Report Share Posted November 10, 2018 Howdy Turbohd1, I have a 1988 Classic that I have been maintaining for 30 years...and, the last of my OEM heat elements just went out... I saw your post about finding a replacement flange mounted heater element at Amazon... Do you have the part #? Thanks in advance... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Warner Posted March 4, 2019 Report Share Posted March 4, 2019 I'm in the same boat, trying to figure out what I'd have to do to the original square plate on my dead element so I could just screw in a replacement standard water heater element. I've been looking at the Twowings 4546 ERE Foldback Water Heater Element on amazon ($20), seems to be the same 1500w, 120v. I think what I'm reading is that it would require a "1 inch pipe thread" to screw the element in place. I'm not sure about trying to tap threads in the old metal square plate or just drill a slightly larger hole and then use a 1" nut and gasket of some kind on the other side of the plate. Anyone have ideas? Have you already done something like this? Thanks, Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Warner Posted March 4, 2019 Report Share Posted March 4, 2019 I'm now considering using a newer No-fault heater unit instead, such as the Watkins 73790. I think I can make the plumbing work, I would probably get the retro fit kit 71557 as it's about the same cost as two pressure bypasses. The electric connection shouldn't be a problem with the 120v connector. The only thing I'm worried about is the thermistor, the old 31255 based heater had a single un-shielded copper wire running to the control box. I believe the new ones are resistance based.... I don't know a way to make the two compatible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flipr Posted March 10, 2019 Report Share Posted March 10, 2019 I’m in the same boat except I have a Classic F model. I’ve done a impendence test on the heater and it is zero. Any ideas where I can get a 31255 element or workaround? Can anyone share what they did to get their tub going? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbohd1 Posted March 10, 2019 Report Share Posted March 10, 2019 Aqua line part number 876543001 amazon 5x5 flange heater need to drill the 4x4 holes to match the old heater , has a heat tube built in for the probe from the original setup seems to heat fine . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Warner Posted March 31, 2019 Report Share Posted March 31, 2019 I ended up retro fitting in this heater: https://www.spadepot.com/Universal-Vertical-Low-Flow-Spa-Heater-Assembly-P3184 Pretty expensive, but I'm glad to have a bit more modern heater in it and I didn't have to jury rig it very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDinKC Posted April 24, 2019 Report Share Posted April 24, 2019 I was in the same situation, with a 1994 Sovereign. The heating element went out and couldn’t find one anywhere. I had given up and after seeing this post, decided to try a different element. I wanted to get the exact specs for the original element and when I searched for it, I actually found someone who had them in stock! SpaPartNet.com https://www.spapartsnet.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=31255 Ordered one on Sunday, it shipped on Tuesday and will be here Friday! Get one while they’re still in stock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cjones Posted April 28, 2019 Report Share Posted April 28, 2019 JDinKC you are great! I have been looking everywhere to find a replacement for my heater! Thank you! Thank You! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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