Greenstafish03 Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 Hello I have a 2000 Hotsprings Grande that I've had for a long time. It has been wirking find until recently. The red light started blinking and it shut itself off. I cleaned the filters and reset the breakers like I've done many times in the past but after about 15 minutes it shuts off again. Seems to me that the high limit is tripping but Im not 100%. Ive checked the heateer with an ohn meter and it reads 10.2, i also checked from each power wire to the ground and they were open so that seems good. I replaced the circulation pump in 2016 and i know its running now but I can really test the flow that I know of. The thermostat and high limit sensors were replaced about the same time. Heater is the watkins no fault 6kw with green sticker. Ive checked wiring and all looks good. When i reset the breaker the heater comes on and i verified ~24v on the black and white wire going to the heater after the relay and before it goes into the heater bundle. All lights on the iq2000 looks good. Lim on green, htr on red. I think last time it had an issue i just replaced all parts so i want to test the sensors and pumo and anything else so i can replace only what is broken. Any additional troubleshooting steps would be appreciated. It snowed last night so i have to get this thing running todsy before it freezes. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 I assume that was a typo and you meant 240v going to the heater? You should see bubbles and water flow into the tub from a jet in the footwell. If you do not, you have a flow issue. 4 years is more than circulation pumps often last, depending on many factors, so how do you know it is working? Can you hear it running? Does it become hot to the touch? You said you cleaned the filters, but how old are they. Over time filters become clogged with contaminants deep in the filter fibers that do not wash out. Try removing the filters, making sure there is no debris in the water, and turn it on. If it heats, you need new filters. Could you have an air lock? Have you drained it lately? Had a low water level while running or installed filters when pump was running? Just a small air bubble in the circulation pump will cause it to not work. Try these first, if it still keeps acting up let us know and we can make more suggestions. These are easy to check and require no investment, so eliminate them first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 If the spa has Ozone I would start there. Disconnect everything but the circ pump and heater and work your way back. If the circ has flow and the filters are out and it trips disconnect the heater and try again with just the circ running and start plugging other components like the lights and pumps back in doing the heated last or until something else trips it along the way.Turn power off each time. Safety first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 Is it tripping the breaker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
castletonia Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 Just an FYI, IQ2000 is obsolete and would require you upgrade the electronics to IQ2020. When you say shuts off, do you mean trips the breaker? If not, make sure the circulation pump has good flow, remove the filters if necessary to verify. Make sure water level is high enough. If you can, try jumping the pressure switch to rule that out. Assuming the circulation pump is working normally, I would assume the IQ2000, a hi-limit sensor or heater, but I've never seen or dealt with electronics that old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenstafish03 Posted March 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 5 hours ago, RDspaguy said: I assume that was a typo and you meant 240v going to the heater? You should see bubbles and water flow into the tub from a jet in the footwell. If you do not, you have a flow issue. 4 years is more than circulation pumps often last, depending on many factors, so how do you know it is working? Can you hear it running? Does it become hot to the touch? You said you cleaned the filters, but how old are they. Over time filters become clogged with contaminants deep in the filter fibers that do not wash out. Try removing the filters, making sure there is no debris in the water, and turn it on. If it heats, you need new filters. Could you have an air lock? Have you drained it lately? Had a low water level while running or installed filters when pump was running? Just a small air bubble in the circulation pump will cause it to not work. Try these first, if it still keeps acting up let us know and we can make more suggestions. These are easy to check and require no investment, so eliminate them first. Thanks @RDspaguy. I actualy meant ~ 24A i was checking current. I could hear and see the circ pump running but it didnt seem to have great flow so i unhooked and and tested it into a bucket and it had good strong flow so I went and tested it through the heater and found a problem a couple actualy. The flow theough the heater was abysmal. It was so low I didnt even bother to calculate. Originaly this was just triping the heater switch and the tubs red light would start flashing, but the other day i noticed an issue in the subpanel the ground wires were nit attached to anything so I installed a ground bar and grounded them and since then the gfci was tripping. I took one of the leads off the heater at the board and tested current and it was pulling 6A Then tested and there was even current in the ground wire so not good. Decided the heater was definitely bad so we took it out and tore it apart to see what was going on and the coil side was almost totaly blocked with crud and when i got the tube off that protects the coil while end of the coil was split open. I think this is the cause of low flow that was causing the heater to overheat and then at some point the entire coil went bad causing a short as well. This is the Watkins no fault 6kw heater. Anyone have any tips for buying a replacement for a good price? I see ine in amazon for about $300. Are there other brands I can use or should I stick with the Watkins? Thanks for the other tips I did run it w/o the filters first and the issue occured before i drained it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenstafish03 Posted March 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 1 hour ago, castletonia said: Just an FYI, IQ2000 is obsolete and would require you upgrade the electronics to IQ2020. When you say shuts off, do you mean trips the breaker? If not, make sure the circulation pump has good flow, remove the filters if necessary to verify. Make sure water level is high enough. If you can, try jumping the pressure switch to rule that out. Assuming the circulation pump is working normally, I would assume the IQ2000, a hi-limit sensor or heater, but I've never seen or dealt with electronics that old. Ha you have never dealt w electronics that old. For the most part this thing has been a rock. Its worked well for many years. Ive replaced the circ pump, and heater sensors over the years but its always worked well so no reason to replace it. The IQ2000 actyally looks brand new still. I imagine if that goes one day that may be where I draw the line. Now I just have to keep it from freezing while i wait for a new heater to come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenstafish03 Posted March 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 2 hours ago, CanadianSpaTech said: If the spa has Ozone I would start there. Disconnect everything but the circ pump and heater and work your way back. If the circ has flow and the filters are out and it trips disconnect the heater and try again with just the circ running and start plugging other components like the lights and pumps back in doing the heated last or until something else trips it along the way.Turn power off each time. Safety first I removed the ozenator years ago. It leaked and i didnt see spending the money on a new one so i just took it out. Thanks 2 hours ago, RDspaguy said: Is it tripping the breaker? That is tricky. No then yes so if you see my other reply i explained it. Thanks for chiming in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted March 15, 2020 Report Share Posted March 15, 2020 12 minutes ago, Greenstafish03 said: Now I just have to keep it from freezing while i wait for a new heater to come in. You can place a small thermostatically controlled space heater in the equipment area if there is room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenstafish03 Posted March 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2020 53 minutes ago, CanadianSpaTech said: You can place a small thermostatically controlled space heater in the equipment area if there is room Hmmm that is a food idea but i dont have one of those that is thermostatically controlled. As of now i have a fish tank heater in it and i rerouted the circ pump so i can run it w/o the heater. Tonight wont get below freezing but later in the week will so I need to see how quick i can get the heater to my house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted March 16, 2020 Report Share Posted March 16, 2020 Put a small space heater or drop light with an old fashioned incandescent bulb in the equipment area and put the door back on. Glad you figured it out. Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hge Posted January 11, 2022 Report Share Posted January 11, 2022 Hey RDspaguy, Great Idea with the drop lamp. I have a new Circ pump ordered (for tom or Thurs) and hoping the lamp will keep tub safe for two more days. Temp down to 15 deg tonight,, but going down to 11 and then 9 on the weekend. Thank you ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hge Posted January 14, 2022 Report Share Posted January 14, 2022 OK installed the new Circulation pump and still have the same issue. Spa Tech walked me thru some checks and concluded that I need a new Control Head (board) in the front control panel of the spa. Ordering from him since cannot find online. Order will come in next week sometime and hoping the lamp will keep tub safe for tour more days. Temp down to 15 deg tonight,, but going down to 11 and then 9 on the weekend. Thank you ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hge Posted January 23, 2022 Report Share Posted January 23, 2022 Control Head (Assembly) picked up from Spa Company and installed with new spacers provided and cable attached. Powered up tub and the same issue,... cycles, then temp displays 50-55 degrees, red display light on, then display digits disappear. Circulation pump on, water flow good and producing normal bubbles. Suggestions welcome ,...... H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 19 hours ago, hge said: Suggestions welcome ,...... H Start your own thread. Include details of your spa and the issue, as well as pics of your equipment area and circuit board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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