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Two speed pump trips the GFCI on high and multiple other issues-2004 Sundance Bahia 780 series


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I have a 2004 Sundance Bahia that worked fine last year.  Filled it for the season this year and there was no power to the top side control.  It was old and faded anyway so I ordered one and installed it. No change.  We live far enough away from a repair shop that parts switching is cheaper than service calls so I ordered a new board and transformer.  Installed everything and the tub came on.  I pushed the high speed button on the controls and the GFCI tripped.  I wired a standard breaker in the box (we weren't getting in the tub) and the pump made one heck of a noise and blew the 30 amp fuse to the board in about 5 seconds.  I pulled the two speed pump and took it to an electric shop that is absolutely the best around.  After dropping it off I continue to screw with the tub.  I am very worried about safety so I ran all new wire (three wire tub) reinstalled the GFCI and powered the tub without the pump.  It powered up and looked to be acting normal. Topside was showing trouble codes and no breakers, fuses or GFCI was tripping.  However, nothing is ever as it seems.   The heater must have kicked on because in the time it took to grab a coke I went back to a hot dry fire on the heater (the pump was with the motor at the electric shop so the tub was empty). 

Finally picked up the pump and they said it was in great shape and the problem was on my end.  His advice was that I was potentially getting way more voltage to the pump than is required.  I wired the pump motor outside of the tub to run down issues.  The GFCI immediately tripped and when I reinstalled the plain breaker the 30 amp fuse blew again.  Because I'm a parts switcher and not a tech I started pulling wires on the pump motor and checking the GFCI.  The only time it wouldn't trip is when the black(low) wire was connected.  Unfortunately the circ pump to the heater runs constantly when i have the tub turned on now.   We have had the hot tub for years now and the only thing that I can recall that was weird from last season to this one is that I found the breaker reset in June or July this year.  I'm sure I would have done that but for the life of me I couldn't remember why would power up an empty hot tub in the summer.   If anybody has ideas or there is a sticky post somewhere I missed I appreciate somebody pointing me in the right direction!   Like my username states I will be divorced if I don't get this fixed soon lol!  

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Post a pic of the circuit boards and wiring diagram on the control box cover. On the board there is a rectangular black "e-prom" that has a sticker with a rev number, include those in your pic.

3 hours ago, SoonToBeDivorcedSpaOwner said:

pulled the two speed pump and took it to an electric shop

Was the cord still on the motor? If not, I'd say you wired it wrong.

3 hours ago, SoonToBeDivorcedSpaOwner said:

pump made one heck of a noise

What kind of noise?

3 hours ago, SoonToBeDivorcedSpaOwner said:

was showing trouble codes

Which codes?

3 hours ago, SoonToBeDivorcedSpaOwner said:

hot dry fire on the heater

According to the codes, or the heater was actually on with no water?

 

3 hours ago, SoonToBeDivorcedSpaOwner said:

way more voltage to the pump than is required

Not possible.

3 hours ago, SoonToBeDivorcedSpaOwner said:

the circ pump to the heater runs constantly

If it has the small laing circ pump it is supposed to run 24/7.

 

 

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Thank you for the reply. You have given me some hope that I can get this thing fixed. I work shift work so I am sorry for the late reply to your post.

I left the cord attached to the board but took pictures of connections to the pump. For example, red to high, white common, black low speed.

The noise it made sounds like a locked up electric motor about to shoot sparks. It was a loud electrical hum and the motor would not turn.

The trouble codes were ICE and SN1 and SN2 because I had the temp sensor and high limit wires unplugged on the board.

No codes stating a dry fire but the smell was pretty bad and the heater tube was very warm to the touch. 

I hope I have been clear enough.  I appreciate your reply!!

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First thing I see is a fried wire terminal on the red wire on the bottom center of the board. That is definitely an issue. Also, the jumper block (upper right) has a jumper on the third set of pins on one board and not the other.

Is there any chance that you switched up any of the black or white pump wires? Double check the wiring diagram and verify all pump connections are correct.

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Unfortunately that red wire was that way when I bought the used tub. I'll cut the burn off and connect a new plug for it.  That jumper is for a two pump system. Without it the other pump won't be visible to the board.  I hope I haven't switched any wires but I will definitely check after the cold rain settles down. Thank you so much for your time!

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Thanks RDspaguy and CanadianSpaTech!  I appreciate you all. I don't know what a seep is but I believe that is what the electric shop was referring to by "excessive voltage".  They said that noise was likely something sending voltage incorrectly. I have two boards now and I have tried them both and the GFCI still trips when the pump kicks in high speed.  Thanks for any help you can give my simple mind!

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He meant speeds. If the low speed relay on the board is stuck on, when you turn on high speed it will cause the motor to run loud and hot, blow fuses, and trip breakers.

Disconnect pump1 wires, turn on power, turn on pump1 low and test voltage on the board from black to white and red to white, then hit jet button high speed and test both again. You should have 240v from black to white on low, and red to white on high.

What is all that crud on the motor terminal block? It looks like it was in some water. I'm inclined to say it's the motor just from the look of it. 

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Thanks for the additional replies. I wasn't being a smart guy on the "seep" comment. I truly thought it may be an industry term. The crud on the motor terminal block is from the former owner packing the innards of the tub with desiccant packs like damp rid. That crap is everywhere! I'm at work until 5 a.m. Central time but I will catch a few hours sleep and get back on the tub. Thank you all very much. 

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Just for fun I tried again this morning.  Massive load on the motor in any speed now. Scared the hell out of the dog. It's now running properly on one pump. I hate to dump the water again when the new pump gets here but I'm trying to save my marriage lol.  Thanks again RDspaguy and CanadianSpaTech! Would buy you a beer if possible!

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On 12/4/2020 at 11:16 AM, SoonToBeDivorcedSpaOwner said:

across black (low) to white on low speed i get 240. Testing across red (high circuit) while on high speed on controls gets me 240.

 

On 12/5/2020 at 12:35 AM, SoonToBeDivorcedSpaOwner said:

Never had voltage on both at the same time. 

Gotta be the motor. 

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