Tiger River Heater GFCI Tripping

[ScottDW]

A few months ago, we had a power problem at our house.  Lost the neutral feeding the house.  I discovered that the 30 amp 2-pole GFCI breaker that feeds the heater on my Tiger River was tripped.  I replaced the breaker....it tested bad.  Since then, the breaker will trip at random.  I can go for weeks until it trips.  No logic as to when or why.  I put a clamp meter on the heater and it is pulling @ 27 amps.  That's a good number.  What am I missing as to why this happens at random?

[RDspaguy]

Check wire connections on breaker.

[cranbiz]

A loose connection at the breaker will do this. So like @RDspaguysaid, check to make sure all your connections are tight at the breaker. Wouldn't hurt to also check the connections at the spa pack while you are at it.

[ScottDW]

I will recheck all the connections.  Thanks for the input.

 

[ScottDW]

Have not yet checked the connections but last night we lost power for an hour and now the 30 amp won't reset.  Telling me anything new?  Breaker bad?

[cranbiz]

I would still check the connections. You might have a stray wire whisker in the box.

Disconnect the heater. the 30A breaker is for the heater. If the connections are good and the breaker resets with the heater disconnected, replace the heater.

[ScottDW]

I checked the connections and re-tightened all connections.  Of course the breaker reset properly but tripped sometime overnight.  I checked the amp draw of the heater and it was pulling 24 amps.  That's normal.  What am I missing?  Faulty breaker?  Would think if the breaker was defective it would be somewhat more consistent.  I'm at a loss.

[RDspaguy]

Intermittent tripping is a sign of a bad gfci. Are you sure it is not related to filter cycles or ozonator? If so, it's the breaker.

[ScottDW]

From what I know the 30 amp breaker in question is only used for the heater.  There is also a 20 amp breaker that is for everything else that has never tripped.  I keep going to the breaker or relay board as a problem.  No way to test the relay board except look for obvious damage like scorch marks etc.  Only way to test the breaker to my knowledge is replace it.

[Scottw]

I replaced the relay board.....I thought it was the culprit.  No difference.  So I then I disconnected the heater from the relay board to see if the heater was the problem.  The breaker held for several days but did trip again.  All wiring is correct.  I need to understand what else could trip the 30amp breaker.  The relay board and main control board are connected electrically but what else should I look at?  Could it be the sensors in the heater?

I tried disconnecting the ozone generator but it also proved to not be the problem.  Frustrated.

[imlost]

Are you sure the 30amp breaker is for the heater? With Watkins hot tubs, it can be the 20amp breaker, and is for mine.