Boo Posted January 25, 2022 Report Share Posted January 25, 2022 I've had this hot tub for a hot minute.. Bought the shell and built the skirt. Probably 8 years ago when I rebuilt. I replaced the motor, Ozonater, updated the board and topside control panel. seemed to be working fine until the topside control panel started the slow flashing. It would shutdown. I restart it maybe it would run an hour. Now it seems the heater is continuously running. Even after topside control unit shows its off. No light showing.. Heater should be off but isn't. On startup it starts low power motor, also checks heater.. red light on then off.. the pump should continue running on low but it doesn't. Motor shuts off meanwhile I hear the water boiling inside the heater and immediately shut it down, because the motor doesn't continue to run. Unless I double tap the button and turn the motor on high. Could this be a bad mainboard? H136 Jacuzzi® Spa Circuit Board 51424_ H311000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted January 25, 2022 Report Share Posted January 25, 2022 Sounds like it could be a stuck heater relay. Disconnect the heater from the circuit board for testing. If left connected you could do some damage or even fire. It will boil the water in the heater tube in seconds. Post photos of the circuit board and the schematic on the inside cover so we know what you have. The flow switch should not allow the heater to stay engaged when the circ pump stops. The flow switch protects the heater. Test for 240V at the heater connections at the circuit board when the spa should not be heating and the flow switch is open. If it is still getting 240V look to the heater relays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted January 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted January 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2022 I hate to spend 500 on a new board but I’m willing to do whatever it takes:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted January 25, 2022 Report Share Posted January 25, 2022 Need better pics of the area with the 2 copper tabs and the 2 black squares above them. The copper tabs look all bent but hard to see what's going on. Do you have a multi meter and know have to safely use it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted January 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted January 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2022 I do have a multimeter… I’m ok with it I guess… it’s definitely getting voltage when the red light don’t light up on the topside control panel it will boil the water without the pump engaging. I was thinking it would be the high pass. No reset button on this board though. Thanks for all your help I’m definitely no pro but I made it last this long.. if I knew what I was doing I would throw an aftermarket board and top panel on it.. I hate that the only code you get is a flashing red light with this legacy equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted January 26, 2022 Report Share Posted January 26, 2022 Stuck relay. Any decent computer/electronics repair guy can replace them pretty cheap. If you are going to (try to) get a board I advise you just get a replacement pack. Balboa VS systems are under $500 with new topside, heater, sensors, and extras. Should swap out without replumbing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted January 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2022 Sounds like an awesome plan… can you advise which kit I should retrofit? would definitely love to update it to be bit more friendly in the future. Along with display and whatever I need to make it more reliable and safe. 1 pump.. simple hot tub for the most part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cranbiz Posted January 26, 2022 Report Share Posted January 26, 2022 Here is a complete VS501 pack with topside. https://www.spaguts.com/balboa-vs501z-spa-controller-kit-w-topside-5-5kw-htr-54220-z-237?gclid=Cj0KCQiA_8OPBhDtARIsAKQu0gb5QgLACT1LdHAJ91b85SYJK00EFS7R9C4PSBuJX8RZrQlXI9uZr7YaAsxtEALw_wcB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted January 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2022 Thanks cranbiz…seems like a great option rather than trying to revive this legacy crap… old tub but it holds water… one pump. So going through the check list… my ozanator is 110 right? probably order it tonight… good info.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted January 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2022 So I ordered that product.. should have been a sales rep Cranbiz. More bang for the buck.. just hope it plugs into my sensors and Prozone without a hitch..wish me luck.. thanks again for all the advice.. better option than screwing with the overpriced legacy equipment. Just the original jacuzzi h316 board alone runs around 600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted January 27, 2022 Report Share Posted January 27, 2022 The Balboa M7 technology has the sensors in the heater tubs so you won't need the old sensors. You might need a block out plate for the topside if the new one is smaller than the original. https://www.spadepot.com/eco-spa-Topside-Adapter-Plate-P3128 Also for spa pack here: https://www.spadepot.com/Balboa-VS-Spa-Control-Kit-P3185 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cranbiz Posted January 27, 2022 Report Share Posted January 27, 2022 11 hours ago, Boo said: So I ordered that product.. should have been a sales rep Cranbiz. More bang for the buck.. just hope it plugs into my sensors and Prozone without a hitch..wish me luck.. thanks again for all the advice.. better option than screwing with the overpriced legacy equipment. Just the original jacuzzi h316 board alone runs around 600. If your Prozone is more than a year old or so, it probably isn't working anymore. It may look like it's working but chances are it's not doing anything except making bubbles. It should be 110V in any case. it may not be a direct plug in but can be made to work. The installation guide for the VS501 says the pack comes with a 3 wire ozone cable so all you should have to do is splice that cable to your Prozone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted January 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2022 Ok… so I should invest in another prozone… any recommendations there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted January 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2022 https://www.wildwestpoolsupplies.com/prozone-ozonators-ozonator-120v-w-5-cord-4-position-amp-plug-pziii-x13/ https://www.wildwestpoolsupplies.com/del-ozone-check-valve-barbed-1-4-7-1140-01/ This look ok.. along with check valve, If i have one I'm sure it needs replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted February 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2022 What’s the sensor wire for? I guess that’s what it is. I received it with the new prozone. Not sure what it’s for. Do I need it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted February 6, 2022 Report Share Posted February 6, 2022 That's a fiberoptic cable and it carries the uv light from the ozonator. Mount the fitting and you have an ozone indicator that let's you know when the ozone stops working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted February 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2022 Not sure I understand.. this is how it was hooked up before… sorry the image is sideways. Just with the power hooked up to the mainboard and the injection hose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted February 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2022 Is the wire required? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted February 6, 2022 Report Share Posted February 6, 2022 No, not required, just handy to have. All ozone generators wear out and stop working. Being unaware of the failure can lead to problems, as you have to change your maintenance routine without ozone. So by drilling a small hole in the side panel and installing the indicator you have a way to know. Likely newer tubs have these built in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted February 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2022 Last one had to be shot probably because the way I mounted it below the water level. It was probably 4-5 years old anyway… also had a bad check valve. Awesome… all plumbing completed! Now I just have to finish the wiring, fill it up, then turn the power on. Hope it all goes well! “plug and pray”. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted February 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2022 During priming mode I hear the pump kick in but I can’t get ANY flow through the jets.. I was afraid somehow it was reversed so I swapped the black and red positions on the pump… still no flow… bad impeller? Damn… seems like everything went bad at the same time. air locked into the pump… wow.. never had it not pump anything. Learning experience! Everything’s working as it should! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted February 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2022 Best Thing I could have done to this spa! The controls are SO much better with the new topside panel. I'm sure this will be safer, more efficient, more reliable alternative; and perfect solution for the problematic old equipment I used to have. So far the new Balboa kit is working great. Tricky to configure at first. After a Youtube video of someone installing and configuring one it was a poc. It did take me all day though, had to replace a blown breaker to top it off. I'm a low voltage technician... I probably shouldn't screw with some things but I do... But what can I say. Just glad I didn't screw up the equipment! Thanks for all the help and input from everyone here. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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