UKNeville Posted December 31, 2023 Report Share Posted December 31, 2023 Hi Our Down East Exeter or Portsmouth (I don't know exactly what we have) spa had been decommissioned for 8 months. I got it back up and running and it has been working fine for a couple of weeks. I am now getting low flow errors causing it stop heating. I believe it is pump one which is causing the problem. This is a two speed pump that I think provides circulation in low speed and then runs the jet at the higher speed. When I turn the tub on, after it's self test, I can hear pump 1 try to start up. It just buzzes (the usual sound of a motor struggling to get going I guess). If I press Jets1, the pump goes to speed 2 and runs fine. If I switched Jets 1 off, it goes back down to low speed and carries on running fine. At some point, the controller stops the pump and then it doesn't get going again. I am guessing the 8 months decommissioned has resulted in some damage that prevents the motor starting at the low speed. Is it time for a new motor or could this possibly be serviced and repaired? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted January 1 Report Share Posted January 1 Likely a bad start capacitor on the motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKNeville Posted January 1 Author Report Share Posted January 1 1 hour ago, CanadianSpaTech said: Likely a bad start capacitor on the motor. Thanks. Any easy way to test for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 YouTube search: spa pump capacitor test Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted January 2 Report Share Posted January 2 On 12/31/2023 at 12:12 PM, UKNeville said: It just buzzes Does it hum or make a hard loud buzzing sound? Hum likely a bad cap. Loud hard buzz it could be a stuck relay sending power to both speeds at the same time. You are able to run in low speed after going into high speed so I don't think you have a bad relay. One way to test if you can get at the back of the motor and remove the dust cap you will see a slot in the shaft of the motor. While the spa is trying to start the pump in low speed use a flathead in the slot of the shaft and give it some help starting. If it starts up in low with help then likely a bad cap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKNeville Posted January 2 Author Report Share Posted January 2 32 minutes ago, CanadianSpaTech said: Does it hum or make a hard loud buzzing sound? Hum likely a bad cap. Loud hard buzz it could be a stuck relay sending power to both speeds at the same time. You are able to run in low speed after going into high speed so I don't think you have a bad relay. One way to test if you can get at the back of the motor and remove the dust cap you will see a slot in the shaft of the motor. While the spa is trying to start the pump in low speed use a flathead in the slot of the shaft and give it some help starting. If it starts up in low with help then likely a bad cap. I think you nailed it in one! If you are ever in the UK just west of London, let me know. I owe you a drink. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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