Dimension 1 Hot Tub - GCFI keeps kicking out

[dimsion 1 User]

I have an older 240V Dimension 1 hot tub.  Recently the GCFI circuit breaker would trip whenever both the main circulating pump and heater were on.  It is a 50 amp breaker.  Measured the amps and the max amps was 27.  Decided breaker may be bad so I bought a new 50 amp GCFI breaker and installed it.  The GCFI would kick out.  Disconnected absolutely everything plugged into the circuit board and it would still kick out.  Disconnected the 2 wire plug going to the transformer and it quit kicking out.  So decided it must be the transformer and bought a new one.  The output 4 wire plug is disconnected.  It only kicks out when I plug in the 2 wire transformer input plug.  Check voltage at the transformer plug and it is 120 volts which is as it should be.  I am not at a loss as to what the problem could be.  I also plugged just the input wires to the old transformer and it does the same thing.  It seems like either both transformers are bad or the new GCFI breaker is bad.  Maybe something on the circuit board is bad but it looks OK on both the front and the back.

 

Any suggestions would be much appreciated

[Claire in Abby]

Turn off your breaker.

Disconnect the heater.

Flip the breaker back on.

If the GFCI doesn't trip this time the heater element needs replacing. You can pick up a replacement on Amazon for about $50. Or $250 for a total heater; element is easy to replace thou. 

Hope this helps 😊

[dimsion 1 User]

Followup on this problem.  The new breaker I bought was the cheapest breaker I could find online and it looked cheap.  I went and bought a name brand GCFI breaker and installed it.  It now works and does not trip with either the heater or main pump running.  Problem solved.  Lesson learned - don't buy cheap GFCI breakers for your hot tub.