Expert: David Watson - 7/22/2003

Question
Hi,
I have a hot tub with a pump that is blowing its circuit on the hot tub control box.  It pops after 5-15 minutes of running everytime. I have replace the pump twice and it has not changed the situation at all. I had one expert look at it and he said it was overheating, then I got the new pump and the same problem continues. I was wondering if there is some way/ or some supplier of control panels that are not the expensive hot tub control panel units that typically go for over $300. I just need an outdoor electrical panel (that I can mount to the house away from the hot tub itself) to control the pump, heater, and air bubbler. Is there such a thing? The hot tub i have does not have a remote control panel on the tub itself anyway, just the main fuse/switch box that keeps popping the pump circuit. I was wondering if there is a supplier of such an item that I could buy and have an electrician rewire the entire system?

Thanks!
Mike Dollhopf

Answer
Sorry to hear about your problem.  

What you are describing indicates that quite probably the heater is turning on after the 5 or 15 minutes and the draw of the pump and heater on the circuit is too much.  It is possible that the pump is operating too high or too low on the pump curve and doing the same thing - overdrawing current.  

The way to isolate the poblem is:

1: Do you have an electrical heater?  If so have a Electrician come round and do an amp draw test on the circuit breaker and then amp draw each item of equipment to confirm it is the heater that is pulling over current.

2: Depending on your set up your filter should have a gauge on it.  Take a reading from the gauge and get hold of the pump curve, usually on the brochure.  If the pump is sized correctly it should be operating around the center of the curve and on the line.  Again an electrician is the answer here an amp test will confirm where the current draw is coming from.

It is also possible that your filter is blocked.  Again teh filter pressure reading will tell you that.  If you are running a cartridge filter you may need to replace the element or cartridge (depending on your language).

If you are really stuck and all electrical elements plug in you could unplug everything and add one component back at a time until you find the culprit.

HTH

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