jacuzzi pump seems to be tripping breaker. help needed...

[44blues]

We're having a problem with a 7yr or 8yr old 460 series spa. It came with my house, so we didn't buy it new. It has been working fine until this week.

One of the pumps seems to be tripping the GFCI breaker. There are two separate jet pumps in my jacuzzi, one for each side or the spa. The 1st pump will run, but if i turn on the 2nd pump(regardless of whether the 1st one is running) the breaker will trip.  The heater doesn't seem to be tripping the breaker and will heat the water.

Could my GFCI breaker be faulty or weak? Or does it sound like a problem with the spa? If so, what should I be looking for?

Thanks for any replies or help....

[Chas]

You need to find out if the pump is grounded, or if it is drawing too much current.
To see if it is grounded unplug one of the wires that goes to the pump and see if
it still trips the gfi

HTH

 

[44blues]

thanks. I'll check that out.

[clover]

Focus on the motor "shaft" going from the body of the electric motor into the wet end of the pump.  This is where you will see not much of anything, IF all is good, otherwise, you may see evidence of a pump seal leak leaving chemical residue, rust or corrosion, or wetness all of which are evidence of a pump seal leak. 

The GFCI tripping indicates water getting back into the pump motor causing an electrical fault.  The solution = new pump/motor.