I have a heater question

[st18901]

So, as many of you know, I restored a 1986 HS Sovereign (also known as a model I Indoor/outdoor)

It works great, I'm happy, the missus is happy, life is good.

However,

I notice that throughout the day, every fifteen minutes or so, the heater will come on for about 1 minute, then shut off.

I can't imagine it's actually heating anything in that time, and that adds up to about 96 minutes a day.

I have a nice cover, and live in Southern california, where - according to my thermometer it is currently 66 degrees.


The temp of the water is fine - staying at 102 (as reported by my floating thermometer)

What do you think?

[SerjicalStrike]

What is the water temperature when the heat comes on?

[Brookenstein]

How do you know your heater is coming on?  Do the older models make a noise or something?  I can only tell the Envoy is heating when I'm sitting in it and have my foot over the thingy that puts out heat.

Do you just sit and watch your spa to know this is happening every 15 minutes?  

I too am enjoying a beautiful SoCal afternoon.  Even walked to school to pick up the big guy.

[st18901]

the range is 102 - 102  

I haven't started digging around yet, so I don't even know where the thermostat sensor is, but my thinking is that it must be in a pipe that is cooling down, and then the circulation pump bringing in hot water from the tub shuts it off again.

Does this sound sensible or dumb?
If this is the case, then it's a design "feature".

However, I'm open to any other thoughts, or knowledge.


Brookenstein, you can hear a click of the relay as the heater turns on and off on this model.

And yes, I sat outside and timed it.  I actually became aware of it while working outside... which I'm doing at this very second.

[drewstar]

Does this sound sensible or dumb?
If this is the case, then it's a design "feature".

However, I'm open to any other thoughts, or knowledge.

Speaking out of my left butt cheek,    I have to wonder aloud that this doesn't make sense as 1) this seems to be a new condition (ie wasn't happening before).  2)   if the pipe was cold enough to trip the heater, would , in 1 minute, the heated water return through the same pipe to tell the sensor it's up to temp?  I m inute seems too quick.  Is it always the same amount of time to shut off?  


I would say the thermometer sensor doo hickey is failing.  

[st18901]

I'm not sure that it is a new condition. After all my cipherin', my electric bill seemed a bit high. It's the first bill with this new tub -- which heightened my observation of it when not in use.

Wondering aloud; if the thermostat sensor is failing, would the water stay at such an amazingly even temp?

:-/

Yeah, the timing is real close - about 60 - 70 seconds. Give or take a couple.

[drewstar]

I'm not sure that it is a new condition. After all my cipherin', my electric bill seemed a bit high. It's the first bill with this new tub -- which heightened my observation of it when not in use.

Wondering aloud; if the thermostat sensor is failing, would the water stay at such an amazingly even temp?

 :-/

Yeah, the timing is real close - about 60 - 70 seconds. Give or take a couple.

isn't there also a pressure/flow siwtch in the mix here?  I'm talkig out my ass and should be quiet.  

[Brookenstein]

Curious... how much did your electric go up?

I have no idea what the tub is costing me.  My last 2 bills were both $200/mo.  The month before I got the tub was $225.  I have no idea why my usage is so high.  Last winter my bill was just about $120/mo.  My average usage per day last month was 37.65... a year ago was 27.22.

[st18901]

I don't know if there's anything like that in this config.
I did see that in the spaforums.com site as an issue with someone else.

I see my future and it involves me inside the cabinet again...

Funny looking?

[SerjicalStrike]

Try turning the dial down, see if it maintains a different temp.

[st18901]

Yes, turning up or down the knob does in fact change the overall temp.

I turned it up - ever so slightly and got the tub to 105.

Judging from that slight - and I mean slight - turn, I'd say I could boil eggs in the tub if I wanted.  I don't know if that's old school spa thinking, or not... but it hasn't bothered me cause I am able to keep it at 102.


However, could this be indicative of anything?

Additionally, if I turn the knob up to hear the relay click on, and then turn it down - the on and off happen at different points on the knob. (does that make sense?)

This leads me to believe that the heater was designed not to be too sensitive before kicking in to heat.


Hope I'm not confusing things...