cal spas heater not switching to 230

[trashman]

Hello, I just bought a 97 Cal Spas with p-3000 controls. The heater should run on 115v in econ mode and 230v in standard mode, but it will not switch to 230v when i change to standard mode. All other functions work fine. Is this a relay or circuit board problem? I can't find any info on this problem anywhere.

[Jacuzzi Jim]

  Please correct me if I am wrong,but I dont believe a heater can just switch from 110 to 230 v in an economy mode,most spas when in an economy mode will only heat during a filter cycle or you set a timer thus not running the heater all the time when heat is called for.

 Now days alot of spas offer 110/220v options, to go to the 220v you have to either apply or remove a jumper and change some wires to allow it to run on 220. The pump will still be 110v and all you really do is change the amount of voltage to the heater.

 Like I said I could be wrong as I dont know older systems,maybe someone else will chime in with info??

[Brewman]

I don't see how the voltage the heater runs at impacts it's cost.  Assuming the heater is either off or on, the voltage merely guides the temperature of the heater.  
If anything, running in at 220 could be marginally cheaper than at 120.  
 I can't remember the explanation anymore, but it made sense when I heard it.

[Han Solo]

Hello, I just bought a 97 Cal Spas with p-3000 controls. The heater should run on 115v in econ mode and 230v in standard mode, but it will not switch to 230v when i change to standard mode. All other functions work fine. Is this a relay or circuit board problem? I can't find any info on this problem anywhere.

Call the dealer where you bought it, and they should be able to help you. I called my dealer so many times the first two weeks after I got my spa that I memorized their phone number. They politely answered all my stupid questions and I am glad I chose them to do business with.

[Zep]

re: most spas when in an economy mode will only heat during
a filter cycle or you set a timer thus not running the heater all the
time when heat is called for.

Yes Jim I believe thats the way mine works.

Since we are on this subject....Jim do you have any advice on this topic?

I live in Dallas where it doesn't get that cold

I only use my tub 1-2 times per week...

Should I always be in the "economy mode"?

What are the pros/cons of either always in
economy mode vs. not using the feature?

Thanks for any input.....

[Pathfinder]

the heater in that tub does not switch voltage   just as JJ said    the economy is just for filtration without heat unless the jumpers are set to heat while in filtration

[Brewman]

That makes more sense.  My spa has an economy mode- essentially it turns on the heater during filtering cycles.  I don't use it since my spa use isn't regular enough.

Not sure how much if money it would save.  Probably not much when it's warm out, since the heater isn't running very much when it's warm out.  And when it's colder I'd want my spa water at tempearture whenever I decided to soak.  I suppose for the right person it may be of some value.

[Jacuzzi Jim]

re: most spas when in an economy mode will only heat during
a filter cycle or you set a timer thus not running the heater all the
time when heat is called for.

Yes Jim I believe thats the way mine works.

Since we are on this subject....Jim do you have any advice on this topic?

I live in Dallas where it doesn't get that cold

I only use my tub 1-2 times per week...

Should I always be in the "economy mode"?

What are the pros/cons of either always in
economy mode vs. not using the feature?

Thanks for any input.....

 It will work if you soak at a specific time night or day, you could set it say an hour or two before you are going to use it, all in all it might not save you that much on the power bill but may be worth a shot.   Just experiment with it and see if it will work for you other than that I would just leave it where you want it.


 If you think you will use your spa between 7 to 9 on different nights set the timer to kick on at 5 or 6 pm to heat up to temp for your use at those hours, of course the times will vary when you use it but you could get pretty close I would think.

[trashman]

Let me ask this question then. If tub is set to standard mode and heater is on I should be getting 230v across the terminals Correct? I am only getting 115v. It is a 230v heater.

[Pathfinder]

which terminals are you talking about?

the main power supply terminals  blue black and red  or your heater lead terminals?


your main power should be 120 +- across blue & black  & Blue and RED  

you should get 220+- across black & red

your heater terminals should be pulling 220 or around 11amps  if you tub is wired 220

if your tub is wired in 110 then thats all you will get  

[Jacuzzi Jim]

Let me ask this question then. If tub is set to standard mode and heater is on I should be getting 230v across the terminals Correct? I am only getting 115v. It is a 230v heater.

 You may have lost 1 leg of power and only have 115v going to the heater which would mean your heater is working twice as hard.  That should lead to cooler temps in your spa.  if it maintains the heat at 101/102 it sounds like its working as it should?

 But it should not switch back and forth from 230 to 115 regaurdless of what mode its in.

 Possible stuck relay
is your main pump running constantly (pump 1 low spd?)
theres a few things that could be going on.  

You might PM spa doc I am sure he knows.

[trashman]

I called the Local Cal Spas dealer and talked to the service tech. He had to do some research but said that there were some of those tubs that had a relay that would drop voltage down to 115v in econo mode. He said the relay can just be taken out and rewired so heater is always 230v.  

Thanks for everyones help!

[Chas]

I have never heard of that, I think he may be incorrect.

Find a schematic and have a good tech look it over.

 8-)

[Reese]

You may want to post this over on rhtubs.com.  There are a few very knowledgable techs over there, one who started out at a CalSpa dealership.

[trashman]

This is the schematic and manual.