Hot Tub Tripping on start up

[grantlfc81]

Hi Guys

Bought a used hot tub which has been working fine for years at my friends.

Moved to my home. Got it plumbed in and working fine for 24 hours.

Tripped out.

When i flicked the trip back on it stayed on until it tried to heat again. then it tripped again.

Pulled out pump 1 Cable.  Spa is now working perfectly except for pump 1 and now i cant heat my hot tub.

If i plug it back in. it trips within 1 second of the pump coming on.

any ideas. do i need a new pump? the pump tries to come on before it trips. im at a loss as to weather its the heater or the pump.

Kind Regards

Grant

[Spoiledrotten]

Might sound stupid but do you have the correct size breaker supplying power to it? Could be that if the breaker isn't large enough to handle both pumps AND the heater, it might trip.

Does it trip if you turn on both pumps without the heater?

[grantlfc81]

Hi, no i did think this. however it did work fine for 24 hours.

when pump 1 is disconnected and i tun on pump 2 it works fine.  the very second i plug in pump 1 regardless of whether pump 2 is running it trips in less than a second.

If the heater is tripping it, i was unsure as to whether the heating element actually came on within the first few seconds. so what i did was set the temp to 30 and the current temp was 38.

This meant that the heating element wasnt required as it wasnt trying to heat but the second the pump comes on it trips the breaker.

I have ruled out the heating element because of this.

Im putting in a bigger breaker tomorrow to see if this cures it. Can an airlock cause it to trip?  Pump 1 does actually come on but its for less than a second.

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

Probably a bad heating element.

[Spoiledrotten]

You stated that you are putting another breaker in. What size do you have at time it's tripping?

[goneaway]

I'm with SpoildRotten, you need to know what size and class of breaker you have.
If it's too small, fine, put the correct one in.
But if it's the right size, then you potentially have a short, which in a hot tub could be fatal.
Under no circumstances put a larger than recommended breaker in.

[grantlfc81]

Hi Guys.

I Put a 32 amp breaker in and it still tripped. Ive ripped the pump out now and taken it to http://www.njelectricmotorwinders.co.uk/ in leigh on sea, Essex, UK. They reckon they can get it working like new again and will give me an update tomorrow. I will keep you all posted.

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

HIGHLY unlikely it's the pump....if it is, it's even more unlikely you'd be able to fix it (unless you want to rewind it). YOU PROBABLY have a bad heating element. (pump 1 comes on, the heater is activated, and a short in the heater trips the breaker. This is VERY common with spas that have been moved!)

It ran fine for 24 hours - this tends to indicate the problem is NOT with the breaker

Turning the thermostat down DOES not ensure there isn't still voltage going to one leg (it could still be partially powered, and a short in it WOULD STILL cause the breaker to trip)

[goneaway]

Keep us posted

[grantlfc81]

Hi Docter Spa

I asked a specialist he seems to think it is the pump as the heating element isnt activated in the first seconds of it coming on. its gone in to be tested, and im having it rewound if it is faulty. if its not faulty then hopefully its just the heating element and i will have the pump cleaned up.  The pump didnt look in great condition if im honest. it had white crusty powder round the outside and rust round the edges.

It kinda looks like its taken in some water.

Thank you for all your advice and i will keep you posted.

Regards

Grant

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

I would really suggest, if you want any kind of helpful information here, to always be honest 

[grantlfc81]

OK!

So the pumps ruined and they couldn't fix it. lol. to top it off I got broken into yesterday, but that's for a totally different forum! im not a happy bunny. but what doesn't kill us makes us stronger

So im looking for a new pump now!

According to hydropool the one I have is apparently a Waterways Euro Exec 2hp 2 Speed. how do I know if its a 2inch x 2inch   or    - 2inch by 2 /12 inch

However the pump says Ultrajet ultimia plus pump, 2 speed with mini JJ Cable

I have 2 model numbers:- on 2 different stickers

Franklin Electric MOD - 4215007403

Ultra Jet PEUL2H31SW8M1

What should I be looking outfor? and thank you all for your patients

All the best- Grant

All the best

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

Franklin Electric MOD - 4215007403 is the model of the MOTOR

Ultra Jet PEUL2H31SW8M1 is the model of the entire PUMP

Post a picture of the entire label on the motor and we can probably find you a replacement motor.

[grantlfc81]

[grantlfc81]

Hope this helps guys. Please help me lol