Hot tub sub panel gfi breaker tripping

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Vinniem

Senior Member
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Central Jersey
got a service call to do tommarrow. Customer had a hot tub installed last year. work ok all year. they change the water every 2 months, per manufactures instructions. today the GFI breaker ( 50 amp gfi main sub panel) keeps tripping. asked them if they did anything different. of course the answer is no.

Any suggestions on what I should look for?
 
LawnGuyLandSparky said:
A ground fault.
Probably in the heter...
Click to expand...

What's a heter? LOL :grin: :D

Could be a bad GFI- could be a bad heater or could be a short in the pump along with some other possibilities. Check first to see if the GFCI trips with the load disconnected. It may not even stay on with no load. Good luck
It's hard to diagnosis from NC. My eyes are not that good.
 
I've had 2 service calls for tripping gfis on hot tubs in the last couple months.
The problem was the same both times. The heat exchanger was cracked and soaking wet, I'm assuming due to the harsh temps we had this winter. The manufacturer warranty fixed both.
 
You will have to figure out how to disconnect the heater element from the circuit, and then try it again. 9 times out of 10, it's the heater element that is leaking a small amount of current -- enough to trip out that GFI -- and will need replacing.

Some hot tubs have direct connection to an internal circuit board, while others have leads that connect to the element supply terminals.

Be sure to disconnect both leads for an accurate test.

Once you have the tub running without the heater element in the circuit, simply connect your wiggy or Vol-Con leads from one side of the supply to either terminal of the heater element. If the GFI immediately trips when doing this, you have confirmed you have a bad element.:mad:
 
I've always had problems with the circ pump, but I never deal with this type of problem, I tell the HO to call the Hot tub dealer... Not like i'm going to waste my time replacing hot tub parts...
 
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we have a hot tub, and occasionally if we don't sit out there watching it refill and it goes a bit too high it overflows into the blower motor and causes the GFI to trip (mostly cuz it's a refurbished hottub and they don't have a one way valve in it to keep water from backing into it. We've since unplugged the blower motor until we get around to adding a one way air valve. Solved the problem of the breaker tripping. was a simple fix in our situation anyways.
 
Here's how I do it

Here's how I do it

I usually can't get parts for hot tubs so I just find the problem and move on. Go prepared with the manufacturers reps name & number. If its the kind of control box that has the plugs; remove ( or reconnect) one at a time till the GFCI trips. That's the culprit, tell them your not licensed to work on hot tubs and pools, and give them the information and the number. People like it when it can be demonstrated to them why it trips. I have found Ozoneators and people changing out the water without turning off the disconnect and burning out the heater coil to be the major cause of ground faults.
 
gfi trip

gfi trip

i have run into the problem twice. the solution was the same both times. the ozonator was defective and when it was unplugged the gfi did not trip. you may have to just unplug each part of the system until you find the problem. happy hunting...
 
Funny, I just had this issue yesterday!

Disconnected the load to the GFCI. Didn't trip.

Went to the spa and opened up the control box.... Half the board was fried. Still don't know how. No water issues, no moisture issues. Worked up until 3 days ago...

Pump works fine, but the entire heater relay board is fried. Called the nearest dealer rep, and they got 5 boards coming in next week... same problem???

And by the way, I told the Homeowner that I haven't done one before, but I think I can figure it out. I don't know anyone else who can. So, they'll be paying for my learning. Put it all right out in front. Homeowner agreed.
 
Greg Swartz said:
Funny, I just had this issue yesterday!

Disconnected the load to the GFCI. Didn't trip.

Went to the spa and opened up the control box.... Half the board was fried. Still don't know how. No water issues, no moisture issues. Worked up until 3 days ago...

Pump works fine, but the entire heater relay board is fried. Called the nearest dealer rep, and they got 5 boards coming in next week... same problem???

And by the way, I told the Homeowner that I haven't done one before, but I think I can figure it out. I don't know anyone else who can. So, they'll be paying for my learning. Put it all right out in front. Homeowner agreed.
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This occured in year #2 of my Cal Spa. Turns out the boards were defective and it was replaced free with the return of the old board.
 
9/10 times it is the heating element. They are easilly replaced just google them on the internet. just diagnose as everyone has said and order the part. even at 75 an hour I am cheaper then the hottub repair people unless it is under warranty and even then they charge 100 just to show up in this area.
 
Terrynistler said:
9/10 times it is the heating element. They are easilly replaced just google them on the internet. just diagnose as everyone has said and order the part. even at 75 an hour I am cheaper then the hottub repair people unless it is under warranty and even then they charge 100 just to show up in this area.
Click to expand...

so then raise your rates...why give away a service cheaper than you have to?
 
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