My spa trips breaker when I try to start “jets.” What’s wrong?

Posted by on . 8 comments.

Also it makes clicking noise just before tripping breaker. Also, blower and light don't work. Only things that work are heater and heat pump/circulation pump What's wrong?


Comments

  1. Murphy says:
    December 3, 2009 at 1:24 am

    OMG do NOT just go buy a bigger circuit breaker and replace the old one! Holy shit! If your circuit breaker is tripping it is because too much current is flowing through the wires. The circuit breaker trips as a safety measure to protect you from the overheating that happens when too much current flows in wires. The overheating is what causes fires!
    If you just go buy a bigger circuit breaker then you are almost guaranteeing yourself an electrical fire who knows when in the future?
    Is this a new problem or something that has been happening as long as you can remember?
    It could be that the wires installed originally can’t handle the equipment that is now hooked up to it. It could be that inside the equipment one of the wires is nicked and is pushed up against another wire or the equipment casing.
    It could even be possible that it is not the "breaker" tripping (as in: from overcurrent) but it could be the "GFCI" tripping (as in: this is the only thing keeping you from being electrocuted.)
    Without a qualified professional checking out your situation there is no way of knowing for sure what is going wrong.
    Get a qualified, licensed, bonded electrician to look at this.
    PS it is not so simple as to say "you need 12 guage wire for 20 amp breaker" because this depends on how far away the spa is from the panel. If it is far then you might need bigger wire even for just 20amps. You could need 10awg or even 8awg!
    Get a professional!

  2. Level 8 Top Instigator says:
    December 3, 2009 at 1:24 am

    You are pulling too much (amps) power. You need one circuit 20 amp just for tub

  3. Mr.X says:
    December 3, 2009 at 1:24 am

    That’s an easy one First off what amp breaker are you using it may be to low either that or you got some wires crossed I would go with the breaker first though justgo to lowe’s and get a bigger one. careful installing it though cause if you touch the board while you are grounded it will shock the pee outta you lol.

  4. Daniel F says:
    December 3, 2009 at 1:24 am

    Sounds like one half of your dual pull 30 amp circuit is not working. This is the electrical circuit breaker. If your unit is older this breaker could be going bad. When this happens some of your fixtures work. But when you need full power to work the pump, you only have 1/2 the needed electricity.

    This could also be your pump motor failing. If you are handy, check if you can replace the unit yourself. Anyone can do it, and you will be glad you did.

  5. Mike R says:
    December 3, 2009 at 1:24 am

    I think this may actually be a bad jet motor. If the jet motor does not ‘start’ right away it will draw a huge amperage and trip the breaker. Try disconnecting the jet motor any way possible and then ‘call’ for the jet motor to run. If it does not trip then suspect a bad capacitor, starter switch internal to the motor, or bad bearings causing a high torque load. The spas are typically 230 Volt Single Phase. The jet motor is probably connected to the spa control circuit board panel via a plastic quick remove connector. Just unplug it by squeezing the tabs. If you do not trip then, again, the motor is suspect. Other notes: Breakers rarely go bad in the sense that they trip early or partially. Your breaker is doing its job. Just to be cautious, make sure all the power screws are snug but not over tight. The instant trip makes me certain that you have a very high amp load as soon as the JET is called for.

  6. Paul O says:
    December 3, 2009 at 1:24 am

    Try getting atleast a 20 amp breaker! Remember that all pool/spa breakers MUST BE GFCI PROTECTED! Also make sure you have the right gauge wire, 12 gauge wire should be with a 20 amp circuit!

    Also, make sure that you have everything wired correctly!

  7. stvb1 says:
    December 3, 2009 at 1:24 am

    It really is amazing how much bad advice you can get here. People telling you that you need a 20Amp breaker or circuit when they haven’t checked the specs for your unit or telling you you need a bigger breaker. It may be a ground fault problem in the jet pump that would be tripping the GFI, but it sounds more like the motor is locking up. As far as what all the problems are they would need to be trouble shot 1 at a time. The first fix could lead to an overall problem as in someone noting you may only be getting 120v to the tub instead of 240 which may be needed at the jet pump. Where he got the idea you were working off a 30Amp breaker is another question. Maybe he owned a hot tub in the past and it had 1, but that isn’t typical. If you know how to test for voltage test if you have 240v to all areas that need it. If you don’t know how to do that call an expert.

    http://www.BradleyElectricInc.com

  8. sr71blackbirrd says:
    December 3, 2009 at 1:24 am

    the first thing I would check is to see if motor shaft can be manually turned…sometimes the rotor/stator rust up if they have not been used in a while…a few manual turns can rub off residue and allow motor to start sometime more tips here: http://www.swimming-pool-information.com/pool-pump-problems.html

    oh…and the guys above me are right about not listening to the electrically challenged people who say "get a bigger breaker"!

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