I've just got a 1997 Savannah spa from a friend. The spa has had the following parts changed.

Pressure switch
Tecmark command center
High limit switch
Heater element
40amp GFI
Pump

When the power supply was initially switched on it would immediately trip the GFI. Through the process of elimination I pulled out each connection on the side of the main Hydra Spa box, reset the GFI each time after tripping and found that, when I removed the command center plug and reset the GFI once again, the tub started. There was circulation and, when the jet button was pressed (activated by an air tube from the command center to the box) the jets worked.

The temperature dial for this spa is on the command center and, as I'm unable to plug this in without the GFI tripping, the water remains cold.

I've also noticed that when I press the light button on the command center (also controlled by an air tube to the main box) this also trips the GFI. I then have to press it again and reset the GFI before the tub will power up again.

The contents of the main box appear very clean and there are no obvious signs of bad wiring.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I think the guy at the spa center is running out of ideas and new parts (and getting very rich)

This is my first spa so I'm learning as I go - Another question - Should I be getting some heat from the element even though the command center (with temperature dial) isn’t plugged in?

Thanks in advance
Al

Just got it from a friend...

Do you know if this spa had experienced any electrical surges or lightning strikes prior to you getting it?

Does it have a circuit board inside the lower control box?

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly
Ok so just spoke to my friend and he said the neighbours house was hit by lightning 3 years ago - the only thing affected at my friends house was the garage door opener. The spa was fine and worked for a further 2 years. He used to empty it every fall and start using it again the the spring. Went to use it again this spring and nothing.

The main box has a sticker saying United spas model S3C-22-TL - no curcuit board inside

Found the wiring diagram of the main box - doesnt appear to have changed much since 1997

http://unitedspas.com/PDF/22SL.pdf

Thanks again

Does your unit have the time clock? (If so is it actually running?)

Does your unit have TWO separate contactors?

That schematic btw, is not totally representative of your spa as there is no provision for the tecmark topside control.

I assume this is a new gfci installation?

It does have a time clock and that appears to be running ok.

You're right about the diagram posted - the only addition appears to be the female connection for the topside control - this has 5 wires coming from it- white, black, green, orange and yellow. This is positioned on the bottom left below the pump switch

It is a new GFI installation

You may have your Neutral line in your GFCI box miswired.

(Check it anyway).

Pump voltage is 230 or 115?

pump voltage 230v - just checked GFCI wiring - red and black in the GFCI - both the white from the GFCI and from the main wiring in neutral bar - copper wire from the main wiring also connected to the neutral bar (another friend wired it up)

Is that right or is the house about to catch fire?

No that's not correct.

The neutral coming from the spa MUST be attached to the neutral connector in the GFCI - NOT the neutral bus.

Only the white pigtail that comes WITH the GFCI can go to the neutral bus.

Ill do that now - what happens with the copper wire (sorry to be so thick)