I also posted this post in the heating area as well. I dont know if that is okay or not but i am a newb and not sure which area the post should go in. Thanks for any insight.


I recently bought a used spa (specs posted below). Upon first hook up everything worked great. The pumps functioned, the temp held at 103 (f), lights worked and so all was well. After a week i noticed three small lights blinking and read in the manual that there were three possible causes/solutions to this:

1. Problem: Spa does not heat; jets and lights operate (Display Reads ***)
-Problem Cause: Pressure Switch Tripped
-Solution: Check for clogged filter. The pressure switch will reset when the flow of water through the heater has been restored. Call for service if the pressure switch trips often.

2. Problem: Display Reads "***"
-Problem Cause: Pressure Switch senses flow through the heater even though the jet pump is off.
-Solution: Contact an Authorized Service Tech.

3. Problem: Display reads "***" (Entire Spa Inoperative)
-Problem Cause: Heater High Limit thermostat tripped
-Solution: Disconnect power to the spa for at least thirty seconds to reset the heater high-limit. If tripping continues, clean the filter, then if tripping still occurs, call for service

So, the jets and lights work fine. The tub heated to 104 (f) but when the three lights started blinking the temp started dropping and could not hold at the DESIRED temperature (102, 103). The temp can be set to 103 but will not heat past the sitting temperature. I noticed it started to drop to 99 (f) and then three days later it went to 85 (f). The jets are running and you can cycle through all the functions of the jets but the three lights keep blinking and temp gradually keeps dropping.

I replaced the filter with a brand new one (the old one could have used it anyway). Problem still persisted after i reset the hot tub. Although, it worked until i hit the jets button all the way through the cycles. My jets have 5 functions:

1st press: Two Speed jet pump runs on low speed.
2nd press: Two speed jet pump runs on high speed.
3rd press: One-and Two Speed jet pumps run on high.
4th press: One-Speed jet pump runs on high Speed
5th press: Both Jet pumps are off.

So, i also located the pressure switch and disconnected the two wires to it, to see if i could rid/trick the three lights. Reset the tubs power and back the three (***) blinking lights came.

And now i am lost. Any insight would be greatly appreciated and i love to troubleshoot so please start pointing me to the right areas to begin the process and ill be happy to keep posting back. I can also take some pics if needed so please do not hesitate to ask. Thanks.

The Ozone by Balboa doe snot work. At least i am sure it does not work as it does light up the canister but there are no bubbles coming up in the water. I read that you know it is working when the bubbles are coming up in the tub water when the jets are off. Maybe this is the issue?


Thanks for checking out this post and cheers for any opinions, thoughts, and theories.

-Mardimus



Specs:

Power:
Spa connected to a Connecticut Electric Spa Box
230V going to tub

Caldera Olympia Spa
Watkins Shell 9/3/02
#OLH3d1115
Hig/Oly 39063-3 W-Sand

Pumps (2X):
Caldera Spas
Relia-Flo XP2
pn: 39579
Model: 06110731-1

Board:
Spa Builders
Model: SC-CF-P121-P211-01-NE-LS-WK2
10696-01C
ID: 3-72-7023

Ozone by Balboa
Ozone Generator
OZBA240
52468-01200503110063
E200943
Balboa Instruments Inc.

I don't know anything specific about Caldera but some generic questions come to mind. Have you checked the voltage at the connection to the heater to see if the tub is trying to energize it? If its hot then you probably have a bad heater. Have you checked your circulation pump or your flow sensor? If either of these are bad your tub will not heat.

If the circulation pump was not working, would the automatic jet come on to heat the water? Because what i have done is let the tub sit for a day with no power. Turned the power on, i received no three "***" blinking lights and the tub heats to 102 (f). The auto jet came on to heat the tub and turns itself off/on. Three hours later i played with the jets button and cycled all the way through and the three "***" lights started blinking at me and then the problem persisted. I may not know which pump or where the circulation pump is located so i posted a few pics. I also am not sure where the flow sensor is or how to test the heater. I have a multimeter so i can test the pieces with a little guidance.













Thanks again for all the insight. I hope the pics help a bit and i am happy to troubleshoot as much as possible so please let me know.

Cheers,
-Marty

Interesting, like I said, all my information is based on what little I have learned by figuring out how to fix my D1 tub. Your spa looks to be significantly different. For one the heat appears to be circulated by the jacuzzi pump on the left (probably 2 horse pump) and may also act as a circulation pump. I assume it runs on low much of the time circulating water thru the heater cause it doesn't look like there is another motor in the enclosure. My circ pump is a a small 1/4hp magnetic motor separate from the jacuzzi pumps and operates any time heat is called for without kicking on the big pumps. If your spa is heating at all then the heater must be good as well as the flow switch. I'll bet that silver and black thing with the yellow label on top of your heater is the flow sensor. It is supposed to shut down power to the heater is it does not sense any water flow to keep the heater from burning itself up. Any way, sorry I don't think this is much help. I jumped in cause Expert help seems to be mostly absent lately on this forum. Not that I can blame them, there's no money in telling people how to fix their spas themselves. Good luck

I have found two parts to replace what i have narrowed down as the source.

-High Limit switch
-Pressure Switch

I order the two parts and hope that one of them will fix the problem. I will post back asap with the results.

Thanks to all that have read and given thoughts. Cheers.