so my 'jets' control air button is old and cracked and generally getting wiggy and i have to press it several times for it to work. attached pic #3 to see its condition.

questions -

1) any way to repair/rehab a worn air button? does this mean i have to get a whole new top-side control set?

2) if i do need a new topside control unit, is there a real difference between a Balboa 600 series (pic 1) and a Sundance Sentry 605 (pic 2)? They look identical except for the graphics - see pics - and the Balboa is $200 less!!

Better late than never.

These are NOT air button systems.

Both of these panels are the same electronically and either will work to replace your existing system.

You cannot repair this problem. Yes you are missing something. Balboa Instruments uses a very specific and proprietary technology in their topside control units that makes their 'buttons' quite unique, and it is related to how they got started in this industry.

These buttons, when pressed down, actually depress a rod that influences a piezo electric element that sends a single voltage charge to the internal circuitry to interpret what was depressed.... and further on, to the digital control system.

This is the switch that basically cannot fail because there are no switch contacts. However it will eventually fail if the outside protective shielding is corrupted or just plain 'worn out' due to water/environmental elements getting into the electronic control circuitry!

Anyway, purchase the less expensive version in this case.