Okay, did some testing today. Yesterday when we were over there, had pulled breaker out and reset everything. Turned temp down to like 65, when got over there this morning the three dots were flashing. Of course the heater did not run because the water temp was still at 72. So reset again this morning and turned up to 95, took about 1 1/2 hours and got all the way up to 95 and the heater shut down. No 3 dots yet. So then I started pump1 and let it run for the 20 minutes and it shut down and still no 3 dots. So I guess the same thing happened yesterday, because it is set to do a filter cycle 1 hour a day and seems like when this filter cycle goes on is when the 3 dots appear. Not pump 1 or 2, just this filter cycle.

About 2 hours later it came on to do its filter cycle run and within 10 minutes the 3 dots were flashing and the system shut down.

So I called PDC spas, tomorrow we are going to call them and my husband will go through some checks they want to do. First thing they want him to check is the empellor said sometimes they get clogged, or maybe the wire that goes from pump to terminal box corruded. I did mention about possibly being the high limit probe sensor and he said yes it could be, but they very seldom see this happen.

With this information do you still think it could be high limit sensor? We really need to have this fixed by next week as we have guests coming in for Thanksgiving for 5 nights and they pay big bucks for this cabin.

Thanks,
Linda

No, not as likely to be the high limit sensor if it runs alright with jets on. Do you know if you have a dedicated circ pump that is separate from your other two pumps or is it pump 1 low speed that does the filtering?

And you said before that you'd replaced the pressure switch already. Did you calibrate it to the low speed/filter pump?

Actually we only have 1 pump no blower, I think before I said two pumps, but it is one pump with 2 HP. We have 2 buttons on it, first one puts on the jets normally and the second button next to it, puts on the high jets. This pump was replaced last year. And yes we already calibrated the pressure switch a few days ago and did not help. My hubby turned the screw on the pressure switch to the left maybe about 1/2 turn. This was a new pressure switch from PDC spas.

We did not get a chance to go over there today to call them, because it was so cold here, but need to try tomorrow.

So just don't know, any other ideas??

Thanks,
Linda

Just wanted to let yo know that we spoke to the factory service department today. They are sending down the high limit sensor as well as a new circuit board. He claims if we need to replace the circuit board it is not that hard. We are going to try the high limit sensor first to see if works and said we could always return the circuit board if need be.

Figured out that the 3 flashing dots only come on when it starts its filter cycle. We had it set for 1 hour, but late yesterday we had to take the filter cycle down to 0, as long as we did that the heater would still come on and we were down to 20 degrees last night so needed to have the heater running. Today when we went over I reset the filter cycle to 1 hour and within 10 minutes the 3 flashing lights came on. They had us pull the breaker to stop the flashing lights and then set the filter cycle for 12 hours and of course in the 1/2 we were there no flashing dots, but had to set to 0 filter again tonight because of hard freeze.

Hopefully the high limit sensor will work because that is only $10, we have a wholesale account with them. The circuit board on the other hand is $200.
Thanks,
Linda

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!

Just wanted to quickly get this out there and see what you think of this. Yesterday, had the spa set to like 68 and 0 for filter to keep heat going during freezing temp's. This morning when I went over there the temp was at 70 no flashing dots, and still on 0 filter cycle, and as soon as I hit the temp button to turn up a little the 3 dots came on. Pulled breaker again and am hoping that enough heat in there to hold for the night as another hard freeze.

Do you think now this could really be the probe thing. I did call the factory again, and he said the parts were being shipped today and should have by Monday.

Thanks,
Linda

Okay, I am back and still desperate for help!!!

The company sent down the heat sensor probe and we installed it and almost thought for a day it was working. Over Thanksgiving, we had people in the rental cabin we knew so it was okay, but the dots are still blinking. We had never gotten to the circuit board as we almost thought the probe worked.

Yesterday, my husband and I were going to attempt to replace the circuit board, as the service guy at PDC spas said really not that hard, WELL, problem being is that it is not identical to the old one in there and very hard to see. So called a local guy that originally sold us the hot tub, his store had burnt down but was still doing service calls. He would not replace the circuit board, he said he does not mess with them, he just disconnects the enitre box along with the heater and sends back to the company and lets them fix it. Problem with this is that then we have to completely winterize it as we are freezing at night. Plus this is our high-end cabin and we would not be able to rent until repaired. I am trying to find somebody else that might come out and replace circuit board. When the guy was there today, of course we could not get the 3 dots to come on, it is so very sparatic. This morning I actually got over there, and the 3 dots were not on, and yesterday I had it set at 60 degrees and 1 filter cycle. Then today after he pushed a bunch of buttons and had it set at like 80 degrees and 2 filter cycles it shut down and I went out to look and the 3 dots were on.

The guy at PDC spas asked if when they sent us the sensor if they sent a new wire and we said no, could there possible be a chance that the wire going to the sensor and circuit board would be bad. Only other thing then replacing the circuit board, he said maybe the propeller might have something clogged in it??

Any suggestions, desperate for help!!!

Thanks,
Linda

If the dots appear when you turn the heat up, and then disappear when you turn it back down, there's a good chance it's a water flow issue. Does the pump come on when you do this or is it on already? How's the circulation in the tub look?

If you turn the tub temp up and the dots appear, take the opportunity to check the continuity across the pressure switch terminals. And it never hurts to open the pump and check the impeller for debris. Close both valves (one in front of the pump, the other on the opposite side of the heater) and open up the suction side pump union (the pipe going into the front of the pump, parallel to the motor shaft). That will give you clear access to feel or see any debris that might be in there.

So they sent a new sensor with no wire?

No the dots do not appear or disappear when turning the heat up. The circulation in the tub is great, we have checked each and every one, almost taking a bath to make sure all are flowing good. Like I said on Monday when I left I had it set at a temp of 60 and 0 filter cycles and when coming in on Tuesday Morning the 3 dots were on, so we suspected that it was the safe winter mode that set them off. Then yesterday morning with it set at 1 cycle and still 60 for the first time no dots were flashing in the morning. Spa guy came out and messes with it, turned up heat checked pumps, etc. and by the time I left yesterday the 3 dots were on. In fact yesterday when I pulled the breaker for a few seconds and put back in the 3 dots appeared again so had to pull breaker again for a little longer.

Do you think we should replace that wire?? I will have my husband to the other things you said also.
Thanks,
Linda

Which sensor did they send, temperature or high limit?