Hi: I am a first time poster. I have an older model Hot Springs Classic, circa 1988, Model E on a dedicated 110 volt 20 amp circuit. The tub has been running beautifully for the six years I have owned it.....right up to tonight.

Tonight I drained most of the water and cleaned the spa filter, then refilled the tub. The total alkalinity was very high (about 500) so I added some sodium bisulfate and turned the jets on. All systems were go but about five or ten minutes later, I noticed the jets were off and the GFCI was tripped. I reset it and turned the jets back on and the GFCI immediately tripped again. Tried it a few more times with the same result. I checked the circulation pump inlet and can feel suction and I can feel the water getting warmer at the outlet also. Any idea what can be causing the problem?? Thanks in advance.

What to do...

1. Double check that circuit breaker. If you let it sit without power for say 30 minutes, then go back and try it again... See if you still have the 5-10 minute delay for tripping the breaker.

Then check the temperature of the breaker. If it's very warm, then it's time to be real sure that the connections on it are good and tight.

Then let it cool down and try it again.

If it still does the same thing, then I would suspect that the heater is not turning off when you turn on the jets.

2. After all of the above, then I would disconnect the heater cord from the controller, and try it again. If it doesn't blow the breaker, then I'd plug the heater back in, and do it again....

If it trips again then there's a problem with the controller (a relay) that is not disengaging when the jets are turned on for sure.

A lot of this procedure could be avoided if you have a clamp on ammeter and can measure the amperage draw of the tub with the jets running.

Thanks so much for the quick response....

Must have been some kind of moisture problem. It didn't work Friday night or early Saturday morning but when I came home from work on Saturday afternoon and turned the jets on, it powered up just perfectly and has worked right ever since.

I have one other question. The rheostat knob for the light on the spa has broken off from the control box. How hard is it to replace that switch. Will I have to pull the box? Thanks in advance.