The following is intended for spa technicians, not for the owner. It is taken from a post to the Arctic Spas Technical Forum.
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If you encounter a tripping GFCI on an existing spa, and the trip is immediate, you can typically eliminate components quickly. Simply unplug each component, if the breaker holds, plug each back in one at a time. When you plug in the offending component, the breaker should trip. Replace the component.
If the breaker still trips with all of the components unplugged, you have successfully eliminated each of those components. Now disconnect the transformer. If the breaker holds, replace the transformer. If not, disconnect the input terminal wires. If the breaker holds, replace the motherboard. If not, then the problem is either the wire or the breaker and you must consult an electrician.
If you encounter an intermittently tripping breaker on an existing spa, the troubleshooting process can take much longer. One important consideration is whether or not the GFCI was manufactured with ‘noise suppression’. Until 2002, the only manufacturer to include noise suppressors in their production was Square D. In 2002, Siemens also included noise suppression in their manufacturing process. It is possible that a spa pack or other spa components can produce enough electrical noise to trip the GFCI. If the spa that has a ‘nuisance tripping’ problem has another brand of breaker (or a Siemens before revision), and is produced 2001 to current, there may not be a component problem at all. For this reason, we recommend and sell Siemens breakers that come with a sub-panel, making it possible for installation with any brand of main panel.
If the intermittent tripping shows a pattern, such as once a week, then you may have to do some long term elimination. For example, unplug the heater, if within one week the breaker trips again, you know that the heater is not the problem. Always inspect ozonators and blowers to ensure that there is no water infiltration that could be causing the problem as well.
A tripping breaker could be the result of excessive amp draw. I suggest that the multi-meter that you have be able to measure amperage as well as voltage. This will allow you to test each component for excessive amp draw.
Lastly, if the spa is a Legend SE or Legend with therapy air option, please verify the software and revision# at power-up. If it reads 354 rev 1,2 or 3, then you may have a power management problem during filter cycle initiation, causing an intermittent trip. Please update the software. |
