Forgive me if I seem to be amateur about my hot tub. I recently was given this hot tub(with no spec sheets).

Jacuzzi brand about 10 years old (unknown style or model)

Balboa pass through heater(I just replaced)-#50096

It has been about 14 hrs and it is still not heating. I am getting adequate power to the posts inside the controller box. I felt the pass through heater and it doesn't feel hot--is it supposed to? Have I given it enough time to heat? I hate to pay someone to come out if I am missing something easy. Thanks for the help.

Do you have a cover?

How did you test voltage? (where exactly)

Do you have a thermometer?

Sorry, guess I should have included that in the original. Yes, I do have a cover and it is on, I tested it with a volt meter and both posts are getting 120v and I do not have a thermometer yet. I am a firemen and an on duty today but am going to pick one up tomorrow.

both posts on that attach the heating passthrough device into the control box.

Across the posts, or one post to ground at a time?
Try measuring across the posts.

Across the posts there is nothing. No reading at all.

If you're able, take a pic of the control box wiring, especially the main terminal block of the control box, and topside control " title="Very Happy" />

Hot tub control box 001.jpgHot tub control box 002.jpgHot tub control box 003.jpg Here are the pics. While I have you, does it matter which pump is Pump 1 and which pump is pump 2 when you hook the wires into the bottom of the control box?

Thanks. YES it matters. Be sure pump1 is the pump that's plumbed through the heater. Did it get changed?

Pump 1 is plumbed throught the heater. I had a jacuzzi spa technician out yesterday. He stated that I have good power going to the unit and to the heater. He is reading ohms through the heater, the sensor doesn't seem to be the problem(per the tech who tried I new sensor) and the controller is calling for heat. He told me he thought I got a bad element, but he really didn't know what was wrong. I had him check the old heater and he said it was ok-but going out. So yesterday, I took off the brand new heater and put the old heater back on. I went from 72 degrees last night at 9pm to 75 degrees this morning at 5:30am. I still don't think it is working. I am baffled. I don't know what to try next. By the way, the spa tech charged me $140 just to come out and tell me he doesn't know what's wrong..... Any ideas??

The heater isn't getting power. A heater doesn't slowly go out- it's like a light bulb. It either works or it doesn't. There's no in-between.

If he also got 120 on each leg, and zero between the legs, that was a total waste of money.

What voltage do you get on the circuit board, at the bottom, between the large red and black wires?


Here's something you can try.

Remover the pressure switch harness from the circuit board- it slips over two small metal prongs.

While the spa is running like it's supposed to be heating, CAREFULLY take a flathead screwdriver, and touch both the prongs (and NOTHING else) with the screwdriver, applying light pressure to the prongs, so the tip of the screwdriver is simultaneously touching both prongs. Hold it like that for about 10 seconds, and listen for a click.