i have a 1990 model jetsetter and i just got the leaks repaired. im happy about that... now onto my next problem.. no heat.

a few days ago when i got the spa i filled it with water, and then not thinking i plugged it in. well.. there was air in the system... i figured it would work its way out... i turned on the heat and the heater body got unbearably hot.. i mean.. burn yourself hot. then seconds later.. the high limit tripped. i waited a few min... and reset it.. and it hasnt tripped again.. nor has it heated up.

i discovered the circulation pump was not turning... i took it apart and found that the impeller needed some assistance... it would turn when i put power to it while it was standing on end.. but when i layed it down i had to shake it... well.. ill deal with that later... right now... the pump is pumping... just.. if i turn the power off then back on i have to shake it a little... so as long as it doesnt stop.. it should stay going for a while..

on to the heat! well.. after the pump was straightened out i turned on the heat again... waited this time for all the air to get out.. and on the return lines and in the spa i noticed a little heat... not much. then it stopped. no heat at all.. i got out my electrical tester and probed around... i tested the voltage along the 2 leads.. 118V.. i tried continuity and got a closed circuit and 12 ohms. i figure... if theres voltage going to it... it has to be heating... no its not.

my heater cord wire is warm... but the heater body and heater itself.. is not. i unplugged the heater wire from the black box... only to notice that the receptacle is a little melted.. and the prongs on the cord look like crap. which to me says... bad connection...i pulled what i guess is the thermostat out of the heater body to find it is blackened and pretty beat up.

i decided today to take the control box out and open it and see whats going on in there and what i might need to replace. i hooked everything up....turned the power back on... got the pump going again... and then turned the knob up for the heat... as i got to what i assume is the current water temp.. the relay clicked and started feeding power to the heater. meaning.. it is calling for heat... meaning... the thermostat should be working ish? i again... probe the heater element leads to find.... 118V... so i assume it should be heating.. but... no.

any ideas on this one? im about to replace the element but i want to make sure there is nothing else i should look at before i go spend the 100 bux on an element i might not need.

ive read that even if theres voltage and continuity and there is still no heat... then the element should be replaced. if i am to be replacing the element... i will also replace that burnt up receptacle..but for right now... its still conducting electricity so im not worried about it. ill fix it in due time...

for reference... this is a 120V system. the only reset is the high limit on the side of the black box...

confirmed the thermostat is working.. i used a cigarette lighter to see if when it was heated it would trip the relay... and it does. so it kicked off the heat. and the relay hit again as the bulb cooled.. indicating that it needs heat... so im more or less stuck on it being the heating element.

went out this morning and the temp was at 96°....after running aprox. 18 hours. so i decided to get in... so soothing...

ran the jets for a little while all seemed well. me and a friend got in it.. i had the tub way over filled cause befor i could even get all the way in...water was spilling over the sides... no big deal..

so i guess my heat is working after all. im gonna drain it tommorow and move it to its new home... right now its in my garage on blocks cause of the leaks and me redoing the plumbing in the equip compartment. all repaired now... it running for 18 hours and not a single drop of water underneath it. im so happy!