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Hot tub overheating

Have a hot tub that overheats to the point of blistering the insulating cover. Temp sensors have been replaced, Electronics package has been replaced ,accuracy of thermometer/thermostat verified. Disconnected heating element and it still overheats. Cools down when it is completely shut off(big disconnect on the wall) so source of heat is internal to the hot tub. Doesnt make sense to me that the water is being heated through pumping but I guess this is the only thing left. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Reply to
Jimmie
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There are spas style tubs that are kept warm solely by the heat gained from the pumping system. Sounds like a problem with the pump.

Reply to
cruff

got any referances/links to such a system?

used a clamp on ammeter to measure the current that the motor uses. measure right at the motor. then measure the total amount of current supplied to the hot tub at the breaker panel. if the current is much higher at the panel there is a second heater hidden away somewhere that you haven't located yet.

(test should be performed by qualified personnel)

Reply to
Tim Perry

Or a valve somewhere in the system almost closed.

Reply to
Paul Hovnanian P.E.

Motor current is fine, no hidden heaters, no water flow restrictions. trying to contact the manufacturer.

Reply to
Jimmie

Is the tub in the sun and what color is the cover?

Reply to
BJ Conner

Are you sure Michael Meyers is not somehow involved in this problem. Sorry, just saw the original Halloween!

Reply to
Jim Douglas

If it is a Jacuzzi pump, they use a water jacket around the motor to take advantage of the motor waste heat. Saves on the heating bill in the winter, but unfortunately they can overheat the water if covetred in a hot area during the summer. I am inCalifornia and it happens to me all summer. The solution is to leave it uncovered, but make a screen for the top so that it does not get crud in it.

Reply to
Bob

Take a look for the rating of the pump/motor unit. That much power is being put into the water. If a 1 hp pump/motor is 85% efficient, that means 0.85 hp is being delivered to the water in the form of pressure/flow. But in a system such as a hot tub, all the pressure/flow energy of the water is dissipated in the turbulance and is converted to heat.

So that 0.85 hp is just a 634 watt 'heater'. Of course, if you have a larger pump/motor, it is really just a larger 'heater'. Usually this amount of energy can only warm the tub so much, then ambient heat losses take over. But if it's well insulated and covered....

daestrom

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Reply to
daestrom

Fixed my overheating problem even though I am still not absolutely sure of the cause. Turned on the air all the time. Bubbles seem to help cool it and the temp never rises more than 1 degree above the T'stat setting.

Reply to
Jimmie

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