Welcome to Backyardplus! In this video, we are going to show you how to test the hot tub heater in your Hot Spot or Solana Spa. If your spa is not heating or, if it is heating but not coming up to the set temperature, you may have a bad heater. This test is very easy and will only take a couple of minutes. First, let’s go over the tools you will need.
Table of Contents
Tools You Will Need to Test the Hot Tub Heater in a 2006-Forward Hot Spot and Solana Spa
- Phillips Head Screwdriver
- Multimeter with Amp Clamp
Step 1. Turn on the low-speed jet pump.
Step 2. Remove the control box lid.
Step 3. Make sure the green LIM OK light and the red HEAT light are lit on the motherboard.
Step 4. Set your multimeter to 300 ACV. Test the incoming power at the terminal block. Place one lead into L1 and the other into L2. You should get a reading close to 115 volts (or 230 volts if you are running the spa at 230 volts). If the voltage is lower than 110 volts you have an incoming voltage problem (Using an extension cord will lower your incoming voltage).
Step 5. Test the voltage going to the heater. Notice the two black wires going from the motherboard to the terminals on the heater. Place your leads on the heater terminals. You should get a reading close to 115 volts (or 230 volts if you are running the spa at 230 volts). If you have good voltage going to your heater but your heater is not making heat, it means you have a bad heater.
Step 6. Test the amperage draw from the heater. If your spa is not coming up to temperature as it should, you could have a bad heater. Set your multimeter to 200 ACV (300 or higher ACV for 230-volt spas). Be sure your meter reads 00.0 before you begin the test.
Place an amp clamp around one of the black wires of the heater. At 115 volts a 1kW heater should be pulling around 8 amps and at 230 volts a 4kW heater should be pulling around 16.6 amps.
Any low amperage reading indicates a bad heater. A high amperage reading also indicates a bad heater. In this case, the heater is drawing 14.6 amps at 115 volts which means it’s time to replace the heater.
Watch the video here “How to Test a Hot Tub Heater in a 2006-Forward Hot Spot and Solana Spa!”
Thanks for reading “How To Test the Heater In a 2006 – Forward Hot Spot and Solana Spa.”
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