Welcome to Backyard plus! In this post, we show you how to retrofit a spa with the Balboa BP-7 Series Retrofit Kit. Before we get started, let’s go over the tools and parts you will need.
Tools you will need:
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Flat blade screwdriver
- Large channel locking pliers
- Needle nose pliers
- File
- Scraper or putty knife
- Rubbing alcohol
- Silicone grease
- Jigsaw or Dremel tool
Parts you will need:
- Balboa BP-7 Series Retrofit Kit. The kit includes:
- 5.5kW or 4.0kW heater
- Spaside Control Panel
- Spaside label (overlay)
- 12V Light Assembly with Sloan LED
- Spaside Adapter Plate
- 2” Heater Tailpieces with Gaskets
Parts you may need:
- If the spa is connected to 120V, you will need an extra power jumper
Step 1. Disconnect power from the spa.
Step 2. Drain the spa.
Step 3. Remove the equipment door.
Step 4. Disconnect the power wires, light, jet pump, sensors and control panel. Loosen the heater compression fittings and remove the box.
Step 5. Loosen the panel nuts, break the adhesive seal and remove the control panel.
Step 6. If you are working on a spa with limited space, you may have to remove some of the foam and reposition the jet pump in order for the BP-7 to fit correctly.
Step 7. Reposition the jet pump as far as you can toward the shell of the spa and secure it with screws if necessary. The BP-7 box sits about one inch deeper than the Gecko box. The BP-7 control box is approximately 13” wide, 12” tall and 4 5/8” deep.
Step 8. Cover the compression O-rings with silicone grease and install them on the heater compression fittings.
Step 9. Install the spa light.
Step 10. Install the control box and tighten the compression fittings.
Step 11. Before connecting the spa to 120 volt electrical service, make sure all the white component jumpers wires are connected at Area 2.
Step 12. Loosen the two screws on the strain relief clamp.
Step 13. Plug the jet pump into J9 on the motherboard.
Step 14. Plug the spa light into J15 on the motherboard.
Step 15. Check the fitment of the panel. Enlarge the opening with a round file if needed.
Step 16. Remove the adhesive with a scraper.
Step 17. Clean the area with rubbing alcohol.
Step 18. Remove the protective film and press the control panel down into the opening.
Step 19. Plug the control panel into the port on the motherboard.
Step 20. Route the cords through the side and install the strain relief clamp.
Step 21. For 120 volt operation, connect the green ground wire to the grounding lug. Connect the white neutral wire to L2, and the black hot wire to L1.
Step 22. For 120 volt operation, the jumper located right above the transformer must be moved to the left two pins. A second jumper must be placed on the right two pins. Make sure all the component white jumper wires are connected at Area 2.
Step 23. For 240 volt operation, connect the green ground wire to the grounding lug. Connect the white neutral wire to N, and connect the two hot wires to L1 and L2. Leave the jumper just above the transformer on the middle two pins.
Step 24. For 240 volt operation, move the dip switches A2 and A3 to the on or up position to place the system in high amp mode. This allows the heater to stay on when the jet pump or blower is on.
Step 25. Before connecting the spa to 240 volt service, make sure all the components require 240 volts. If so, leave all the white wires connected to Area 2. If the jet pump, blower, circ pump or ozone operate at 120 volts, plug the corresponding white component jumper wire into Area 4 .
Step 26. Fill the spa and connect power to the spa. The spa will enter priming mode. Run the jet pumps for a few minutes to purge the air out of the system.
Step 27. With the power on, move dip switch 1 to the ON or up position. The system will enter test mode.
Step 28. Follow the instructions in the operation manual to enter SETUP mode. Once you enter SETUP, choose the correct setup number for your spa based on the system setup and connection chart. After you have chosen the setup for your spa, press the light key to save.
Step 29. Move Dip switch 1 to the OFF position to take the spa out of test mode.
Good job!
Watch the video here! “How to Retrofit Your Spa with the Water Pro Balboa BP-7 Spa Control System”
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