I have a Sundance Cameo hot tub 1997 model and have an electrical
problem. The small circulation pump started to trip the GFI main
breaker. With the pump disconnected the breaker works fine and dosn't
trip. So I replaced the pump with a new one the exact same model pump
with same ratings and it still trips the breaker after about 15 to 30
seconds? I can trouble shoot and repair electrical systems but have no
information on the Sundance tub other then a small block diagram inside
the main electrical box. I'm at a loss as what to try next and would
appreciate any help if someone out there knows about Sundance hot tubs.
Mine has a model 850 main control board.

Thank You

Well a GFI breaker is doing two things...
It is looking for a "leak" to ground.
And it is looking at the total amperage used.

And I think the heating element on a hot tub will not be turned on unless
there is water flowing?

So could be drawing too much amperage. Or breaker could be bad. Or something
could be leaking to ground, but only when pump is running.

Does not make sense that a new pump would be leaking to ground, so I would
think that something else is the problem.

May want to try disconnecting the heating element and see what happens.

Next might try disconnecting water flow switch which would also keep the
heating element from working (so far as I know about these things).

But then, if disconnecting the heating element or flow switch stops the
breaker from tripping, is it because the heating element was drawing too
much amperage or because it was leaking to ground, or because associated
wiring was leaking to ground?

I suppose a wire could be wet somewhere and leaking to ground. Look for any
dampness. (Disconnect electricity first of course before poking around).

Ultimately I guess you would need an ampmeter and or a volt/ohm meter, or
replace parts until problem is solved, or try replacing GFI if nothing else
worked. But all of these are expensive, so may just want to call a repair
company...




"jr" wrote in message
I have a Sundance Cameo hot tub 1997 model and have an electrical
problem. The small circulation pump started to trip the GFI main
breaker. With the pump disconnected the breaker works fine and dosn't
trip. So I replaced the pump with a new one the exact same model pump
with same ratings and it still trips the breaker after about 15 to 30
seconds? I can trouble shoot and repair electrical systems but have no
information on the Sundance tub other then a small block diagram inside
the main electrical box. I'm at a loss as what to try next and would
appreciate any help if someone out there knows about Sundance hot tubs.
Mine has a model 850 main control board.

Thank You

As a test, I'd try hooking the pump up direct to another AC source.
Then with the pump running, run the spa heater, blower, etc, and see if
the GFCI still trips. If it does, then you know there is likely a
leakage to ground somewhere in the control pack or wiring. If it
doesn't, then it could be a total amp draw issue, though that seems
less likely.

On 6 Nov 2005 04:57:26 -0800, wrote:

As a test, I'd try hooking the pump up direct to another AC source.
Then with the pump running, run the spa heater, blower, etc, and see if
the GFCI still trips. If it does, then you know there is likely a
leakage to ground somewhere in the control pack or wiring. If it
doesn't, then it could be a total amp draw issue, though that seems
less likely.


If the OP has a ground fault and the GFI is taking 15-30 seconds to
trip, I think I'll pass on any invitation to go over for a dip.

Thanks for all your replies. I found that it is the flow switch or flow
sensor not sure what name to call it by. Anyway I diconnected the flow
sensor both wires to it and the breaker no longer trips. When I first
was trying different things to find the problem I only disconnect one
side of the flow sensor not both. That was my mistake for if I had
unhook both wires the first time around I would not have gone out a
bought an expesive replacement pump. Now I need to track down a new
flow sensor.
Thanks again for your help.

On 6 Nov 2005 09:44:53 -0800, "jr" wrote:


Thanks for all your replies. I found that it is the flow switch or flow
sensor not sure what name to call it by. Anyway I diconnected the flow
sensor both wires to it and the breaker no longer trips. When I first
was trying different things to find the problem I only disconnect one
side of the flow sensor not both. That was my mistake for if I had
unhook both wires the first time around I would not have gone out a
bought an expesive replacement pump. Now I need to track down a new
flow sensor.
Thanks again for your help.

This doesn't make sense. I'm guessing (but surely do not know for
certain) that the flow sensor is interlocked to the heating element.
No flow, no heat. No heat, less current demand; breaker doesn't trip.

That said, if this is a two-terminal device then it should be
functionally disabled with only one lead disconnected.

What are you going to do after you replace it and the breaker still
trips? If you believe that this is the problem component, if I were
you, I would do some further troubleshooting.

Run the pump and see whether there is a contact closure or resistance
change between the sensor terminals. Also measure the resistance
between each terminal and ground, with and without flow. Something is
fishy.

THE most likely source of leakage is the heater.

The likely "point of leakage" is where the power is connected to the heating
element.

Thus, the FIRST thing you do when you have GFCI tripping problems is
COMPLETELY disconnect the heater and leave everything else alone.

Motors usually don't develop leakage paths until they are WET.

Well the problem is solved now, the cover on the sensor was allowing
water get onto the sensor from outside the tub. The tub has a vent to
the outside world just in front of the sensor and we had a strong wind
and rain strom the day before. All I did was remove the cover over the
flow sensor and found that some water was sitting on top of it. Dried
the top of the sensor off and replaced the cover turned on the power
and it works fine now.

Good job! It's always something simple it seems.... It is just finding that
"simple problem" which is the chore!



"jr" wrote in message
Well the problem is solved now, the cover on the sensor was allowing
water get onto the sensor from outside the tub. The tub has a vent to
the outside world just in front of the sensor and we had a strong wind
and rain strom the day before. All I did was remove the cover over the
flow sensor and found that some water was sitting on top of it. Dried
the top of the sensor off and replaced the cover turned on the power
and it works fine now.