Need Help/Opinons: Hot Tub Trips Breaker..wont turn on?

Question

I just installed a hot tub. It's an older model, but in working order when I bought it.

I have all the electrical ran and I am sure it's correct.

When I connect the tub and flip the circuit breaker, it trips immediately.

Here are steps I have tried to isolate the problem:

1. disconnected the jets to see if the power would remain - NO
2. disconnected the electrical load of the tub and the power to the GFI did remain ON and did no trip.
3. reconnected the tub and the GFI continues to trip.

Inside the tub, I confirmed that the ground wires are secure and the other 3 wires are connected as they should be ( Hot to Hot with the white to white neutral)

Now I'm dumbfounded... I need some help of some things to try.

Can someone please take a moment to give me some advice? I read somewhere that the GFI Breaker could be grounded wrong, but since it stays on when disconnected to the tub, then that cant be it - right?

Thanks in advance... AJ

Answer 1

A gfic device only measures an amount of current drawn over a short time. They can work fine even without the ground attached. They are designed to trip instantly without there being a full current draw, where as a circuit breaker requires there to be a full draw with a delayed trip for motor star-up. It sounds like you have done well in your diagnostics, next step would be to verify the current draw at the gfic device. Sounds to me that the older model is either drawing too much current or too much current too fast for the gfic to handle. You can also check the voltage at the tub, too little voltage due to voltage drop will increase the need for more amperage and trip the device. Last case scenario is a defective oversensitive gfic device. I can be reached via my answers bio.

Answer 2

Hey Nubby,
Is it possible that SLinks tub could have suffered during transport. Potentially something effecting the pump motors ability to start? A blockage or an impeller seizure.

SLink, you didn't state whether or not the tub is on or whether you guess there is a load upon plugging in. I agree with Nubby and that you are troubleshooting methodically.

How long has it been since the tub was used or energized? Is there an electrical heater in it? If it sat for some time in storage, prior to you acquiring it, then maybe the heating element sitting in water has deteriorated to point of causing excessive leakage current to ground, tripping the GFIC when plugged in.

Hope this helps, Good Luck! :-)

Answer 3

If the breaker trips immediatly, it indicates you have a short circuit bypassing the load. You will need to find an ohm meter and ohm out the load to see if you have any resistance. Look for loose wires touching that would bypass the load. You know that is downstream from the GFI, disconnect the wires from there and ohm out the circuit, disconnecting one wire at a time.

Answer 4

If the breaker is a gfi breaker and you have the bare ground wire hooked up to it it will trip. If thats the case disconect the bare ground wire and see if it trips, if it dont run a seperate ground wire thats insulated as your ground wire.

Answer 5

your buttons that control your jets are air controlled. (if you look at the line under the button its just a tube) You have to much stuff on at one time. The tub should be on all the time without the jets running for heat reasons and should only come on every once in awhile to keep the heat at a certain temp. When you get in it and turn the jets on it should not trip unless it is wet (GFCI needs to be put back) The heater can be the problem but like I said it should be on all the time to keep it at a constant temp and to keep it clean.

Answer 6

if it trips you probably have a shorted wire.