$550 Labor Cost To Replace the Digital Controller In My Hot Tub???!!

[Sea Six]

$450 for the Controller. $550 to install it.


F'k it, I'll do it myself. :)


Spent about three hours removing the old controller, replacing the wiring connections to the two pumps 'cause the connectors are different, removing the old 120V ozonator (the 220V ozonator I paid for did NOT ship with the controller I got :banghead:), removing the old topside panel while trying to figure out a way to pass the new wire from the new topside panel to the Controller, vacuuming out a ton of leaves and debris that the Spa Tech probably would have left in place, verifying the jumpers are all set properly, cleaning the old plumbing connections, draining the very last of the standing water in the tub.

Tomorrow I'll probably spend a couple of hours installing the new topside controller and trimming it out so it's watertight and looks good, and install the new digital controller.

$100 bucks an hour for a project that's about a 3/10 level of difficulty... WIN.

:shots:





:dance:

[Jeff '79]

I fixed my ac condenser today. I fired up the ac for the first time this morning and the condenser fan didn't start..
Mice ate the thermostat wire insulation and the wires were touching inside the condenser control box. I vacuumed it all out and reran a new wire. It works like a charm...

[DAB]

water and electricity? what could possibly go wrong? :ohnoes:

[Sea Six]

water and electricity? what could possibly go wrong? :ohnoes:

I figure I'm covered, because GFI.

:angel:

[Blademaker]

water and electricity? what could possibly go wrong? :ohnoes:

Beat me to it.......:D

[Sea Six]

I know an electrical engineer that works pretty cheap.

:cool:

[DAB]

common all wires to hot, cut the ground. :dance:

[Sea Six]

I figure Red is positive, Black is ground, and I dunno 'bout the white and green wires.

I just clipped 'em off as far back as possible.

They was gettin' in my way. :yesnod:

:smash:

[Frizzle]

I figure Red is positive, Black is ground, and I dunno 'bout the white and green wires.

I just clipped 'em off as far back as possible.

They was gettin' in my way. :yesnod:

:smash:

:rofl:


Wait till they throw Brown, Orange, Yellow, Grey and Green at you.

[DAB]

those extra wires, with all the fancy designer colors are just for show, they aren't needed. :yesnod:

[Sea Six]

those extra wires, with all the fancy designer colors are just for show, they aren't needed. :yesnod:

That's what I'm sayin'. :smash:

[LisaJohn]

Can Molly use the phone?

[DAB]

That's what I'm sayin'. :smash:

it just lets them charge more when some non-expert decides to peek inside the control box.

'yes sir, this is a high tech device here, well worth the extra cost'.

[DAB]

Can Molly use the phone?

Molly is going to inherit a nice place shortly.

[Sea Six]

Damn.

Just had my pubic hairs shortened (blackened) by 1/4".


:eek:

[Jeff '79]

:ball:

[Sea Six]

Is this normal?????!

:wow:

[Sea Six]

ONE o' mah BALLS just 'ssPLODDED!!

:ack:

[DAB]

Hang in there Molly, it's almost all yours.

[Sea Six]

:willy:

[JRD77VET]

water and electricity? what could possibly go wrong? :ohnoes:

I figure I'm covered, because GFI.

:angel:

Beat me to it.......:D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/JRD77VET/gif/Shock-1.gif~original


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/JRD77VET/gif/GFU/keg5yh-1.gif~original

[OddBall]

ONE o' mah BALLS just 'ssPLODDED!!

:ack:

They were just there for decoration anyway.

[Jeff '79]

They were just there for decoration anyway.

:Jeff '79:

[CertInsaneC5]

They were just there for decoration anyway.

:rofl:

Post of the day. :cert:

[Blademaker]

Hang in there Molly, it's almost all yours.

This............:funniest::funniest::funniest:

[LisaJohn]

A couple of the vettes are mine. My attorney, Annie, has all the proper documents.

MM

[Sea Six]

A couple of the vettes are mine. My attorney, Annie, has all the proper documents.

MM

I had you down for the DeLorean, and the work van (but I sold it last summer). No Vettes.

:confused5:

[LisaJohn]

The DeLorean is going to be awesome! Annie amended the legal paperwork to include the vettes about a month ago. You must have forgotten.

[Grey Ghost]

Dibs on the camper...I mean vamp mobile

[Sea Six]

Dibs on the camper...I mean vamp mobile

*Stabbin' Cabbin

[NEED-A-VETTE]

I figure Red is positive, Black is ground, and I dunno 'bout the white and green wires.

I just clipped 'em off as far back as possible.

They was gettin' in my way. :yesnod:

:smash:

Reason # 163 for not getting into Sea's hot tub.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Damn.

Just had my pubic hairs shortened (blackened) by 1/4".


:eek:

Reason # 164 for not getting into Sea's hot tub.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

ONE o' mah BALLS just 'ssPLODDED!!

:ack:

Reason # 165 for not getting into Sea's hot tub.

[CertInsaneC5]

Oh come on NAV. You know you would it enjoy it as long as Sea is not in it. :D :leaving:

[Sea Six]

Reason # 165 for not getting into Sea's hot tub.

Hey, at least I don't pee in it. :)

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Hey, at least I don't pee in it. :)

Pretty sure that's what caused rule # 57.

[Sea Six]

:funnier:

[Sea Six]

Finished installing the controller. Both pumps work... display works... topside control module works... had one very small leak, tightened the fitting and it seems to have fixed it. Heat function works. Lights work. Filled the tub with fresh water once, dumped the water, and I'm refilling it now.

I think I'll take the $550 savings and buy a new spa cover next month. This one will do for now. I've spent enough gYAT-danged money this month.

I discovered that one of the pumps didn't have a case ground installed when the spa was originally assembled. It does now. I found where the leaves were coming in, from the yard guy's leaf blower. I'll glue a piece of screen to cover those holes and keep out leaves and critters.

Now I need a 3/16" piece of ABS plastic to make an oval-shaped trim plate to cover up where the new topside control pad doesn't quite cover the holes left behind from the old topside control pad.

Anyone know where I can get a piece of plastic like this?


:coolest:

[DAB]

i have some lexan laying around here somewhere. would that work?

[Jeff '79]

Go to a glazier. They will cut it to the exact size that you need.. It's pretty cheap too.

[Sea Six]

i have some lexan laying around here somewhere. would that work?

What color is it? Is it clear or opaque? Thickness? I need to cut an oval 4" by 11".


Go to a glazier. They will cut it to the exact size that you need.. It's pretty cheap too.

Glazier? :confused5:

How would I find such a person? Yellow pages?

[Jeff '79]

What color is it? Is it clear or opaque? Thickness? I need to cut an oval 4" by 11".




Glazier? :confused5:

How would I find such a person? Yellow pages?

A glass place... Do yo have a glass store in your town?

[Sea Six]

A glass place... Do yo have a glass store in your town?

Oh. Yes, I do have a glass guy.

[Jeff '79]

Oh. Yes, I do have a glass guy.

They do plexi too... Any color, any size.. :seasix:

[DAB]

lexan is clear. but you can paint the backside of it any color that suits Molly's fancy.

got a template of it? i have a bandsaw and sanding stuffs. :DAB:

[DAB]

Oh. Yes, I do have a glass guy.

he's gonna charge you $550. :leaving::rofl:

[Sea Six]

lexan is clear. but you can paint the backside of it any color that suits Molly's fancy.

got a template of it? i have a bandsaw and sanding stuffs. :DAB:

I could probably make one and scan it into a .PDF and PM it to ya.

[Sea Six]

Could you put a profile around the contour? I'm thinking a really small ogee, or maybe a stopped roundover.

Just a plain bevel if nothing else.

[DAB]

I could probably make one and scan it into a .PDF and PM it to ya.

Or snail mail.

If scanning, include a ruler.

[Sea Six]

Or snail mail.

If scanning, include a ruler.

:thumbs:

[mrvette]

What BRAND is this hot tub??? I used to have a Vita Spa, made down the road here, and the local dealer supplied some minor part no sweat, thing ran fine, bought used of course, added insulation around the tub and a new top that I had made by guys on the side work, costing about 150 bux TOTAL.....

wooden mind hopping in the thing right now, but installed an interior hot tub years ago.....

:seasix:

OH, edit.....I furgot to remember.....you can modify the typical capillary tube oven thermostat to a lower temp by an adjustment screw....the on/off is close enough for any hot tub, and did just fine as an engine fan controller years ago.....so adjust it down to a comfy temp....being a hot tub that should be about 105 or so.....


GOD I'm a cheap bastard......

[Sea Six]

What BRAND is this hot tub??? I used to have a Vita Spa, made down the road here, and the local dealer supplied some minor part no sweat, thing ran fine, bought used of course, added insulation around the tub and a new top that I had made by guys on the side work, costing about 150 bux TOTAL.....

wooden mind hopping in the thing right now, but installed an interior hot tub years ago.....

:seasix:

OH, edit.....I furgot to remember.....you can modify the typical capillary tube oven thermostat to a lower temp by an adjustment screw....the on/off is close enough for any hot tub, and did just fine as an engine fan controller years ago.....so adjust it down to a comfy temp....being a hot tub that should be about 105 or so.....


GOD I'm a cheap bastard......

It's a MARQUIS brand of SPA... digital...

I like it about 100° F ... good enuFF for me....



:cheers:

[mrvette]

It's a MARQUIS brand of SPA... digital...

I like it about 100° F ... good enuFF for me....



:cheers:

Your Bod, your temp, fine....but dunno anything from MARQUIS brand....

just being a cheep guy......:lol::cert:

[Sea Six]

Your Bod, your temp, fine....but dunno anything from MARQUIS brand....

just being a cheep guy......:lol::cert:

:cert:

[Bill]

Could you put a profile around the contour? I'm thinking a really small ogee, or maybe a stopped roundover.

Just a plain bevel if nothing else.

Found him:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9KEwm1OoTs8/R47pMgQL6eI/AAAAAAAAAyk/4ZuCgT0UK8g/s320/midget_mac.jpg

[Sea Six]

Holy smokes.

Man, this thing is now like a whole new hot tub. The old heating element must have added a real restriction to the volumetric water flow rate. I always noticed one half of the tub had reduced pressure at the jets. Not any damned more. :eek:

It's also heating up MUCH faster. The old one was around 5-6° per hour in heating up a fresh water fill. This one has to be over 10° per hour... possibly around 12° per hour. Next time I'm going to calculate the hourly temperature rise.

The new controller also has some features the old one didn't have. I can operate both pumps completely independent of one another. With the old one, you were always using both or neither, period.

The display is much bigger and brighter, making it much easier to read. There is no keypad lockout function, for which I always had to get the manual to figure out how to disable every time the power was cycled. Every plug has its own neon bulb inside the connector so you can see it's getting power without having to get a voltmeter or voltage-present tester... and every fuse has a blown fuse light indicator on the outside of the control box. if I ever have to troubleshoot, it will be much easier.

The connectors for the pumps, ozonator, etc. were all color coded and have different pin outs, making it impossible to plug an item into the wrong location. Very handy after a few years when all the sticker labels have fallen off the aluminum case. Makes it easier to get to plumbing connections when you know you can just disconnect everything and move wiring out of the way, knowing you won't have any issues getting it all reconnected.

If I had known how much better the new controller was going to be I might not have chosen to suffer with the old LCD readout getting progressively dimmer and dimmer the last few years.

I might also go ahead and replace the incandescent bulb for the internal spa light with one of those multicolored 28 LED lights. By cycling the old spa light power switch on and off you advance through all the programmed color pattern displays. It has steady colors, alternating flashing colors, a color fade option where it cycles through all the colors, and some annoying disco flashing mode for those who are into that sort of thing. It's a very inexpensive way to upgrade the ten year old old tub to the styling of the current tubs.

:hurray:

[Jeff '79]

Pics of chicks in the hot tub...:slap:

[The_Dude]

Rich people problems.

[CertInsaneC5]

Pics of chicks in the hot tub...:slap:

Umm, at his age I'm thinking that's a bad idea. :leaving:

[DAB]

If that hot tub has 3 chicks in it, there won't be much water left in it. :leaving:

[Sea Six]

Umm, at his age I'm thinking that's a bad idea. :leaving:

Just because I have the disposition of a grumpy old man doesn't mean I'm old.

:dance:

[Sea Six]

Got the new topside control pad wire ran down the inside of the cabinet like I wanted... no wires run on the outside of my spa, thank you very much. This ain't no ghetto hot tub. :nono:

Also I replaced the two hot phase 6 gauge lines with ones that are long enough to fit through the grommet like they're supposed to. The old lines were 6" too short so I had to temporarily route them through another hole with no grommet.

I also replaced the outside power shutoff switch that wasn't working. Now I don't have to go inside to flip the GFCI breaker every time I need to power down for some reason.

:hurray:

And the topside control is now mounted in its proper location, instead of sitting outside on the ground in a gallon-sized ZipLoc bag. All it needs now is a 3/16" oval trim plate, some silicone sealant to make it watertight, and the overlay label for the buttons to be applied. And, eventually, a brand-new cover. Hunter green, with hurricane tie-down straps.

Man, I've forgotten how much I LOVE having a good, functional, reliable hot tub. For most of the nearly ten years I've owned it, I was in it every single day.


http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww173/prestonjjrtr/Winter/Bath3.gif

[Y2Kvert4me]

*gauge

[Sea Six]

*gauge

I stand corrected.


:o

[lspencer534]

ONE o' mah BALLS just 'ssPLODDED!!

:ack:

That's better than what happened to me when I ran into the electric fence with my lawn mower. Now one ball is normal, but the other one hangs down 12" longer. And one eye lid won't open...and one won't close. The lawn mower runs better than ever, though....

[LisaJohn]

Dang! And I though the time I grabbed the the little yellow handle to open the electric fence across the cattle gap while talking on the cordless phone was a shocking experience!

[That One Guy]

:willy:

[mrvette]

That's better than what happened to me when I ran into the electric fence with my lawn mower. Now one ball is normal, but the other one hangs down 12" longer. And one eye lid won't open...and one won't close. The lawn mower runs better than ever, though....

Spence, thanks for the BEST laugh of the day.......U krazy as I am.....:rofl::rofl::seasix:

[mrvette]

Dang! And I though the time I grabbed the the little yellow handle to open the electric fence across the cattle gap while talking on the cordless phone was a shocking experience!

Did you land on the ground???



:dance:

[LisaJohn]

No. But I couldn't drop the phone or the little yellow handle!:willy:

[JRD77VET]

No. But I couldn't drop the phone or the little yellow handle!:willy:

Go "Behind The Barn" and check out Have you done anything stupid lately?

:rofl:

It could have been much worse :lol: