OH message, after a cooldown

[swingineel]

I have a Jacuzzi Echo Z255, 2005 model year. I am getting an OH message on the topside. I killed power and flushed and cleaned the filter. After about an hour, I reinstalled the filter and turned the unit back on again. Temp set at 100, it read 96, didn't even turn the pump on before the OH started flashing again. Any thoughts?

[MaryH]

Is the heater trying to come on without the pump being on? Does your spa have a indicator on the topside that comes on when the heater should be on? If so is that coming on prior to pump? What happens when you turn the thermostat all the way down, are you still getting the OH message?

[swingineel]

Hard to say about the heater trying to come one before the pump. The topside that I have "original jacuzzi model" is a two button (temp and speed) with a digital readout in the middle and no heating indicator. I turn on the power and as it boots up or whatever it reads "0" then turns to "100", the default start temp, then shows what I'm assuming is the actual temp (lower than 100, last night 94, now 75) and immediatly flashes OH. I don't know if this makes a difference, but this last month I had been getting an occasional "FL" message, but it would go away seemingly by itself.

I just tried to turn the temp down quickly after start up and only got down to 95 (from 100) before the flashing OH started, however the pump turned on for a moment before the OH shut it off.
Of course once that OH starts flashing, the topside controls seem to be disabled so I can't turn it down after.

[MaryH]

It sounds like either the heater is trying to come on prior to pump circulating the water through it or you have a bad sensor. One thing though, you said you occasionally get a FL. I know you said you cleaned the filter but how old is it? It may need to be replaced with a new filter. Sometimes even though they look clean they can cause restriction of water flow due to body oils etc.

[swingineel]

I did try to run it withoutthe filter with the same result. In regards to the heater coming on first. I had it powered off for over an hour before turning it back on again, would the heater overheat immediatly? It would have been hot enough to have residual heat to make it overheat so quickly after powering up again, would it?

Bad sensor, which one would it be, the over heat sensor? Do you know the part number for that model that you guys would have?

[MaryH]

It probably is bad but just trying to go over as much as possible. They use Balboa parts in those spa and the sensor cable should have Balboa's part number on a label on the wire. Please check for that number.

[swingineel]

Ok Mary, I just tried it again after having it powered off for a couple of hours. Same basic thing happened, starts reading 0, then turns to the setting of 100, I try to turn it down and this time it actually lets me, so I set it down to 90 and then the jets kick on and after a couple of seconds of the jets being on, an indicator light (probably the heater light? didn't notice it had that before, sorry) comes on. A second after that indicator light comes on, the OH flashes and the jets shut off. Does that tell us anything different?

P.S. i've attached an image of my topside (sorry, it has another website name on it, but maybe you can verify the type and then delete it)

[MaryH]

It is sounding more like it may be the high limit sensor on the heater. It monitors the temperature of the water in the heater. Since you heat indicator came on when you adjusted the thermostat it sounds like the temp sensor is doing its job. Have your always had the issue of not being able to lower the temperature on the topside panel? Could have moisture under overlay and has dried out and working now.

[swingineel]

I can lower the temperature, it's just a single button control, where you press it once to start lower, and then release and wait then press it again to increase the temp. Its only not letting me do it note because I'm assuming the OH sensor kills the system as soon as thr heater kicks on..

But to sum up, you think its probably the heat sensor? Where you able to view the picture of the topside thati sent? Am I still dealing with balboa parts?

[MaryH]

I think it may be the high limit sensor located on the heater itself. Yes it is still Balboa controls. The sensor should have a label with their part number on it. It should start with the number 3 on the part number.