Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Pools & Hot Tubs => Topic started by: CountryBoyJohn on November 18, 2013, 05:18:36 AM

Title: Hot Tub Motor
Post by: CountryBoyJohn on November 18, 2013, 05:18:36 AM

Does anyone have any experience with the pumps/motors that run the hot tub?  I got all my stove connections made, wired up, and functioning.  But, when I started filling the tub and testing the motors, I have one motor where the shaft turns freely, but the motor won't turn it.  I hear it hum when I turn it on, and then I hear what sounds like a switch in the motor turn off then the humming stops after 4 or 5 seconds.  Then, about a minute later, it does the same thing.  Almost like it is trying to turn the motor again.  Any thoughts? 

Title: Re: Hot Tub Motor
Post by: Johnv656 on November 18, 2013, 12:27:26 PM

Ours did that, ended up replacing the motor

Title: Re: Hot Tub Motor
Post by: ITO on November 18, 2013, 01:27:54 PM

 Sounds like the motor's internal (Klixon) thermal overload element is sensing high current (heat) and then opening but once it cools it closes then it starts all over again. Does the motor have an external capacitor mounted on it (a cap start motor has a bulged metal cover on the outside containing the capacitor)? If so it may only need a capacitor which is pretty cheap. This link is pretty helpful and no I'm not a salesman!
http://www.spadepot.com/spacyclopedia/pumps.htm (http://www.spadepot.com/spacyclopedia/pumps.htm)
 

Title: Re: Hot Tub Motor
Post by: CountryBoyJohn on November 19, 2013, 05:37:34 AM

Thanks ITO.  I got the motor out and am taking it to a place today.  I'm hoping it's just the capacitor.  I don't have the hump, but I think it is on the end of the motor.  That link was a good read.

Title: Re: Hot Tub Motor
Post by: CountryBoyJohn on November 19, 2013, 11:33:31 AM

Bad capacitor.  $7.50 for a new capacitor.  $17.50 for the guy to test it and confirm that it is indeed the capacitor. 

Title: Re: Hot Tub Motor
Post by: ITO on November 19, 2013, 11:51:45 AM

 Kind of unusual to see a cap start motor with an internal capacitor but they are obviously out there!
 I dont know how old your pump is but you may consider putting a new wet end on the pump while you have it out, that makes a whale of a difference if the impeller is worn at all. Usually the wet end is pretty easy to change and cost about $40.

Title: Re: Hot Tub Motor
Post by: gsilus on December 31, 2013, 04:10:10 PM

CountryBoyJohn, Sounds like you got by with not much expense :)
Nice to have such a forum to get ideas from and help.

Title: Re: Hot Tub Motor
Post by: mlappin on February 28, 2014, 09:17:39 PM

Bad capacitor was the first thing that came to mind when you described your symptoms.

Capacitor start motors also have a centrifugal switch in them that can go bad.

Glad we went to three phase on as much stuff as possible, single phase motors are a pain in the but.