Have you read my #22?
Yes, i have, and in my personal experience, manufs take a dim view of any alterations to any part of the product within the warranty period. This may not be the case with this unit, but going by precident, i expect that it might. Hence my post here.
So out comes the flir camera to look at the flex but not the plug or socket which is clearly where the problem is.
Do you really think I would point the camera at the cable, and not the plug, socket, other plugs and sockets for comparison, the pump, the tub, the cat, my car, the house, the moon............
I checked *everything*, all items involved are now running a little warm, but still at reasonably sensible temps (low 30s as noted) so, as previously stated, I am confident that the plug itself is fine. But I am keeping an eye on it while we use it for the first few days / weeks, and making sure not to run other very-high-load devices on the same ring at the same time.
43 posts in and the OP is reluctant to or does not want to change the plug which is a key element of the problem
There is clearly a minor issue with this hot tub and the OP clearly is not happy with it's operation. Having rejected most if not all of the advice given I would suggest the only conclusion to solve this issue is for him to return it as not fit for purpose
Again, someone who isnt actually reading the posts. I WILL likely be changing the plug/cable at some point once i have run in a suitably rated dedicated feed. But, as i have stated several times, I am not going to irriversibly alter a BRAND NEW product until I am sure A) there are no warranty issues with the core product (the tub, pump, controller, etc), and B) I have a suitible way forward. Just replacing a 13a plug witha 13a plug when (by many accounts) "high load devices just run warm" isnt going to actually solve anything.
Ultimately most of you have ignored my actual question. Which has less to do with the plug itself, and everything to do with the temperatures of all items involved. @dmxtothemax answered it though, and confirms my answers gathered through wider research (and some indirect responses in this thread). So thanks to them.