Understanding/fault finding jacuzzi pumps

[JohnS888]

Hi All

Been on a job today and while there was asked to look at jacuzzi which hasn't been working for a good while. Wondering if anyone got much experience of these mine is completely zilch. I proved 230v coming in to motor pump but beyond there I haven't got a clue on the mechanisms to make them work or testing process to eliminate what might be faulty. On the bath itself it has a push button which has tube going down to motor which I think this air pressure activates motor? There is also a power dial. Both of these look like they need replacing to me. If check photos out there is also a white thing that looks like transformer but don't think it is what is the actual purpose of this? Any sort of heads up be appreciated as hoping might not have to replace the entire pump

 

[pc1966]

What is wrong with it? You have not said!

I presume it is doing nothing at all, but some idea of what is expected versus what you are seeing might help! Has it a heater? Just the pump? Any indicator lights to show power/running/etc?

 

[telectrix]

the round white thing is a capacitor. motor needs that either to start.run,or both.

 

[snowhead]

I suspect it's a waste of time getting involved with them.
If you did find the fault, which should be reasonably easy for the more experienced, it could prove difficult to get spares as there have probably thousands of different models over the years from all over the World.

If it was your own it would be worth doing, but although there are plenty of online companies selling spares, it's the time to source and wait and revisit that'll be the problem

 

[JohnS888]

What is wrong with it? You have not said!

I presume it is doing nothing at all, but some idea of what is expected versus what you are seeing might help! Has it a heater? Just the pump? Any indicator lights to show power/running/etc?

Hi Pc. No, no indicator lights to show it is or isn't working. Apart from proving supply good into pump not really sure what next port of call is to check. Think could potentially disconnect the capacitor but can this be tested to check working ok? Am I right in presuming it's the actual air pressure from push button that closes switch within motor to operate it? Maybe if can check or find issue with anything else this might be first thing to replace
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the round white thing is a capacitor. motor needs that either to start.run,or both.

Thanks Telectrix. How would I best test these to prove functionality
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I suspect it's a waste of time getting involved with them.
If you did find the fault, which should be reasonably easy for the more experienced, it could prove difficult to get spares as there have probably thousands of different models over the years from all over the World.

If it was your own it would be worth doing, but although there are plenty of online companies selling spares, it's the time to source and wait and revisit that'll be the problem

Do you think changing the whole pump/unit might be better option then Snowhead? Finding something pretty like for like shouldn't be to difficult should it? And reconnection and plumbing in shouldn't be to tricky?

 

[telectrix]

Hi Pc. No, no indicator lights to show it is or isn't working. Apart from proving supply good into pump not really sure what next port of call is to check. Think could potentially disconnect the capacitor but can this be tested to check working ok? Am I right in presuming it's the actual air pressure from push button that closes switch within motor to operate it? Maybe if can check or find issue with anything else this might be first thing to replace
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Thanks Telectrix. How would I best test these to prove functionality

you can test a cap. witha meter that has capacitance range, but that is only a giude. it could read OK but break down when a higher voltage is applied. only sure way is to try a replacement.

i'd start by checking if the air pressure triggered the switch.

 

[pc1966]

Hi Pc. No, no indicator lights to show it is or isn't working. Apart from proving supply good into pump not really sure what next port of call is to check. Think could potentially disconnect the capacitor but can this be tested to check working ok? Am I right in presuming it's the actual air pressure from push button that closes switch within motor to operate it?

If it were a capacitor fault you would hear buzzing from the motor and/or the MCB would trip on over current, etc.

Doing nothing at all strongly suggests a fault in the control of the system (safety switch tripped, not seeing water present, etc), or just maybe something as simple as a fuse to the control stuff having blown. I have never poked inside one of them to have any other suggestions I'm afraid

 

[JohnS888]

you can test a cap. witha meter that has capacitance range, but that is only a giude. it could read OK but break down when a higher voltage is applied. only sure way is to try a replacement.

i'd start by checking if the air pressure triggered the switch.

Cheers Tel. Am back there for few other jobs will try to pick up capacitor to swap out with. The push button old and not working but suppose just blowing down the tube should hopefully be able to test if switch is triggering ?

 

[westward10]

Assuming you have power at the motor terminal box temporarily bypass the pneumatic switch to see if the motor runs replacing parts in the hope it solves the issue is not the way forward.

 

[JohnS888]

Assuming you have power at the motor terminal box temporarily bypass the pneumatic switch to see if the motor runs replacing parts in the hope it solves the issue is not the way forward.

Thanks Westward that's very helpful in regards to bypassing switch to see if can get motor running

 

[ipf]

Assuming you have power at the motor terminal box temporarily bypass the pneumatic switch to see if the motor runs replacing parts in the hope it solves the issue is not the way forward.

Yep. Some kind of pressure controlled (pneumatic) micro switch It all looks pretty new and in decent nick. Look for the easiest things to go...the weakest....switch control. If the switch don't work, nowt does.