FLO switch troubleshooting
Hope this helps someone:
For context: bought a used hot tub a several months ago. Had it delivered to our new house and finally have it hooked up and running for Christmas and New Year's. When I started it up I was getting ICE, COOL and FLO errors. Ice and cool because the water is cold. 2004 Beachcomber 720
When I first ran it to test, it would only heat to just above freezing. From researching online and reading the manual, the flow switch is in the same flow path as the filter and the heater. The contacts need to be closed for the heater to run. This is a feature to keep the heater from running when the water level is too low and save it from burning out. I drained the tub and troubleshot the flow switch.
1 mechanically removed the switch and disconnected the connector from the controller board
2 with an ohmeter checked the switch. OL in both open and closed states. No continuity in either state.
3 inspected switch and found physical damage
4 cut the cable and shorted the switch wires together to make it seem like the flow switch is actuated all the time.
5 plugged the connector back in and turned on the hot tub.
It is now heating properly. The switch should be in place to protect the heater. I have a new switch on order.
Beachcomber flow switch $100+ online. Found a generic one on Amazon for $34.
Hope this helps someone:
For context: bought a used hot tub a several months ago. Had it delivered to our new house and finally have it hooked up and running for Christmas and New Year's. When I started it up I was getting ICE, COOL and FLO errors. Ice and cool because the water is cold. 2004 Beachcomber 720
When I first ran it to test, it would only heat to just above freezing. From researching online and reading the manual, the flow switch is in the same flow path as the filter and the heater. The contacts need to be closed for the heater to run. This is a feature to keep the heater from running when the water level is too low and save it from burning out. I drained the tub and troubleshot the flow switch.
1 mechanically removed the switch and disconnected the connector from the controller board
2 with an ohmeter checked the switch. OL in both open and closed states. No continuity in either state.
3 inspected switch and found physical damage
4 cut the cable and shorted the switch wires together to make it seem like the flow switch is actuated all the time.
5 plugged the connector back in and turned on the hot tub.
It is now heating properly. The switch should be in place to protect the heater. I have a new switch on order.
Beachcomber flow switch $100+ online. Found a generic one on Amazon for $34.