HotSpring Spas Locks & Trouble Shooting

If you lead a busy life or don’t consider yourself mechanically inclined, you may be concerned that hot tub maintenance will be difficult or counterbalance the stress relief a hot tub provides. Fortunately, regular HotSpring spa maintenance is quick and easy. In this blog we put together a guide for HotSpring Spas locks and troubleshooting, to make it even easier for you!

AUXILIARY CONTROL PANEL

The auxiliary control panel, conveniently located in the spa seating area (Vista®, Grandee®, Envoy®, Vanguard®, Sovereign®, Aria™, and Prodigy® models) allows the user to activate the jets, light, and Spaudio® functions from inside the spa. If there is a problem with the AUXILIARY CONTROL PANEL it will be unresponsive, please then BOOK A SERVICE CALL with us.

INDICATOR LIGHTS

At a glance, the indicator lights are readily visible on the main control panel.

The three indicator lights: POWER, READY and CLEAN, work independently from the rest of the control panel display. That way, even if the control panel is off, you can simply glance at the “READY” indicator light to determine whether or not your spa is within the range of your set temperature.

• Power Indicator: The POWER indicator is ‘on’ when the spa is properly supplied with power. It also provides a diagnostic function–a blinking power indicator indicates that the heater high limit has tripped, meaning that either the spa water is above its acceptable temperature range, or a malfunction has occurred within the spa (such as low circulation due to clogged filters). An ‘off’ power indicator means that there is a problem with the spa control box or the power supplied to the spa.
• Ready Indicator: The READY indicator will light when the spa water temperature is within 2-1/2°F (1.4°C) of the set temperature, and will turn off when the temperature is outside of that range. If you increase or decrease the temperature setting of the spa, the ready indicator will turn off until the spa temperature reaches the acceptable range for the new set temperature. Additionally, a blinking READY indicator indicates that a problem exists with the temperature sensor. 
• Clean Indicator: The CLEAN indicator lights up when the CLEAN button is pressed. It remains on during the ten-minute clean cycle (used for water maintenance), then automatically shuts off at the end of the cycle. The JET symbol will also illuminate on the display to indicate that the jet pump is on.

LOCKING FEATURES

The two locking features, TEMPERATURE LOCK and SPA LOCK, are enabled from the main control panel by pressing a specific combination of buttons. Once enabled, a lock will remain active until the specific button combination is applied to disable the lock. Even if power is disconnected from the spa and soon thereafter reapplied (such as in a power outage) the lock will remain in place.

SPA LOCK

The SPA LOCK feature deactivates all of the functions of the main and auxiliary control panels. It is generally used to prevent unwanted use of the spa. To activate the SPA LOCK, press the LIGHT minus (-) and TEMP minus (-) buttons at the same time and hold them down until the word SPA and the lock symbol are illuminated on the display (approximately two seconds). When the SPA LOCK is activated, if a button is pressed, the control panel will display the lock symbol and the word SPA for 30 seconds, then turn off. To deactivate the SPA LOCK, press the LIGHT minus (-) and TEMP minus (-) buttons at the same time and hold them down until the word SPA and the lock symbol are no longer illuminated on the display (approximately two seconds).

TEMPERATURE LOCK

The TEMPERATURE LOCK feature deactivates the temperature control function of the main control panel. All other functions on the main and auxiliary control panels will operate normally. TEMPERATURE LOCK is most often used by people who do not want others to tamper with or change the set temperature of the spa water. To activate the TEMPERATURE LOCK, press the LIGHT plus (+) and TEMP plus (+) buttons at the same time and hold them down until the words SET TEMP, the numerical set temperature value and the lock symbol are illuminated on the display (approximately two seconds).

When the TEMPERATURE LOCK is activated, the JETS, LIGHT, and CLEAN buttons will operate normally, and the temperature setting can be viewed but can NOT be changed. If a temperature button is pressed, the control panel will display the lock symbol and the set temperature for 30 seconds, then turn off. To deactivate the TEMPERATURE LOCK, press the LIGHT plus (+) and TEMP plus (+) buttons at the same time and hold them down until the lock symbol is no longer illuminated on the display (approximately two seconds).

MAIN CONTROL PANEL BUTTONS & DISPLAY

The main control panel has buttons which the spa user presses to set the temperature, initiate the clean cycle, vary the intensity of the light, and activate or deactivate the jet pump. With the exception of the CLEAN button, the control panel display responds to let you know you’ve pressed a button, and that the selected function has been performed. After a period of non-use, pressing any button will wake up a sleeping display, as well as performing its function.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

The set temperature range is from 80°F to 104°F (27°C to 40°C). (The temperature of any setting may rise slightly depending on the current use and condition of your spa, and on outside temperatures.) The set temperature of the spa water will automatically be 102°F (39°C) the first time that power is applied. This is the setting programmed at the factory. After the spa has been set up and used, the last temperature value set by the user will be stored in memory. If power is disconnected from the spa, it will automatically revert to the last set temperature when power is reapplied. To display the set temperature of the spa, press the TEMP plus (+) button. The set temperature will be displayed, unless the spa is locked (in which case the word SPA is displayed with the lock symbol). The set temperature display will automatically shut off after 30 seconds.

To increase the set temperature of the spa water, press the TEMP plus (+) button. Each time the button is pressed, the set temperature display will increment by one degree. If the button is held down, the set temperature display will increase by one degree every half-second. To decrease the set temperature of the spa water, press the TEMP minus (-) button. Each time the button is pressed, the set temperature display will decrement by one degree. If the button is held down, the set temperature display will decrease by one degree every half-second. If the set temperature value will not change, check the TEMP LOCK and SPA LOCK features. When either of these features is applied, the temperature control is disabled.

JETS CONTROL

There are two buttons (three buttons on Vista® ,Grandee®, Envoy®, Aria™ and Vanguard® models) which affect the jet pump(s):The JETS button (all models) / JETS 1 (Vista, Grandee, Envoy, Aria and Vanguard models only) activates the jet pump.

• When the JETS or JETS 1 button is pressed, the jets symbol will illuminate on the control panel display. The symbol will remain lit until the button is pressed to turn off the jet pump, or after two hours of continuous operation when the pump is automatically shut off by the control system.
• The JETS 2 button (Vista, Grandee, Envoy, Aria and Vanguard only) activates the second jet pump. When the JETS 2 button is pressed, the jets symbol will illuminate on the control panel display. (Vista, Envoy & Aria will run in low speed with first press and high speed with second press). The symbol will remain lit until the button is pressed to turn off the jet pump, or after two hours of continuous operation when the pump is automatically shut off by the control system.
• The CLEAN button, provided as a convenient timer for water maintenance, activates the jet pump for a ten minute period. The CLEAN indicator will turn on and the JET symbol on the display will illuminate to indicate the jet pump is engaged.

Next, you may add properly measured spa water chemicals into the filter compartment. The jet pump and clean indicator will automatically shut off after ten minutes. If the jet pump will not engage, make sure SPA LOCK is deactivated. SPA LOCK disables the controls on both the main and auxiliary control panels.

LIGHT CONTROL- STANDARD

The intensity of the spa’s light is controlled using the LIGHT plus (+) or LIGHT minus (-) buttons. To turn on the spa light, press the LIGHT plus (+) button. The light will turn on at maximum intensity and the light symbol will illuminate on the control panel display. To reduce the intensity of the light, press the LIGHT minus (-) button. The intensity of the light will decrease each time the button is pressed. Additionally, if either of the LIGHT buttons (+ or -) on the Main Control panel only, are held down, the light intensity will increase or decrease at the rate of one intensity level every half-second.

To turn off the light, hold the LIGHT minus (-) button. The light will dim and turn off. When the light turns off, the light symbol on the display will also turn off. If the light is left on, it will automatically be turned off by the control system after six hours of continuous operation. The light symbol on the panel will also turn off when the light is deactivated. If the light will not turn on, make sure SPA LOCK is deactivated. SPA LOCK disables the controls on both the main and auxiliary control panels. 

LIGHT CONTROL- LUMINESCENCE

All Hot Spring spas are equipped with the Luminescence (Multi-Color) light. The intensity of the spa’s light is controlled using the LIGHT Plus (+) or LIGHT Minus (-) buttons. There are five (5) brightness levels plus off. To turn on the spa light, press the LIGHT Plus (+) button. The light will turn on at maximum intensity and the light symbol will illuminate on the control panel display. When the light is set to its maximum brightness setting, press the LIGHT Plus (+) button to change the color. The color loop sequence is set as follows: Blue, Aqua, Green, White, Amber, Red, Loop ON, Loop OFF. To activate the color loop, press (+) after the color red. The colors will automatically run through the sequence in the order listed above. To stop the loop press the LIGHT Plus (+) button while the loop is on and the brightness setting is in the maximum position. To reduce the intensity of the light, press the LIGHT Minus (-) button.

 The intensity of the light will decrease each time the button is pressed. Additionally, if the LIGHT Minus (-) button on the Main Control panel only, is held down, the light intensity will decrease at the rate of one intensity level every half-second until it shuts off. If the intensity of light is below the maximum brightness and the LIGHT Plus (+) button is pressed and held down, the light will increase intensity until it reaches maximum brightness, it will then continue through the color sequence every half-second until the button is released. To turn off the light, hold the LIGHT Minus (-) button. The light will dim and turn off. When the light turns off, the light symbol on the display will also turn off. If the light is left on, it will automatically be turned off by the control system after six hours of continuous operation. The light symbol on the panel will also turn off when the light is deactivated. If the light will not turn on, make sure SPA LOCK is deactivated. SPA LOCK disables the controls on both the main and auxiliary control panels.

SUMMER MODE DISPLAY

The Summer Mode symbol is on when the Summer Mode timer is on. When activated, the symbol will be visible even in bright light when the main display backlight is off. In low light conditions, the Summer Mode symbol will only be visible when the display is activated by pressing a control panel button.

Your Hot Spring spa is equipped with a Summer Mode timer. The Summer Mode timer can be activated during extremely hot summer months if it becomes difficult to maintain water temperatures low enough for comfort. Upon switching to the ON mode, the heater will immediately shut down while the circulation pump (which can add heat to the water through normal operation) will remain on for approximately 5 minutes for heater cool down. Both heater and circulation pump will remain off for the next eight hours.

Additionally, the summer mode display on the main control panel will activate and remain active for as long as the summer mode is on. Following this eight-hour period, the circulation pump and heater will automatically restart and will operate normally for the next sixteen hours. The circulation pump and heater will continue to turn off for an eight-hour period every day that the switch remains in the ON position. In this way, the amount of heat transferred to the spa water will be minimized. When the outside temperatures begin to cool, the Summer Mode timer should be turned to the OFF position (the summer mode display on the main control panel will go out). This is the efficient 24 hour circulation mode that keeps the heater operation and operating costs to a minimum during colder/heavier usage months.

Please note that whenever power is disconnected and then reconnected to the spa, the Summer Mode timer will reset starting with the eight-hour shutdown mode. If a different eight-hour shut down time is desired, deactivate the Summer Mode, then reactivate at the beginning of the desired eight-hour shut down time. The Summer Mode will not lower the spa’s water temperature below the ambient air temperature.

To activate the Summer Mode, simply follow these steps:

• Set the temperature control to 80°F (26°C).
• On the control panel, simultaneously press and hold for three seconds Temp Plus and Temp Minus buttons to activate the Summer Timer. The Summer Mode must be deactivated when cooler temperatures return.
• To do this, simply repeat step 2.
• Please be aware that failure to deactivate the Summer Mode when the temperature drops below 32°F (0°C) will result in freezing of the spa. Damage resulting from this situation is not covered under the terms of the warranty.

If you have any further questions or require further assistance, please book a Hot Tub Service with us.

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