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Can I put a stronger heater in my HotSprings Grandee?

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d00nut:
When adjusting temperature in the temp menu, once you get to 104, hold down the temperature up button for roughly 3-4 seconds, and it will climb to 105 and change colors (to red)  Do that again to change it to 106.

Chas:
You can easily install the 6KW. Two thing you need to know:

1. Even the six KW can only raise the temperature under the right conditions: usually the lid closed, jets off, or at the least no cold breeze. It can usually <i>hold</i>the temp.
2. The control system can run the 6KW,  but you must change to a 30 amp gfci breaker where you now have a 20A. That usually means an increase in wire size. Very important! Equally important: you need to power the subpanel with a 60A breaker where you now have a 50A. In many installations, the wire size may remain the same between 50 and 60, but <b>not all!</b> Have a licensed electrician do the math and see if you may need to pull larger wire from the main panel to the sub panel.

Bonus: be sure something isn't wrong with the program jumpers. Check that you heater is,  in fact, running when you think it is. Open the IQ box, look for the "heater on" LED, even when both jet pumps are running. If not, a jumper change will fix.

Heater is $380 and the breaker is $200+

(Plus shipping)

 8)

SRay:
Thank you SO much Chas for the clear, concise, and knowledgeable answer! That's EXACTLY the kind of information that I was hoping to find when I posted.

I've had my electrician look at my setup. My wiring to the subpanel is good since I went for overkill during the original installation and have #6 gauge there. I've pulled new wire from the tub to the subpanel for the 20 amp breaker, upgrading from #12 to #10. So now all I need are the new breakers and a 6K heater is ready to install!

I understand the price for the heater, but "the breaker is $200+"? Really?

SRay:
Alrighty - got my heater upgraded to 6K last month and BOY what a difference it makes!

Had the spa going for 4 hours last week in 36 degree weather and it held a steady 104 degrees the entire time. Before the upgrade, it would not have been able to do that in even 50 degree weather! Then the other night when we had TWENTY degrees outside I decided to have a soak just to see how it would hold up and it did not lose even one degree in over 40 minutes. Woo Hoo! I finally get to enjoy my tub throughout the winter!

My HotSpring dealer contacted Watkins and they gave their blessings so long as the wiring and circuit breaker changes outlined in Chas' post were followed. So I took care of the wiring and my dealer installed the sub panel breaker and the upgrade and all is great.

So to clear up some of what was previously discussed here:
1) There was nothing wrong with the tub except that Grandee's are sold under-powered for cold weather.
2) A 6K heater makes a tremendous difference.
3) You can upgrade your heater and keep your warranty.

Finally regarding why Grandees are sold with inadequate heaters, my only guess is that maybe HotSpring doesn't want to scare people away with a tub that draws so much power and needs a 60 amp breaker and #6 gauge wire - which I needed between the main electric panel and the sub panel.

Tman122:

--- Quote from: SRay on December 17, 2016, 05:50:39 pm ---Finally regarding why Grandees are sold with inadequate heaters, my only guess is that maybe HotSpring doesn't want to scare people away with a tub that draws so much power and needs a 60 amp breaker and #6 gauge wire - which I needed between the main electric panel and the sub panel.

--- End quote ---

Either that or they are made in Ca? Good work Chas.

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