How to turn off heater on Sundance Spa

28 replies

Last Reply on January 23rd, 2023 by Nigel

October 21, 2014

I’m following the DIY Hot Tub Winterizing document I got from Aqua-Tech Service. One step says:

“Next, locate your spa heater, and turn it off. … Activate the spa’s air blower and let it run for approximately 30 seconds.”

I looked at the heater on my 2013 Sundance Optima and I don’t see any switch or plug to turn off the heater. Is it OK to turn the power breaker back on for 30 seconds with an empty tub or can you tell me how to shut off the heater?

Replies

  1. October 06, 2014

    Reply

    It is ok to turn the power back on to evacuate the water from the air channel with your air blower.  20-30 seconds should be all that you need.

  2. Bruce Berman

    June 22, 2015

    Reply

    I like to keep my spa cool in the summer. Can anyone tell me how to disable the Hester so it does not have a lowest temp of 80

    Thanks
    Bruce

    • Nigel

      June 22, 2015

      Reply

      Bruce what make and model spa do you have?

      • Bruce Berman

        June 22, 2015

        Reply

        I like to keep my Sundance Spa cool in the summer It is an Optima purchased in July 2001. Is there a way I can either totally disable the heater or change the lower limit from its current setting of 80 to 65 or 70?
        Thanks
        Bruce

  3. Bruce Berman

    June 22, 2015

    Reply

    I like to keep my Sundance Spa cool in the summer It is an Optima purchased in July 2001. Is there a way I can either totally disable the heater or change the lower limit from its current setting of 80 to 65 or 70?
    Thanks
    Bruce

    • Nigel

      June 23, 2015

      Reply

      Bruce, the minimum set temp on your model is 80 degrees. That being said if you want it to heat less lower your temp to 80, set your 4 filter cycles to 30min each, set your circ pump duration for 4hrs and set your spa for Economy mode. In summer months these settings will likely keep the spa heater from coming on but still circulate your water 6hrs in a day. The Sundance Optima is a very well insulated spa. You still may gain some heat just because of the insulation but reducing your filter pump and circ pump cycles and keeping the spa in Economy will keep down heat that you may gain kinetically from the pumps. Continue to keep the water chemically balanced in the spa and adjust your circ pump duration time to be longer if your water gets cloudy.

      • Bruce Berman

        June 23, 2015

        Reply

        Thanks for the advice. I’ll try that. Is there also a way to disable the hearter in the control panel ?
        Thanks

        • Nigel

          June 23, 2015

          Reply

          There is no way to disable the heater Bruce.

  4. john

    June 23, 2017

    Reply

    I want to know can you put a water proof toggle switch (high wattage ) on the heater Leeds to disable heater .turn off during hot weather,. or on flow switch ????? can any one help me John 880 sundance

    • Nigel

      June 23, 2017

      Reply

      John on 880 series spas there is a built in mode call Economy cycle. You can toggle to this mode plus set your circ pump to run less during the day and also lower your temperature setpoint to have the spa heat up less during hot weather times.

      • john

        June 23, 2017

        Reply

        I bought it used from sundance spas in shinglesprings and I never got books on it .not sure how to do that . I was going to put a weather box and take two 220 switches and interrupt the two Leeds going to the heater. but I like your way if i can find a book on it. or get someone to walk me trough it . Thank you Nigel

        • Nigel

          June 23, 2017

          Reply

          John, send me your serial number and I can walk you through toggling to economy and setting your circ pump run time duration. Your serial number can be found on the id label near the Sentry Control Box.

  5. Roland Lafraugh

    December 21, 2018

    Reply

    No top side panel lights all fuses on mainboard are good… it is a 2005 majesta Sundance thanks for some help

    • Nigel

      December 21, 2018

      Reply

      Hi Roland. Also check your main 30 amp BUSS fuse. If none of the pumps respond to the buttons on the topside keypad shut the power down for 15min and then turn the power back on. If when you turn the power back on you see 4 dashed lines ie —- this is known as Watchdog error code. It is quite common for the keypad to look like it is blank if it is left in Watchdog for a prolonged period of time. Chat me back if your in Watchdog for further tips.

  6. Gav

    May 05, 2019

    Reply

    Can you completely turn off the heater to make it a temperature like a normal pool?

    • Nigel

      May 05, 2019

      Reply

      Hi Gav. What make and model spa do you have?

  7. Darlene

    May 07, 2019

    Reply

    I have Cameo 880 & wondering how to turn off heater as well. I am not sure the economy mode or turning off filters is what I want to do. I want to continue to circulate water through skimmer but would like to reduce temp below 80 the lowest setting on the display. Thanks for any help.

    • Nigel

      May 09, 2019

      Reply

      Hi Darlene. The heater cannot be turned off. Only lowered to the minimum set temp.

  8. Carl Vinka

    April 28, 2021

    Reply

    I have a Sundance Optima from 2000. With the Texas Freeze we were out of town and when the power was out it froze lines and the water flushed out when the power returned. We didn’t return till it was empty for unknown time, but the —- error was on when we did finally power it off. I have resolved the busted line, but now get ‘OH’ within a few minutes of powering on. I have replaced the both temp sensors, and have good flow from the circulation pump. Could the heater have burned up, or what is my next step?

    • Nigel

      May 16, 2021

      Reply

      Is it staying in OH or reverting to watchdog after OH Carl?

  9. Laura

    October 23, 2022

    Reply

    I just bought a house that included a Sundance spa. I used it last night and this morning all the water has drained out and the panel says call for service. I called the number, but the recording says they are closed. How do I turn off the power in the meantime so the jets don’t come on with no water???

    • Nigel

      October 23, 2022

      Reply

      There will be a main breaker for the spa at your electrical panel in the house. Shut that breaker off. Electricians typically label that breaker spa or hot tub.

  10. Louie Fielding

    January 22, 2023

    Reply

    2007ish Sundance Majesta 880. Keys #1 won’t turn off. This happened a couple times before, and the last time it happened the Tech said one of the kids must have held the jets button-down long enough that it puts it into A long term jet cycle. He held the jet button-down for about a minute and they went off, but that doesn’t work in this time. It seems like the heater runs 100% when the jets are on and the temperature also gets really hot. Any ideas how i can gets the jets off or reset the whole thing? Or is there just a relay somewhere that I need to jiggle or replace?

    • Nigel

      January 22, 2023

      Reply

      What’s the nine digit serial number of your spa Louie?

  11. Louie Fielding

    January 22, 2023

    Reply

    Where do I find the S/N?

    • Nigel

      January 22, 2023

      Reply

      Usually on or near your Sentry Control box. The box houses your main circuit board. The number is nine digits and typically starts with the number 1.

  12. Louie

    January 23, 2023

    Reply

    Thank you Nigel. I don’t see a s/n on the outside of the sentry box (photo: https://photos.app.goo.gl/7jXKzAjXNoTihrxaA). Inside, on the circuit board is 092 0603060560, 6600-098 Rev. D, Controller 850 LCD, PWA: 850 NT (photo: https://photos.app.goo.gl/dTk6BAwdZhRXTi6GA). Inside the cover is a basic circuit diagram (photo: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dr8jQJQUJbrD9TVP8). With the power off, I flicked K4, K5 and K6 with my finger and that seemed to fix the problem. So it must have been one of those relays that was stuck. Strangely the diagram doesn’t show K4. K5 and K6 seem to line up with the pump 1 and 2 terminals. So it seems fixed for now. It looks like a tech wrote “Stick 8/15” in sharpie next to K4. I did not try to pull the relays off the board – I assume they are plugged into a panel mount and not soldered onto the circuit board? i.e. if I keep a few of these on-hand can I just swap them out? (https://www.amazon.com/TE-CONNECTIVITY-POTTER-BRUMFIELD-T9AS1D12-12/dp/B00K1RBV8M)

    Thank you!
    Louie

    • Nigel

      January 23, 2023

      Reply

      Serial number label typically would be on the top, perhaps under your UltraPure Ozone unit. If you have a separate smaller topside control on the far side or the spa that has the pump icons on it that smaller remote control could be randomly activated the pumps. That remote could be unplugged in the sensor loom if it is causing the issue. The relays are soldered to the board.

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