Re: Question for Bruce Bergman

On Thu, 08 Jun 2006 03:59:06 GMT, Bruce L Bergman <blPYTHONbergman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:44:42 GMT, Ignoramus31846
<ignoramus31846@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I have a very old spa with 120V circuit. It is very slow to heat the
water.

The heater element is switched on and off with a contactor that solely
controls the heater.

Can I somehow do this: change the element to 240V element, add a GFCI
protected 240V circuit, and supply 240V to the contactor. I will
upgrade the contactor if necessary (due to higher current).

They sell "GFCI spa disconnects" that provide a single turn on/off
switch and 120V and 240V cicrcuits protected by that GFCI, such as
ebay item 4456245692.

Would something like this make any sense to you?

I'm not running off to E-Bay to check that item, but the plan would
work.

That's great.

Get a relay with a 120V coil, and have the spa's existing heater
output kick on the 240V heat element.

Absolutely, yes.

WARNING: Use a 2-pole contactor, and open both leads to the heater
element - even with a GFCI breaker.

Definitely.

Use a pre-made spa heater that has a built-in high limit safety
switch. And make sure the water flow is high enough to handle a
more powerful heater element on the LOW pump setting.

Yes, the water flow is substantial, I think. I will definitely buy an
element with safety built in (even though my control has another,
external safety, separate from thermostat).

i

.

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