CalderaSpas Aspire Owner's Manual - page 32
29
START-UP AND REFILL PROCEDURES FOR
GENEVA
TM
, NIAGARA
®
, TAHITIAN
®
,
ELATION
®
, ASPIRE
®
, MOOREA
®
, HAWAIIAN, MARTINIQUE
®
AND KAUAI
®
Your Caldera
®
spa has been thoroughly tested during the manufacturing process to ensure reliability and long-term customer satisfaction. A small amount of water may
have remained in the plumbing after testing and, as a result, may have spotted the spa shell or the spa siding prior to delivery. Before filling the spa, clear all debris from
the spa and wipe the spa shell clean with a soft rag.
THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS MUST BE READ AND FOLLOWED EXACTLY TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL START-UP OR REFILL.
CAUTIONS
• Do not fill the spa with hot water, as tripping of the high-limit thermostat may result.
• DO NOT CONNECT POWER TO AN EMPTY SPA. Power to the spa automatically activates critical components within the spa, such as controls,
heater, circulation pump and other systems. If power is supplied to these components prior to the spa being filled, the components will be damaged,
and this may result in a non-warranty component failure.
• Do not use your spa after filling until all of the steps listed below are completed.
• Do not add chlorine if treating your spa with polyhexamethylene biguanide (Biguanide, PHMB, eg. BaquaSpa
®
or Soft Soak
®
) sanitizer.
• Before filling your spa for the first time, remove the equipment compartment doors and check to ensure that the unions on either side of the pump
are hand-tight.
1. Close all drains and fill the spa with water by removing the filter lid, skimmer basket, weir and filter. Then insert the end of a garden hose into the filter canister and
begin filling the spa. The water level of your Caldera spa should be approximately 2.5cm one inch above the highest jet in the spa
excluding
the four above-water-line
neck jets in the EcstaSeat (Geneva, Niagara, Tahitian and Elation only). Reinstall the skimmer basket, weir, filter and filter lid once the spa is filled.
IMPORTANT:
Watkins Manufacturing Corporation does not recommend that the spa be filled with “softened” water, as this may damage the spa’s equipment.
2. Install SPA FROG
®
bromine and mineral cartridges:
a. Turn off power to the spa.
b. Unscrew SPA FROG cap on top edge of spa.
c. Turn handle counter-clockwise.
d. Lift cartridge holder up and out of spa.
e. Turn top cap of mineral cartridge to setting #6. (The mineral cartridge should last 4 months.) Turn top cap of bromine cartridge to setting #7.
Note
: Adjust bromine cartridge setting down by one setting each day until a residual of 1.0 - 2.0 ppm level of bromine is established. (The bromine cartridge
should last 2 - 4 weeks.)
f. Snap bromine cartridge in at bottom of holder and mineral cartridge on top.
Note
: It is important that the bromine cartridge is on bottom; otherwise, the bromine cartridge could be dispensed prematurely.
g. Reinstall cartridge holder into spa, push down, and twist clockwise.
h. Replace SPA FROG cap, and reconnect power to the spa.
NOTE:
If SPA FROG is not being used, it is important to remove the SPA FROG cap after every water change to allow for proper pump priming.
3.
AFTER
the spa has been filled with water and the equipment compartment door is secured, power must be applied to the spa.
• Activate power to the subpanel from the main house panel first.
• Open the door of the electrical subpanel and reset the GFCI breakers. Close and secure the subpanel door.
4. The jet pump(s), heating system and all internal plumbing will achieve a partial prime as the spa is filled. Five minutes after power is applied to the spa, the air
blower will activate for one minute (except for Elation, Aspire, Martinique, and Kauai), followed by JETS 2 (except for Kauai) for one minute, followed by JETS 1 for
eight minutes (except for Elation, Aspire for nine minutes) . Once the jet system is fully operational (as indicated by strong, non-surging jets), priming of the spa is
complete. If you do not feel a steady stream of water from your jets, refer to the instructions for priming the pump in the SPA TROUBLESHOOTING section in the
back of this manual.
IMPORTANT:
Be sure that the air control valves are open by turning each one counterclockwise and checking to see that all the diverters are in position 1 or
position 3 (see illustration on air control and diverter valves).
5. Adjust Total Alkalinity (TA) to 80-180 ppm, Calcium Hardness (CH) to 150-400 ppm, then spa water pH to between 7.2 and 7.8. These procedures are listed in the
“Water Quality and Maintenance” section.
IMPORTANT:
Add spa water chemicals directly over the filter compartment (remove filter lid) while the jet pump is on and run for at least ten minutes (press
“CLEAN” button on the control panel). Make sure all the diverter valves are set to the middle position.
OPERATION NOTE:
Adjusting the Total Alkalinity as the first step is important, as out-of-balance TA will affect your ability to adjust the pH correctly and will prevent
the sanitizer from operating effectively.
6. Set the temperature control to the desired temperature (between 38-40°C or 100-104°F), and then place the vinyl cover on the spa and allow the water temperature
to stabilize (approximately 24 hours). Make sure you secure the cover in place using the cover locks. Periodically check the spa water temperature. When the water
temperature climbs above 32°C, proceed to the next step.
7. Press “CLEAN” button on the main control panel. This will run jet pump one for ten minutes to circulate the spa water. Make sure all the diverter valves are set to
the middle position. Once the jets shut off, test the spa water for bromine residual. If the residual is between 1 and 2 ppm, go on to the next step. If the residual is
less than 1 ppm, repeat previous step until a bromine residual of 1-2 ppm is established.
8. Recheck the Total Alkalinity (TA) at 80-180 ppm, Calcium Hardness (CH) at 150-400 ppm, then spa water pH at between 7.2 and 7.8.
OPERATION NOTE:
Adjust the Total Alkalinity first, as an out-of-balance condition will affect your ability to adjust the pH correctly, and will prevent the sanitizer from
operating effectively.
The spa is ready for use when the spa water has circulated and the bromine level remains between 1 ppm and 2 ppm.
9. The spa temperature is pre-programmed to reach 39°C (102°F), and will normally do so within 18 to 24 hours. You may raise the water temperature by pressing the
“
TEMP
▲
” button on the control panel once to display the temperature, then pressing it again within five seconds to raise the temperature, or lower it by pressing
“
TEMP
▼
” button once to display the temperature, then pressing it again within five seconds to lower the temperature. After a few hours, the water temperature will
remain within 1-1/2 degrees of your selected temperature.