Ask 'Dr. Spa' Q & A Message Board

Some of our differences may be due to different countries, some may be due to different business philosophies and laws in the United States, and some may be due to differences in the product itself. The first, and most obvious, difference to me is that I have no problem discussing this in the full light of day. I do not get into private email exchanges. The purpose of this board is to edify those folks who are capable of working on their equipment. Not all are capable, so we don't always respond, especially if the person sounds downright dangerous working with electricity/electronics.

I stand by my comment that Softub motors, with the integral heat exchangers, are very expensive. I believe that the price they charge for P-26 pumps/motors in this country is unconscionable. Here in the USA, they are nothing more than standard 48 frame Aquaflo FMCP pump/motors to which the manufacturer has applied mastic and some coiled tubing. After applying this mastic and tubing, Softub then more than DOUBLES the price that I can obtain said Aquaflo pump/motor for without that heat exchanger. The problem is that many of my customers, out of warranty, cannot AFFORD the highly inflated price. So, I tried to remove the heat exchanger so as to apply it to an Aquaflo FMCP pump/motor from a reasonably priced source. There is nothing nefarious in this. Legally, in this country, Softub can only make me use parts purchased from them for warranty repairs. Out of warranty, I can source parts elsewhere, provided that those parts are certified (UL/ETL) for hot tub use. In this country, Softub could easily run afoul of the law if they try to force me to use only their parts (unless under warranty) or try to set my pricing.

I have no problem with loyalty. Loyalty is a two-way proposition though, and I also have my loyalty to my customers to consider. It's not like I am trying to slap some Chinese made junk into their Softub and pull the wool over their eyes. I was experimenting with trying to remove the heat exchanger and move it onto the SAME pump/motor from the SAME motor manufacturer, just sourced from a different distributor (a reputable distributor BTW).

You are correct when you say that the motor in the P-26 pack is generally reliable. However, it is nothing more than an Aquaflo FMCP 48 frame unit. Older packs, such as the P-5, had the 48 frame Vico Ultima's. I see nothing wrong with trying to remove the Softub's existing Aquaflo or Vico motor and replace it with the SAME motor, just not from Softub. In the end, though, my experiment failed. I was unable to remove the heat exchanger tubing from the existing motor without damaging it. However, if another servicer finds a way to do this successfully, I will revisit this for the sake of my customers.

As far as a built-in timer, the North American Softub's do not have that to the best of my knowledge. The digital boards (P-25, P-26, P-27) have never had a timer/time clock chip on North American boards. Furthermore, we know that some differences must exist between our domestic Softub's and yours. Your electrical voltage and frequency is different. Even if we had a timing circuit, it would have to be different due to the 10 Hz frequency difference. There may be other differences between us that I am not aware of. For instance, our domestic tubs must conform to UL Standard 1563. Do Australian tubs conform to this standard? A European standard? Your own standard? I don't know.

John

: Okay, The very first and only other post that I have read from yourself
: you said this:

: "Frankly, the Softub motors are very expensive. I've tried removing
: the

: and then you finished with this:

: "I have Softub's service information, since I am an authorized
: Softub

: This is the post that concerned me.... It was the first part above that
: I could not work out why someone that was an "authorized Softub
: servicer" would say, let alone write in a public forum. In this
: country, saying something like that would have you be saying "I
: was once a authorised Softub servicer"

: Where is the loyalty to the product and company that you earn part of a
: living from?

: The P26 Motor is a sound motor. It's tested, reliable and it's
: performance is rated as one of the best. It's part of what has given
: Softub its reputation of reliability. I find it disturbing that you
: would wrote this in open forum, that as a Softub authorized servicer
: you would actually have invested the timne into looking for something
: "after market" and "cheaper"

: Like I said, I have only read two things you have posted on. The first
: one concerned me, and then... the very next post I read concerned me.
: I thought I would help the second guy out with information he may
: have wanted.

: I still havent been told why you guys dont tell your customers about the
: 24 Hour timer.

: Also, this will be the last post in an open forum. I dont think it's a
: very professional nature that three Softub agents are "airing
: things publically" Like I said... I had a concern, I still have
: the concern, and I dont wish to speak about this publically again. If
: you would like to address the concerns (Which by the way you are
: under no obligation to do so) I have about the 24 Hour timer, and the
: concern detailed above you have my email address, please use that.

: I said early I dont wish to offend anyone, and if I have offended you in
: your forum, I appologise. Like I said, they were concerns... at the
: end of the day what you do in your own countries does not impact what
: happens here in Australia, and I was just trying to help out a Softub
: customer. In Australia we would have informed the customer of the 24
: Hour timer that is not shown in the manual, and we would never have
: gone outside of original parts for replacement unless the part was no
: longer for sale direct from Softub.