OC Hot Tubs Serenity Owner's Manual
OC Hot Tubs
Owner’s
Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
3/1/19
© 2019 OC Hot Tubs
www.ochottubsinfo.com
Table of Contents
Important Safety Instructions .......1
Basic Spa Information..............2
Preparing for Your New Portable Spa . 3
Pre-Delivery Checklist..................3
Planning the Best Location ..............3
Preparing a Good Foundation ............4
240 Volt Electrical Installation ...........4
Testing the 240 Volt GFCI Breaker........4
Filling and Powering Up Your Portable Spa 6
Priming the Pump .....................9
Operating Your Spa ...............11
Spa Topside Control - One and Two Pump
Systems ............................11
Adjustable Jets ......................15
LED Lighting.........................16
Waterfalls ..........................17
Cover Latches .......................17
Water Quality Terms and Denitions .....18
Water Testing Methods ................19
Adding Chemicals To The Spa Water .....20
1. Balancing the Water Chemistry Levels . 20
2. Sanitation and Shock ...............22
3. Filtration .........................23
4. Regularity (Maintenance Schedule)....24
Generic Names for Chemicals ...........24
Common Water Chemistry Questions ....25
Do’s and Don’ts ......................26
Bather Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Ozonator ...........................27
Troubleshooting Water Clarity Problems ..28
Cleaning and Maintenance .........29
Jet Removal and Replacement ..........29
Draining Your Portable Spa ............30
Winterizing (Cold Climate Draining) .....31
Cleaning and Replacing the Filter........31
Spa Cover and Locking System..........31
Vacation Care........................32
Cleaning Your Spa ....................32
Using the Freedom Sound System
(OC-885 Only) .......................33
Appendix .......................34
Replacement Parts ...................34
Basic Troubleshooting.................36
Limited Warranty.....................39
Warranty Registration.................42
Due to continuous improvement programs, all models, operation, and/or
specications are subject to change without prior notice.
LTR50001045, Rev. N
3/1/19
Customer Service Contact Information
For customer service questions and information please
contact us:
Toll Free: 1-800-225-7727
OR
e-mail: customerservice@ochottubsinfo.com
Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm PST
www.ochottubsinfo.com
Important Safety Instructions
READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
1
Read This First!
DANGER -- Risk of accidental drowning:
Do not allow children to be in or around a spa unless a
responsible adult supervises them. Keep the spa cover
on and locked when not in use. See instructions enclosed
with your cover for locking procedures.
DANGER -- Risk of injury:
The suction ttings in this spa are sized to match the
specic water ow created by the pump. Should the need
arise to replace the suction ttings, or the pump, be sure
the ow rates are compatible.
Never operate the spa if the suction tting or lter baskets
are broken or missing. Never replace a suction tting with
one that is rated less than the ow rate marked on the
original suction tting.
WARNING -- To reduce the risk of injury:
The spa water should never exceed 104˚F (40˚C). Water
temperatures between 100˚F (38˚C) and 104˚F (40˚C)
are considered safe for a healthy adult. Lower water
temperatures are recommended for young children and
when spa use exceeds 10 minutes.
High water temperatures have a high potential for causing
fetal damage during pregnancy. Women who are pregnant,
or who think they are pregnant, should always check with
their physician prior to spa usage.
The use of alcohol, drugs or medication before or during
DANGER -- Risk of electric shock:
Install the spa at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) from all metal
surfaces. As an alternative, a spa may be installed within 5
feet of metal surfaces if each metal surface is permanently
bonded by a minimum #8 AWG solid copper conductor to
the outside of the spa’s control box.
Do not permit any external electrical appliances, such as
lights, telephones, radios, televisions, and etc., within ve
feet (1.5 meters) of the spa. Never attempt to operate any
electrical device from inside the spa.
Replace a damaged power cord immediately.
Do not bury the power cord.
Connect to a grounded, grounding-type receptacle only.
spa use may lead to unconsciousness, with the possibility
of drowning.
Persons suffering from obesity, a medical history of heart
disease, low or high blood pressure, circulatory system
problems or diabetes should consult a physician before
using the spa.
Persons using medications should consult a physician
before using the spa since some medications may induce
drowsiness while others may affect heart rate, blood
pressure and circulation.
HYPERTHERMIA DANGER:
Prolonged exposure to hot air or water can induce
hyperthermia. Hyperthermia occurs when the internal
temperature of the body reaches a level 3˚F to 6˚F above
the normal body temperature of 98.6˚F (or 2˚C to 4˚C
above 37˚C). While hyperthermia has many health benets,
it is important not to allow your body’s core temperature to
rise above 103˚F (39.5˚C).
Symptoms of excessive hyperthermia include dizziness,
lethargy, drowsiness and fainting. The effects of excessive
hyperthermia may include:
WARNING: People with infectious diseases should not use
a spa or hot tub.
WARNING: To avoid injury, exercise care when entering or
exiting the spa or hot tub.
WARNING: Do not use drugs or alcohol before or during
the use of a spa or hot tub to avoid unconsciousness and
possible drowning.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
• Failure to perceive heat
• Failure to recognize the need to exit spa or hot tub
• Unawareness of impending hazard
• Fetal damage in pregnant women
• Physical inability to exit the spa
• Unconsciousness
WARNING: The use of alcohol, drugs, or medication can
greatly increase the risk of fatal hyperthermia.
WARNING: Do not use a spa or hot tub immediately
following strenuous exercise.
WARNING: Prolonged immersion in a spa or hot tub may
be injurious to your health.
CAUTION: Maintain water chemistry in accordance with
manufacturer’s instructions.
2
Basic Spa Information
Read This First!
The following operating and maintenance instructions are
very important and must be followed carefully. With the
proper care and maintenance, your spa will provide you with
years of satisfaction and performance.
Do not be afraid to push buttons or turn knobs to learn
about your new spa, as it is built with quality materials and
excellent craftsmanship.
Your new spa has been engineered with a high-powered
water pump that pushes water through various therapy jets,
which will relax even the tightest muscles. In addition to the
water pressure, you can add air into the spa water with air
rockers located seat-side that increase the intensity of your
massage.
The ltering of this spa is very important. It will minimize
cleaning time and the amount of chemicals needed to keep
your spa water balanced. The two daily pre-programmed
lter cycles of two hours in duration can be increased to
six hour cycles if the need arises. This can be accomplished
through the topside control panel.
IMPORTANT: Keep the spa covered when not in use!
• Covered spas use less electricity while maintaining a set
temperature.
• Covering your spa will protect your spa’s nish from the
sun’s ultraviolet rays.
• You are required to keep the spa covered to maintain
warranty coverage.
• Covering your spa helps prevent children from drowning
in the spa.
Your new spa comes equipped with an electric heater.
Following the directions listed below will ensure the most
efcient operation:
NOTE: This method is only for spa usage under two
hours a week.
Keep the spa’s operating temperature 5˚F below the desired
usage temperature when not in use. One or two hours
before use, set the temperature to the desired temperature.
If the spa usage exceeds two hours a week, the set
temperature should remain at the desired usage temperature.
The air rockers should be used sparingly. When open, water
temperature drops quite rapidly and can also dissipate
chemicals.
Allowing the water temperature to lower more than 10˚F
below the desired usage temperature and reheating it prior
to usage will cause the heater to operate longer than it
normally would maintaining the desired temperature. Doing
this will increase your operating cost and makes your heater
work more than necessary.
The lter needs to be cleaned or changed on a regular
basis. This process takes only a few minutes and the result
is increased water clarity and equipment longevity.
Water level is very important to the operation of your spa.
If the water level is too low or too high, your spa will not
operate properly. The water level should be to the middle of
the skimmer area when the spa is not being used.
We recommend that your spa water be changed every 4 to
6 months. You may nd the need to change your spa water
more frequently with heavy use. When empty, your spa
should be cleaned with a non-abrasive cleaner and rinsed
thoroughly.
See the section “Cleaning and Maintaining Your Spa” for
instructions on draining your spa.
When lling your spa, always ll through the skimmer lter
canister. Use only regular tap water.
WARNING: DO NOT USE SOFT WATER.
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
Preparing for Your New Portable Spa
Pre-Delivery Checklist
3
Preparing for Your New Portable Spa
Most cities and counties require permits for exterior
construction and electrical circuits. In addition, some
communities have codes requiring residential barriers such
as fencing and/or self-closing gates on property to prevent
unsupervised access to the property by children. Your dealer
can provide information on which permits may be required
and how to obtain them prior to the delivery of your spa.
Planning the Best Location
Safety First
Do not place your spa within 10 feet (3 m) of overhead
power lines.
Consider How You Will Use Your Spa
How you intend to use your spa will help you determine
where you should position it. For example, will you use
your spa for recreational or therapeutic purposes? If your
spa is mainly used for family recreation, be sure to leave
plenty of room around it for activity. If you will use it for
relaxation and therapy, you will probably want to create a
specic mood around it.
Plan for Your Environment
Before Delivery
Plan your delivery route
Choose a suitable location for the spa
Lay a 5 - 8 cm deep concrete slab
Install dedicated electrical supply
After Delivery
Place spa on slab
Connect electrical components
Provide a View with Your Spa
Think about the direction you will be facing when sitting in
your spa. Do you have a special landscaped area in your
yard that you nd enjoyable? Perhaps there is an area
that catches a soothing breeze during the day or a lovely
sunset in the evening.
Keep Your Spa Clean
In planning your spa’s location, consider a location where
the path to and from the house can be kept clean and
free of debris.
Prevent dirt and contaminants from being tracked into
your spa by placing a foot mat at the spa’s entrance where
the bathers can clean their feet before entering your spa.
If you live in a region where it snows in the winter or rains
frequently, place the spa near a house entry. By doing
this, you will have a place to change clothes and not be
uncomfortable.
Consider Your Privacy
In a cold-weather climate, bare trees won’t provide
much privacy. Think of your spa’s surroundings during all
seasons to determine your best privacy options. Consider
the view of your neighbors as well when you plan the
location of your spa.
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
Allow for Service Access
Make sure the spa is positioned so that access to the
equipment compartment and all side panels will not be
blocked.
Many people choose to install a decorative structure
around their spa. If you are installing your spa with
any type of structure on the outside, such as a gazebo,
remember to allow access for service. It is always best
to design special installations so that the spa can still be
moved, or lifted off the ground.
4
Preparing a Good Foundation
Preparing for Your New Portable Spa
240 Volt Electrical Installation
Your spa needs a solid and level foundation. The area
that it sits on must be able to support the weight of the
spa, with water and the occupants who use it. If the
foundation is inadequate, it may shift or settle after the
spa is in place, causing stress that could DAMAGE YOUR
SPA SHELL AND FINISH.
Damage caused by inadequate or improper
foundation support is not covered by the
warranty. It is the responsibility of the spa
owner to provide a proper foundation for the
spa.
Place the spa on an elevated 3 to 4” / 30 cm concrete slab.
Pavers, gravel, brick, sand, timbers or dirt foundations are
not adequate to support the spa.
We strongly recommend that a qualied, licensed
contractor prepare the foundation for your spa.
If you are installing the spa indoors, pay close attention
to the ooring beneath it. Choose ooring that will not be
damaged or stained.
If you are installing your spa on an elevated wood deck or
other structure, it is highly recommended that you consult
a structural engineer or contractor to ensure the structure
will support the weight of 150 pounds per square foot (732
kg / m2).
To properly identify the weight of your new spa when full,
remember water weighs 8.33 lbs. per gallon, or 1 kg per
liter. For example, an average 8’ spa holds approximately
500 gallons, or 1892 liters, of water. Using this formula, you
will nd that the weight of the water alone is 4,165 lbs, or
1892 kg. Combined with the dry weight of the spa you will
note that this spa will weigh approximately 5,000 lbs, or
2267 kg, when full of water.
All 240V spas must be permanently connected (hard wired)
to the power supply. See the GFCI and wiring requirements
on page 5.
These instructions describe the only acceptable
electrical wiring procedure. Spas wired in any other
way will void your warranty and may result in serious
injury.
When installed in the United States, the electrical wiring of
this spa must meet the requirements of NEC 70 and any
applicable local, state, and federal codes.
The electrical circuit must be installed by an
electrical contractor and approved by a local building
or electrical inspector.
Failure to comply with state and local codes may
result in re or personal injury and will be the sole
responsibility of the spa owner.
The power supplied to the spa must be on a dedicated
GFCI protected circuit as required by NEC 70 with no
other appliances or lights sharing the power.
Use copper wire with THHN insulation. Do not use
aluminum wire.
Wires that run over 100 feet must increase wire gauge to
the next lower number. For example: A normal 50 amp
GFCI with four #6 AWG copper wires that run over 100
feet would require you to go to four #4 AWG copper wires.
Testing the 240 Volt GFCI Breaker
Test the GFCI breaker prior to rst use and periodically when the spa is powered. To test the GFCI breaker follow these
instructions (spa should be operating):
1. Press the TEST button on the GFCI. The GFCI will trip and the spa will shut off.
2. Reset the GFCI breaker by switching the breaker to the full OFF position, wait a moment, then turn the breaker back
on. The spa should have power again.
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
GFCI Wiring Diagram
5
Preparing for Your New Portable Spa
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
6
Filling and Powering Up Your Portable Spa
1. Inspect the spa equipment.
Inspect all plumbing connections in the
equipment area of your spa.
Preparing for Your New Portable Spa
2. Remove the cartridge from the canister.
• Make sure unions in the equipment pack are tight. (Be careful
not to over-tighten the plumbing ttings.)
• If your spa has gate
valves, make sure they
are all in the UP or OPEN
position.
• Make sure the drain
valve is closed and
capped. (See page 30 for
a description of drain
valves.)
Never run the spa with the gate valves closed or without
water circulating for long periods of time.
If you have a skimmer like this:
Rotate and remove the black locking ring. Remove the
black skimmer cap and barrel, grip the lter by the
handle and unscrew it from the canister.
Replace and lock the locking ring and slide the skimmer
cap and barrel back in the canister.
Note: The skimmer cap and barrel were locked in place
at the factory to prevent damage during shipment. It
must be unlocked and replaced in the lter canister so that
it can oat when the spa is lled. If you do not remove the
cap and barrel, your spa’s ltration system will not perform
as it was designed to.
Teleweir lter
skimmer
• 50 square feet
ltration
• Spoked cap
After you remove the lter, remove the plastic wrapper and soak it in water for 30 minutes before you
replace it. A dry lter can allow air into the ltration system which can cause the pump to fail to prime.
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
3. Fill the spa.
Place a garden hose in the lter canister and ll your spa.
Always ll the spa through the lter canister. Failure to do so may cause air to be trapped in the ltration system and
prevent the pumps from operating properly.
7
Preparing for Your New Portable Spa
Never ll your spa with soft water.
Soft water makes it impossible to maintain the
proper water chemistry and may cause the water
to foam, which will ultimately harm the nish of
the spa and void your warranty. You may ll your
spa with well water provided the following
conditions are met: 1) Purchase and use a prelter to run the well water through on the ll-up.
The pre-lter will be placed before the spa lter in
the ll-up ow of water. 2) Have a Total Dissolved
Solids (TDS) and metals test performed by a
qualied person after the ll-up process but before
any spa use.
Fill the spa until water level is about six inches from the top.
If the water level is too low or too high, your spa will not
operate properly.
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
8
4. Turn on power to the spa.
When the spa is lled to the correct level, turn on the power at
the GFCI breaker. (Ensure that the 240V spas are connected to
the proper electrical outlet.)
Preparing for Your New Portable Spa
5. Install the lter into the lter canister.
Make sure the lter has soaked at least 30 minutes
before you install it.
6. Adjust water chemistry.
Test and adjust the water chemistry. See the section on
page 18 for instructions on keeping your water clear.
7. Let the spa heat up.
When the spa has nished priming, the heater will
activate. Put the cover on and let the spa heat to the set
temperature.
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
Priming the Pump
9
Preparing for Your New Portable Spa
New spa owners often have difculty the rst time they start their spa
and the pump fails to prime. This can be frustrating, but these simple
instructions can help you.
Sometimes air can become trapped in the pump while lling the spa. You
will know this has happened when after you have lled and started the spa,
the pump does not seem to function. You will hear the pump operating, but no water will be moving.
Your spa will perform a self-diagnostic check and go into
Priming Mode. The control panel will display either RUN
PUMPS PURG AIR --- or Priming Mode, depending on
which control panel you have.
Do the following:
1. Press the JETS or JETS 1 button once to start the pump
in low speed.
2. Press it again to switch the pump to high speed.
For one pump systems
3. If you have other pumps, press JETS 2 to turn them
on also.
Running the pumps helps the pumps prime.
After two minutes, the pump should prime. If it does not,
follow the priming instructions on the next page. If it does,
continue with the next step.
The pump will not work
properly while air is trapped in it.
Continuing to operate the pump
in this way will cause damage.
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
For two pump systems
10
Bleeding Air from the Pump
If you have tried priming the pump several times unsuccessfully using the
control panel, you can bleed the air from the pump manually.
1. Shut off the power to the spa.
2. Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the front panel from the spa and
locate the pump.
3. Close the gate valve on the discharge side of the pump (if your spa is
installed with one.)
4. Turn the bleeder valve counter clockwise with a small pair of pliers until
the air has been released from the pump.
5. If this is unsuccessful, loosen the union nut on side of the pump with
channel locks. When air is bled out, tighten the nut.
6. Turn on power to the spa and press the UP button. If there is still air
trapped in the pump, repeat steps 2 through 5 until the pump primes.
Preparing for Your New Portable Spa
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
Operating Your Spa
Spa Topside Control - One and Two Pump Systems
11
Operating Your Spa
For one pump systems
For two pump systems
Initial Start-up (One pump systems)
When rst powered up, your hot tub will perform a selfdiagnostic check and go into priming mode. When the
control panel displays PR, IMMEDIATELY do the following:
1. Press the JETS button to turn on the pump and let it
run for 10 seconds. The pump should be running in low
speed.
2. Press the JETS button again and let the pump run in
high speed for 10 seconds.
3. Press the JETS button again to turn off the pump. The
pump should be left in the off position for 10 to 15
seconds.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 until water is owing through
all the jets and all air is removed from the plumbing.
When the hot tub has nished priming, the heater will be
activated and the water temperature will be maintained in
standard mode. The hot tub will heat to 100°F (37.5°C) at
start up until the set temperature is changed as described.
Initial Start-up (Two pump systems)
When rst powered up, your hot tub will perform a selfdiagnostic check and go into priming mode. When the
control panel displays PR, IMMEDIATELY do the following:
1. Press the JETS 1 or JETS 2 button to turn on the pump
and let it run for 10 seconds. The pump should be
running in low speed.
2. Press the JETS 1 or JETS 2 button again and let the
pump run in high speed for 10 seconds.
3. Press the JETS 1 or JETS 2 button again to turn off the
pump. The pump should be left in the off position for
10 to 15 seconds.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 until water is owing through
all the jets and all air is removed from the plumbing.
When the hot tub has nished priming, the heater will be
activated and the water temperature will be maintained in
standard mode. The hot tub will heat to 100°F (37.5°C) at
start up until the set temperature is changed as described.
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
Temperature Adjustment
(Range 80°F to 104°F, 26°C to 40°C)
The electronic control panel displays the actual water
temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. The displayed
temperature will only be current after the pump has been
running for at least two minutes.
To display the temperature that the hot tub is set to:
• Press the Temp button. The temperature setting will
ash.
• While the display is ashing, each time you press
Temp button, the set temperature will change up or
down one degree.
• If the desired temperature is opposite of the direction
each press of the button is making, release button,
allow display to stop ashing and then press Temp
button to change temperature in the other direction.
12
Operating Your Spa
Standard, Economy and Sleep Heating
Modes
Your new hot tub is equipped with a heating feature that
gives you complete control of the heating system. When the
hot tub is powered up, it will automatically start in standard
heating mode.
• St will light briey on the main display. In this mode,
the heating system will automatically maintain the set
spa temperature. In the economy-heating mode, the
heating system will only activate during ltration times.
• Ec will display solid if temperature is not current and
will alternate with water temperature if measured
temperature is current.
• Economy mode will heat the water to the set
temperature while Sleep mode, indicated by an SL
on the main display, will also only activate the heater
during the ltering cycles but will only heat the water
to within 20°F (10°C) of the set temperature. Like
Economy mode, SL will display solid when temperature
is not current and will alternate with actual temperature
when it is current.
NOTE: Displayed temperature will only be current after the
pump has been running for at least two minutes.
Switching Modes
• Press the Temp button followed by the Light button.
• Press the same sequence to switch to the next mode.
Activating the Jets
Press the Jets 1 button:
• Once to activate low speed pump.
• Twice to activate high speed.
• Three times to return to turn pump off.
Jets 2
Press the Jets 2 button to turn pump 2 on. Press it once
again to turn the pump 2 off.
Light
Press the Light button to turn on the light. Press it once
again to turn the light off.
Automatic Time-outs
These features will automatically turn themselves off during
periods of continuous use:
• Low speed pump After 4 hours
• High speed pumps After 15 minutes
• Hot tub light After 15 minutes
Ozonator
This is for your information only. The ozonator works
automatically and does not require you to change any
settings.
For single pump systems, the ozonator will operate any time
pump 1 is on in low speed.
For two pump systems, the ozonator will operate with pump
1 on low speed during the ltration cycle only.
Setting Filtration Cycles
Your hot tub is programmed to lter twice a day. The rst
cycle will begin six minutes after the hot tub is turned on
and the second cycle 12 hours later.
The factory has programmed the cycle to last for one hour
for single pump systems and two hours for two pump
systems, but this can be changed to your preference.
To change the ltration cycle, press the Temp button then
the Jets button. Press Temp button again to change the
ltering cycle duration. See the table below for ltration
settings and duration.
When desired duration is selected press the Jets button to
exit.
Single pump systems Two pump systems
Setting Duration Setting Duration
F1 1 hour F2 2 hours
F2 2 hours F4 4 hours
F3 3 hours F6 6 hours
F4 4 hours F8 8 hours
F5 5 hours FC Continuous
F6 6 hours
F7 7 hours
F8 8 hours
Note: Single pump systems do not have continuous ltration.
To set the time of day you want ltration to begin, turn off
the power to the hot tub at the time of day you would like
one of the ltration cycles to begin, then turn it back on
after 30 seconds. When power has been restored, set the
ltration cycle as described above.
During ltration, the water temperature will appear on the
main display.
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
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