Calling in the Hot Tub Cavalry

By Ferry Suwantoro

At least if we’re smart. To avoid these harsh penalties, smart men know their limits, and know when to call in the experts. Here is a brief guide to finding a good, reliable professional to handle your hot tub repair problems.

The Easiest Step

The first and easiest option (and also the safest) is if your hot tub was sold to you with either a warranty and/or a service clause. In either of these cases, the people who sold you the hot tub will have specialists on their staff who HAVE to fix the tub or replace it if it’s faulty, depending on your coverage.

Don’t settle for just calling the people you bought it from if the warranty has bit the dust; their staff might not be competent, or they might charge you an arm and a leg. Start shopping around for a cheap yet reliable repair man.

Okay, so What’s Busted?

If the water isn’t coming in properly, this may be a result of clogged pipes or a problem with the water pump. If the damage is directly to the shell of the hot tub, this is fairly easy to spot. Check the places where the pipes connect to the tub to see if the problem lies there instead. If one type of water (hot or cold) isn’t coming in properly, it’s often a pipe problem, BUT may also be damage to your water heater itself or to the electric wiring of the heater or tub.

Who yah Gonna Call?

Once you find the problem, (or think you have!) there are four general hot tub specialists who can help you with your various problems. The most common one that most people call on is the plumber. If the problem is with your pipes, you definitely want a plumber to do the work for you.

On the other hand, another type of specialist to call is someone who remodels hot tub shells. Call this type of specialist if the damage is due to a leak in the actual shell of the tub. Repairing a ceramic tub shell is beyond either the skills or the equipment of most DIY handy men. If you’ve determined the damage is to the water pump or heater, the first instinct of most people is to call a plumber.

Not every plumber is trained to deal with a mechanical problem – their specialty is in pipe related problems.

Lastly, if the problem is electrical in nature like a busted power outlet that runs your water pump, call an electrician.

How can you be sure you’re not getting ripped off?

The only real way to keep yourself protected in this case is to rely on your own experiences as a Do It Yourself handyman. Keep close to the repair man as he goes over the problem, and ask frequent questions and clarifications as to the nature of the problem and how he’s going to fix it.

All About Optional Automation

By Ferry Suwantoro

The very first thing that comes from automation is a Timer. A timer is a kind of clock that can control a process or an event. It ranges form being mechanical to digital, electromechanical to software. Almost everything comes with a timer from watches to cellular phones, from computers to television.

Mechanical timers use mechanisms applied in clocks like escapement and springs in order to pick up the pace when it comes to the speed. An example is the mechanical egg timer.

The accurate mechanism of a timer resembles those small alarm clocks. The advantage of these timers is that they don’t need a battery or electricity. The most common application of this kind of automation control are bombs and explosives.

The Two types of Electromechanical Timers

1. Thermal type

The process involves the electric current flowing through and heating it. A side expands making the other side shorter.

2. Cam Timer

This kind uses a small motor that is synchronous and turns the cam through the switch contacts. This contraption, referred to as the AC motor, is always turned on and by alternating the current, it becomes an accurate rate. Power companies regulate these kinds of timers. This slow the motor to the desired speed and turns the cam on. The most popular application are those in dishwashers, driers and washing machines. This kind of timer comes with a friction clutch between the cam and the gear train

Electromechanical timers are really popular because they are less expensive when compared to the mechanical switch conducts. They are also cheaper than those devices that have to be controlled by heaters, motors and power lights.

Before, mechanical timers were used in electric relays in order to guild controllers powered through electro-mechanical contraptions. These electromechanical timers reached a state that were very extensive and eventually were applied in weapons systems and aerospace. Thanks to these electromechanical timers that can be controlled and programmed, launching of sequence events, rockets and missiles were made possible.

What are Digital Timers?

Digital timers are more precise compared to mechanical timers. They have integrated circuits that come with digital logic which is inexpensive. Therefore, an electronic and digital timer is cheaper than electromechanical and mechanical timers.

It is cheaper because it only needs a single chip. The modern timer controllers resort to logic that is programmable instead of a box that is filled with parts that are electromechanically but quite complicated for the layman. The logic behind this is that the digital timer is designed to be simple. Digital timers are also safer than the mechanical and electromechanical timers. An application of the digital timer is the gas timer.

Air Switches and Wireless Controls

Most spas have electronic timers. Usually, they are digital counters that are controlled by the software. Their count down reaches zero. The popular timers for spas and hot tubs are the air switches which provides the remote control. Also, these models are round the clock and has a multiple timer which turns from one to two speed pump.

Finally, there is the field control operations that is very perfect for irrigation and lighting. These are also perfect for hot tubs and spas. They are also used in green houses, parking lots, traffic control, mostly for outdoor use.