starlight Hot Tubs 5 Person Spas User Manual

: June 4, 2024
: starlight

Pre-Delivery Guide

www.starlighthottubs.com

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please take a moment to read through the information provided on these pages. We want you to receive your purchase in excellent condition so you can begin enjoying it. The information also includes important specifications about how to prepare the site for the delivery. This book specifically covers site preparation, delivery access, and electrical requirements.

Remember to read the Owner’s Manual. Some of the instructions here are also located in the Owner’s Manual. On the data plate is the spa model and serial number, which is important for warranty claims.

Starlight Hot Tubs reserves the right to change or modify the spas or any of the features without notification or any obligation.

Please make a record of the following information. It will be valuable if service is required.

Date Purchased: ____
Date Installed: __
Dealer: ____
Address: ___
Phone: ____

In most cities, permits are required for the installation of electrical circuits or the construction of a deck or gazebo. In addition, some communities have ordinances concerning hot tubs, usually directed toward their safety when no one is home. Your Starlight Hot Tubs cover is equipped with safety locks to prevent unsupervised child access. For any further questions or clarifications, your local building department is a good source. Your Starlight Hot Tubs dealer will be able to answer all of your questions.

Thermal Hydra Plastics
18800 Woodinville/Snohomish Rd.
Woodinville, WA 98072

Phone: 425.483.1877
www.starlighthottubs.com

DELIVERY ACCESS

MEASURE BEFORE YOU PURCHASE

On the chart below, find your spa and relevant dimensions. These dimensions are of the spa laying on its side.

Next, contact your spa dealer for the dimensions of the cart used to deliver your spa. Use the height of the cart and the “H” measurement for the vertical dimension. Use the width of the cart or “W”, whichever is greater, to determine the maximum clearances of the width.

starlight Hot Tubs 5 Person Spas table 1

starlight Hot Tubs 5 Person Spas 01

Note: If there are stairs or other obstacles, the spa will have to travel over to get to the site, additional clearances may be required. Use the supplied measurements to help you determine the best location for your new spa. If you have any problems, contact your dealer for assistance.

CAUTION: Starlight Hot Tubs suggests an engineer or contractor be consulted before the spa is placed on an elevated deck. *NOTE: The “Weight – Empty” and “Weight – w/water” of the spa includes the weight of the occupants (assuming an average occupant weight of 175 lbs).

STEPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL INSTALLATION:

1. PREPARING FOR YOUR SPA

Prior to receiving your new spa, you will need to prepare an area to install the spa. You will need to arrange to have your spa placed in your desired location and for the connection of the electrical circuits. In most cities, permits are required for the installation of electrical circuits.

Review the path that your spa will take through your property along with the size of the spa to ensure you have enough clearance. If there are stairs or other obstacles, the spa will have to travel over to get to the site, additional clearances may be required.

We have listed some key points to installing your spa that will help eliminate some of the unforeseeable situations that could occur.

Avoid installing too close to a building or structure.
Leave enough room around all sides to allow access to service panels.
Install on a load bearing, level platform.
Do not install less than 5 feet from ground conductors.
Use non-conductive conduit for all wiring.
If installing below a deck surface, leave enough room to access and remove service panels.

We recommend a level 4″ thick concrete pad if you are installing on land (versus deck or platform). The dimensions of the pad should be at least the outside dimension of the spa. You should also accommodate for steps or other items around the spa. Allow a few days for curing the cement when calculating your scheduled delivery date.

Balconies and upper decks are not recommended for spa installations, but if you choose to do so, keep in mind that a large filled spa with 6 people can weigh as much as three tons. Balconies and decks must be constructed to current state and local building codes and must support at least 100 pounds per square foot.

If you are building a deck around the spa, be sure that the deck does not cover any of the service panels to the spa. If you are building stairs for getting up to the spa, it is recommended that they be installed in such a way that they can be moved out of the way if entrance to the service panels is required.

The most obvious thing to remember is to plan your installation in a location where it will be easy to move from the delivery truck to the location site. Spas are typically transported on a mover’s dolly lying on their side. Check for adequate gate clearance and remove any fence panels if necessary to allow access to the installation site.

2. SITE SELECTION AND PREPARATION

The location of your hot tub is entirely up to you. Carefully read these instructions for various ideas of locations that your new hot tub may be placed.

By the time you have made your spa purchase, you probably have a spot already picked out. Prior to the spa delivery, please verify the following:

Always place the spa on a compacted and level surface. The best surface is a level concrete pad. A spa, full of water, can weigh a great deal. Please ensure the spot can support the weight.
Make sure to level your spa before filling it.
Locate the equipment panel. The control box, drain valve, and optional ozone generator are usually located all in the same area. Be sure that the connections are tightened during filling. Water inside the system pack will cause the pack to fail and the breaker to trip.
The panels, on all four sides, are removable. Be sure to have access on all four sides.
Be sure to have easy access to the circuit breaker in the sub panel (220 volt models).
Never let water into the sub panel (220 volt models), or into the electrical outlet that your spa is plugged in to. Your 220 volt spa’s control box is rain tight when installed correctly with the door closed.

3. INSTALLATION – PLACING YOUR SPA

OUTDOOR AND PATIO INSTALLATION
To position the spa correctly in your backyard is very important. The warranty on a spa is voided if the site is not level. If you install your hot tub outdoors, a concrete pad is the best method for a stable and level surface. The concrete pad should be four inches thick. Your spa may be installed on a deck, providing the load rating can handle a full spa with people in it.

DECK INSTALLATION
When placing the spa on a deck, please ensure the maximum load capacity of the deck. Consult a qualified deck builder or structural engineer before you place the hot tub on an elevated deck or indoors. To determine the weight of your hot tub, please refer to the specifications on the website. This weight must not exceed the structural weight of the deck.

INDOOR INSTALLATION
When installing a spa indoors, there are some special considerations. The combination of heat and moisture will accumulate on the floor and surrounding the spa. The flooring material needs to provide a grip when wet. The location also needs proper drainage to prevent water build-up around the spa. When building a room for your spa, it is best to have a floor drain installed. The humidity of a room with a spa can become a problem if there is not enough proper ventilation. Otherwise, problems such as dry rot, mildew or other problems may occur.

GROUND PREPARATION
Your spa has been engineered to rest on a variety of surfaces. The insulated spa floor base gives you the ability to find the perfect place. A concrete slab is the best for long term. There are other options available as long as the surface is level prior to delivery. The alternatives are 5/8 minus crushed packed rock, or a deck that is rated for the load.

When placing a spa on crushed rock, the easiest way to maintain its form is to build a frame and fill it with the crushed packed rock. Remember, if the spa is placed on grass or dirt, debris will get inside the spa as the users enter and exit.

It is incredibly important to the operation and the draining of the tub for the tub to be level once it is installed. Failure to have the spa level prior to adding water can affect the warranty.

Brick pavers Stone, slate, granite

Cement Decking: wood, synthetic

Packed/crushed gravel: 5/8″minus Marble, travertine

Decorative cement, stained Decorative cement & bricks

4. ELECTRICAL HOOK-UP REQUIREMENTS – 220V

REMOVING SPA PANELS: DURATECH CABINET

1. Unscrew and remove trim pieces.

2. Unscrew and remove cabinet panel.

This allows access to spa components.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS BY LICENSED PERSONNEL

To ensure you will have an opportunity to use your hot tub soon after delivery, it is very important that the required electrical service has been installed beforehand.

IMPORTANT: ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS MUST BE MADE BY QUALIFIED, LICENSED PERSONNEL. PLEASE CONTACT A LICENSED RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICIAN FOR THESE SERVICES.

The closer you locate the spa to the main service panel, the less money you will have to spend on wire. Wire can become expensive if you run long lengths.

All models require a 50 amp single phase, 220 volt circuit breaker in the main electrical service panel. NOTE: WE REQUIRE THAT A SUB PANEL BE USED TO SUPPLY POWER AND PROTECT THE SPA. All 220 volt Clearwater spas must be wired in accordance with applicable local electrical codes, and all electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician. A licensed electrician should install a four-wire electrical service (two line voltages, one neutral, one ground) from the main electrical service panel to the sub-panel, and from the subpanel to the spa per the appropriate wiring diagram as illustrated on the next page (Figure 1-1). The grounding conductor must be per NEC. Your electrician should mount the sub-panel in the vicinity of the spa but it should not be closer than five (5) feet from the spa’s water edge (NEC 680-38 to 41-A-3).

Always shut off power at the source when working with any electrical power!! Failure to do this could result in serious injury or even death!

WARNING: Removing or bypassing the GFCI breakers in the sub panel at any time will result in an unsafe spa and will void the warranty.

WIRE SPECIFICATION NOTE: Long electrical runs may require a larger gauge feed wire than stated. We recommend that a maximum voltage drop of 3% be used when calculating the larger wire size.

Refer to the Wiring Diagrams (figure 1-1) for the electrical requirements of the 220 volt models.

Do not turn on power to the spa when the tub is not filled with water.

ELECTRICAL ACCESS: Electrical wiring can be run from just about any direction into the spa by drilling a hole through the cabinet or floor. The only requirements are that the hole be drilled from inside the cabinet to be sure the drill doesn’t cut through wiring, plumbing, or the frame.

ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS – 220V (CONT.)

IMPORTANT: Electrical connections must be made by qualified, licensed personnel. Please contact a licensed residential electrician for these services.

starlight Hot Tubs 5 Person Spas fig 1.1

Figure 1-1
220 volt wiring configuration from the house to the spa.

Note Spa System Box wiring may vary between models. Please refer to the wiring diagram found in the Spa System Box.

Starlight 8

DIMENSIONS
Note: All dimensions are approximate. Measure your spa before making critical design or pathway decisions.

starlight Hot Tubs 5 Person Spas D 01

Electrical access can be run at any point through the cabinet or floor as long as the access hole is drilled from the inside out ensuring no wiring or hoses are damaged. Shown here is one suggested access point.