How to Wire a Spa Pump Motor

A spa's pump motor turns an impeller that circulates the water in the spa's tub. Most spas use two-speed pump motors. A two-speed pump motor runs on low speed while filtering and heating the water. Choosing the high-speed option increases water flow though the tub's jets. A two-speed motor can replace a single-speed motor when the spa's motor control circuit wires into the two-speed motor's high-speed terminal. A relay in the control circuit switches the pump motor on and off.

• 1

  Unplug the spa's cord from its outlet or turn the spa's circuit breaker off.

• 2

  Remove the wire plug from the pump motor with either a Phillips or slotted screwdriver. The wire plug, located on top of the motor near its rear, provides a way for the wires to enter the motor's housing. The wire plug looks like a round disk with grooves across its top.

• 3

  Remove the screws that hold the wiring access cover to the rear of the pump motor with the correct screwdriver. The cup-shaped access cover mounts to the rear of the motor and has louvers cut into its end. Often three screws hold the cover in place.

• 4

  Pull the access cover from the motor's housing. Often tapping on the cover with a clenched fist will break tight-fitting covers free.

• 5

  Examine the spa motor's terminal identification chart. The terminal identification chart, located either on the motor's housing or near the wire terminals, labels each color-coded wire terminal and its function.

• 6

  Loosen the spa motor's terminal screws with the correct screwdriver, usually either a Phillips screwdriver or a 1/4-inch hex-head screwdriver. If the spa does not use low-speed, then do not loosen the low-speed wire terminal. Count the wires that enter the motor from the control panel to identify the spa's speed options. Spas with single-speed motors use three wires and spas with two-speed motors use four wires.

• 7

  Feed the wires from the control panel though the wire access hole and into the motor's housing.

• 8

  Push the green wire's terminal connector under the motor's green screw and tighten the screw with the correct screwdriver. This wire grounds the motor.

• 9

  Push the common wire's terminal connector under the motor's common screw and tighten the screw with the correct screwdriver. Most manufacturers use wire with white colored insulation as the common wire.

• 10

  Push the high-speed wire's terminal connector under the motor's high-speed screw and tighten the screw with the correct screwdriver. Most manufacturers use wire with black colored insulation as the high-speed wire.

• 11

  Push the low-speed wire's terminal connector, if equipped, under the motor's low-speed screw and tighten the screw with the correct screwdriver. Manufacturers of spas with a low-speed option usually use wire with red colored insulation as the low-speed wire.

• 12

  Replace the access cover.