General description of spa and hot tub keypads, topsides, side panels or control panels
Hot tubs first started appearing in the United States in the 1940’s. The materials and technology used in their construction has continued to improve year after year. Some hot tubs are still being controlled by mechanical systems with switches and relays, however these days most are being controlled by some sort of digital system. One part of these systems are keypads. These are very important and are extremely specific to what control system they will work with. In this guide we will work to explain different aspects and components of keypads, help identify which keypad you need, and some tips for installation and operation.
Keypads are the control interface where the hot tub user can control various functions of the spa including commands such as controlling water temperature or turning on/off pumps, blowers, and lights.
They are normally located on the top sill of the hot tub (Fig.1) but can sometimes be found on one of the skirting panels, as well as being installed remotely up to 300’ away from the hot tub.
Fig. 1: Usual spa and hot tub keypad location
The number of buttons can vary from one model to another, from a single button to as many as 12+.
Older keypads may include items such as thermostat knobs to control heat, and pneumatic air buttons to trigger switches to turn on pumps or lights. (Fig.2)
Fig. 2: Spa and hot tub pneumatic keypad with thermostat & air buttons
Modern keypads (Fig.3) typically contain some sort of digital display (usually LED, or LCD) that can show the current or set temperature, display time, and show when a pump, light, or blower is engaged. In the event there is a failure, they can display error codes to help with diagnosing. When a control system first starts up, many will display the current settings, or software revisions.
Fig. 3: Modern spa and hot tub digital keypad
A keypad will usually include a permanently attached cord that will plug in to the control system (some exceptions, where a detachable cable is used, do exist). (Fig.4)
Fig. 4: Spa and hot tub keypad with attached cords
Keypads can be any shape, however, rectangle, oval, and rectangle with rounded sides are the most common.
Some spas come equipped with auxiliary keypads. These will usually not contain a digital display and will be limited to 1-4 buttons. Auxiliary keypads are designed to be a secondary interface and work in conjunction with a normal main keypad. (Fig.5)
Fig. 5: Spa and hot tub auxiliary keypad (no display)
Fig. 6: Overlay sticker for spa and hot tub keypads
Most modern keypads contain an Overlay sticker that labels the buttons, displays the manufacturers logo, and provides a protective shield over the keypad. (Fig.6)
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