One of the best things about having a spa is the ability to control it in various ways so you get exactly the spa experience you are looking for. Using control panels to control units such as as gecko spa packs, you can create the ideal temperature and running settings to conserve energy and make your hot tub experience as enjoyable as possible.
Control systems are basically your user interface, the controls that allow you to communicate with the brain of your hot tub so that you can tell it what you want it to do. Think of it as much like what you type into a computer tells it what to do.
Before you purchase a control panel for your spa, be sure it is compatible with your existing spa pack. Otherwise, it won’t work. You can generally be sure you have a compatible match by getting the part number from the site of your existing control panel. Or, you can get the part number for your spa’s control pack and call the manufacturer to find out which top-side control panel will be compatible with it.
What can your control panel control?
Well, that depends. There are so many different kinds of control options available, it just depends on your personal preferences and your budget. Here are a few options:
Jets: You will be able to customize the speeds of the jets in your tub, such as pushing a button once for low pressure/speed and twice for higher pressure/speed.
Blower: Also known as the “bubbler,” this controls the rush of air into the water, which calls the desirable bubbling effect in the water. When coupled with the jets, this effect makes for the characteristic relaxing effect a spa has.
Lights: Many spa models have lights in them, which makes for a beautiful effect when the spa is used at night. Control panels give you options such as the color of the light, the intensity, and even the ability to cycle through various colours with the touch of a button.
Temperature: Not everyone likes their spa at the same temperature. A control panel will allow you to easily adjust the temperature of the water to be warmer or cooler as your mood, the weather, and the preferences of your guests dictates. Without such a panel, changing the temperature of the water is much less convenient.
Basically, control panels put you in, well, control of your spa. They tell your spa pack what to do when it comes to controlling the spa’s function. When purchasing a control panel for your existing spa, it’s important to keep in mind your particular needs and preferences, and also your budget. Although all of the bells and whistles are great and fun, do you really need them? Will you ever use them? If not, it’s not worth paying the extra money for them.