Balboa compatibility
Smart WiFi control for Balboa hot tubs
Yes, you can add app control to a Balboa hot tub without replacing anything. Spapilot plugs into the port on your existing Balboa BP-series control box, connects over the RS-485 bus, and gives you remote control plus price-aware heating, fitted in about 30 minutes with no electrician.
How it connects to your Balboa system
Balboa is the most widely used spa control platform in the world, which is exactly why Spapilot was built around it. The device plugs into the auxiliary port inside the Balboa control box and speaks to the pack directly over the RS-485 communication bus, with full read and write access to temperature, heating and status. Your Balboa pack keeps doing its job, Spapilot decides when heating happens so it lands on the cheapest electricity hours.
Verified Balboa systems
The systems below have been individually verified by the Zavepower engineering team. The BP series covers spas from brands like Jacuzzi, Sundance, HotSpring, Marquis, Caldera and Arctic Spas.
| Model | Variant | Status |
|---|---|---|
| BP100 | Tested | |
| BP200 | G1 | Tested |
| BP2100 | G1 | Tested |
| BP2100 | G2 | Tested |
| BP2100 | G3 | Tested |
| BP6013 | G1 | Tested |
| BP6013 | G2 | Tested |
| BP6013 | G3 | Tested |
Zavepower does not maintain any commercial partnership with Balboa Water Group. References to the Balboa BP series are provided exclusively to elucidate technical compatibility. Not sure about your pack? A free photo check confirms compatibility within 24 hours.
Installation in five steps
- Remove the side panel. Locate the equipment side of your spa and remove the side panel. Most panels pop off with clips or a few thumb screws.
- Find the Balboa control box. Inside the compartment you will see the control box, a rectangular unit labeled Balboa. Unscrew its front panel to access the ports.
- Connect the Spapilot cable. Locate the auxiliary port, usually labeled AUX or COM, and plug in the Spapilot cable straight until it clicks. Screw the panel back on.
- Place the Spapilot device. Place the device as close to your WiFi router as possible for the best signal, and check signal strength before closing the panel.
- Connect in the app. Download the Spapilot app, tap Add new device, select your control system type and connect the device to your 2.4 GHz WiFi.
The full walkthrough with photos lives in the installation guide.
Common questions
- Can I add WiFi control to a Balboa hot tub?
- Yes. If your hot tub runs a Balboa BP-series control pack, Spapilot plugs into the auxiliary port on the control box and connects it to your WiFi and the Spapilot app. The Balboa pack stays in place, nothing is replaced or rewired.
- Which Balboa systems does Spapilot work with?
- Spapilot connects to the Balboa BP series over the RS-485 communication bus. Individually verified systems include BP100, BP200 (G1), BP2100 (G1, G2, G3) and BP6013 (G1, G2, G3). If your pack is not on the list, a free photo check confirms compatibility before you order.
- Is Spapilot an alternative to the Balboa app?
- Spapilot is an independent controller that works alongside your Balboa system. Beyond remote control it adds price-aware heating: it heats on the cheapest electricity hours and coasts through the expensive ones, which the standard app control does not do.
- Do I need an electrician to install it?
- No. Installation is plug-in: remove the spa side panel, plug the Spapilot cable into the port on the Balboa control box, place the device, and connect it to WiFi in the app. Most owners are done in about 30 minutes.
- Will it void my hot tub warranty?
- Using Spapilot does not automatically void your spa warranty or statutory consumer rights. The installation is reversible, unplug the cable and the spa is exactly as before.
Check your Balboa pack, free
A local dealer confirms your exact model and fits Spapilot if you want the retrofit handled for you.