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<title>Cedartubsdirect : Balboa VS500z versus BP501</title>
<link>Balboa-VS500z-versus-BP501-260.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Want to know the difference between a Balbao VS500 and BP501 then read more.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 21:21:25 -0500</pubDate>
<item>
<title>Balboa VS500z versus BP501</title>
<link>Balboa-VS500z-versus-BP501-260.html</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 21:21:25 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[<p><strong>Message</strong>: Hello, &nbsp; I contacted you I believe last Friday night/early Saturday&nbsp;(Oct, 4th-5th). Just wanted to make sure you got the message as I never received a confirmation for the ticket. I just wanted to add to that ticket two&nbsp;more questions: 1. It looks like I have a 2-speed pump one, 1-speed pump 2 AND&nbsp;a 24hr circulation pump. How does that work? As everywhere I have read regarding the VS500z it says if you have a circulation pump you wont have a 2-speed pump 1. &nbsp; 2. On other question. I have been in contact with Balboa support as well. They mentioned that any M7&nbsp;heater unit will work as long as you have a 1.5&quot; pipe and atleast 23 GPM. Does this mean the 5.5kw that comes with the <a href="https://www.cedartubsdirect.com/balboa-bp501-spa-pack-hot-tub-heater5648505-p-549.html">Balbao&nbsp;BP501</a> will work with a E14 circulation pump? Ialso don&#39;t understand why my current 4kw M7 heater wont work with the BP501. They said it&#39;s &quot;not recommended&quot; with no real reasons.<br />
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Dated on : 10-07-2013</p>

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<strong>Replies :</strong></p>

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<p>There is a lot to your questions to answer and I will be brief. 1) VS501 has plugs for 2-speed pump 1, 1 speed pump 2 (that then uses the blower receptacle) and a circulation pump.&nbsp; When circulation pump is used, the setting to have pump1 function in both speeds,&nbsp;has to have both A5 and A9 dip switches ON.&nbsp; The circulation pump will then run continuously with 3 deg F setback. 2) BP501 as it comes from the factory comes only with a 5.5kW heater.&nbsp; To install a 4.0 kW unit it would have to be a field conversion.&nbsp; For example we can do it.&nbsp; Whether an E14 will work with M7 spa pack equipped with a 5.5 kW heater is a bit of a crap shoot.&nbsp; In principle it should if the flow resistance in the circulation circuit is low enough.&nbsp; For sure if the circulation system doesn&#39;t deploy 1-1/2&quot; piping that would be a red flag.&nbsp; However when a 4 kW or 3 kW heater is substitute the flow requirements drop from 23 GPM to the kw ratio ( 4/5.5 or 3/5.5) and in that case I would not have much worry, if the piping is 1-1/2&quot; which it should be with a E14. &nbsp; Balboa told me they tested the BP1500 (which has a 4.0 kW element) with the E14 and it worked fine. Dieter<br />
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Post By : Dieter Jung Dated On : 10-08-2013</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hmm Strange looks like my emails to your ticket system arn&#39;t getting picked up. Here was my reply from last week: &nbsp; Great information! Just to make sure you mentioned VS501 in the first point did you mean BP501? If that&#39;s the case I&#39;m super happy to hear that the bp501 will support a 2-speed pump 1, 1-speed pump 2 and a 24hr circulation pump. As i got a hold of a balboa tech support person and they seemed to believe it wasn&#39;t possible with the bp501 and i needed a bp2000 which i cant find anywhere on the web.<br />
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Post By : Stephen Shamakian Dated On : 10-12-2013</p>

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<p>No I was describing the VS501Z in the first paragraph. and it supports the pumps as described. I was wrong about the the BP501.&nbsp; With a circulation pump it supports only a 1 speed pump 1 and a 1 speed pump 2.&nbsp;&nbsp; Yes we have the BP2000, just haven&#39;t got it advertised. Sells for $550 or $795 as a retrofit kit with TP-800 panel and cables.&nbsp; You would have to place a phone order, with me Ext 222 or Peter Ext 223 Dieter<br />
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Post By : Dieter Jung Dated On : 10-13-2013</p>

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<p>Great! Thanks! I might order one of those BP2000&#39;s!&nbsp;I need to first talk with my spa service guy,&nbsp;as we are currently troubleshooting a strange issue&nbsp;with the spa now (even though it is brand new). So we might&nbsp;need to replace the control pack anyway. I will give you a call once I know more! &nbsp; Thanks again for your help!<br />
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Post By : Stephen Shamakian Dated On : 10-13-2013</p>

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<p>Still waiting on my spa service guy to get back to me on the other&nbsp;issue. But while I wait I have one more question for you: Does the BP2000 support 12V for the spa light and a 240V ozone generator with a 240V circ pump? This is all the info I&nbsp;have to go on:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.balboawatergroup.com/BP2000">https://www.balboawatergroup.com/BP2000</a>&nbsp;And that page shows 120V ozone and a 10V spa light? It says nothing about the voltage for the circ pump. &nbsp; Thanks again!<br />
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Post By : Stephen Shamakian Dated On : 10-16-2013</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hello,Just checking in on the below followup questions...Thanks!<br />
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Post By : Stephen Shamakian Dated On : 01-18-2014</p>

<p>Great information! Just to make sure you mentioned VS501 in the first point did you mean BP501? &nbsp;If that&#39;s the case I&#39;m super happy to hear that the bp501 will support a 2-speed pump 1, 1-speed pump 2 and a 24hr circulation pump. As i got a hold of a Balboa tech support person and they seemed to believe it wasn&#39;t possible with the bp501 and i needed a bp2000 which i cant find anywhere on the web.&nbsp;<br />
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Post By : Stephen Shamakian Dated On : 01-18-2014</p>

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<p>I believe we have a glitch in the support ticket app, since this seems like quite an old ticket.&nbsp; The answer is that the VS501Z supports your 2-speed pump 1, 1-speed pump 2 and circulation pump.&nbsp; Ozonator and Circ Pump must be the same voltage. BP501G1 does not support 2-speed pump 1 when circ pump is used.&nbsp; It also requires ozonator to be same voltage as circ pump. &nbsp; Dieter<br />
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Post By : Dieter Jung Dated On : 01-18-2014</p>

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<p>Hello, &nbsp; Sorry I forgot my original question as this was posted a 3-4 months back. &nbsp; I was told by Balboa tech support that the 501 in no way supports a 2-speed pump one with a 24-hour circulation pump, ozonator and a 1 speed pump two....&nbsp; &nbsp; Right now we are building a sunroom for our spa so it&#39;s out of commission for the time being. But at some date in the next few months I would like to retrofit the control system with a Balboa pack that supports the WiFi module. I&#39;m just not sure if the 501 or the 2000 is the one to get. I seem to be getting conflicting information.<br />
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Post By : Stephen Shamakian Dated On : 01-18-2014</p>

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<p>Even your website says it&#39;s not possible: &nbsp; https://www.cedartubsdirect.com/balboa-bp501-retro-fit-kit-spa-pack-with-tp600-controller-cables-and-wi-fi-p-552.html &nbsp; 1 x 1-speed pump1, 1 x 1-speed pump2, Circulation Pump, Ozonator, 12v Light<br />
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Post By : Stephen Shamakian Dated On : 01-18-2014</p>

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<p>I confirmed that before, with a circulation pump a 2-speed pump is not supported,, so you need the BP2000&nbsp;with either TP400T or TP600&nbsp;or TP800 panel and for the Wi-Fi&nbsp;option you need the BWA Wi-Fi&nbsp;module. You can order by contacting Peter Moroz&nbsp;ext&nbsp;223. Dieter<br />
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Post By : Dieter Jung Dated On : 01-18-2014</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Correct I confirmed that with you several times already . However if you wanted a cheaper solution you can use the BP501&nbsp;and just hook up Pump 1 iin high speed.&nbsp;<br />
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Post By : Dieter Jung Dated On : 01-18-2014</p>

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<p>Sorry, for the repetition&nbsp;your support system is bugging out and sometimes not showing messages or not accepting them from email. &nbsp; It sounds like from the post I made a few months ago I&nbsp;was looking for verification that is all. &nbsp; Great thanks for your help. I will look into ordering the BP2000 in the next few months after our other projects calm down.<br />
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Post By : Stephen Shamakian Dated On : 01-18-2014</p>
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