Controller system for pool and/or spa

A spa or pool control system with an emergency shutdown capability, comprising:

• one or more electrically powered devices associated with operation of the spa or pool;
• a controller system operatively connected to the one or more electrically powered devices for controlling the operation of said one or more devices;
• a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) circuit;
• a line voltage service connected to the controller system through the GFCI circuit, the GFCI circuit adapted to detect ground faults and interrupt the service upon detection of a ground fault;
• a manually actuated low voltage emergency switch system mounted in the vicinity of the spa or pool, the switch system connected to the controller system and to a ground fault test circuit, the test circuit inducing a ground fault between line voltage and ground upon activation by the emergency switch system, thereby tripping the GFCI circuit.

A method for operating an electronic pool/spa controller which has control of at least one line voltage load, and wherein the line voltage which powers the load also provides primary power for the electronic controller and is protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), the method comprising:

• applying electrical power to the controller, the electrical power resulting from the line voltage;
• checking a nonvolatile memory for information regarding prior successful GFCI testing;
• if said information is stored in said memory, proceeding to normal controller operation;
• if said information is not stored in said memory, conducting a GFCI test procedure, said procedure including inducing a ground fault, determining whether line voltage is interrupted within a predetermined time period after said inducing, if line voltage is interrupted, continuing operation of the controller through a short term auxiliary power supply in order to write to said nonvolatile electronic memory said information.