The digital control installation instructions are the same for every Ella tub model, so the guide the team sends applies to your tub whichever side the door is on. The control can be mounted in the deck where two push buttons currently sit, or in another spot on the tub, and the team can send photos of the placement options for your model. Mounting it in the deck means removing two push buttons, cutting an opening with a router, and sealing the control in place with a white kitchen and bath silicone sealant.

Before the Control Ships

Digital controls are matched to the control box on the tub. When you request one, send a photo of the labeled side of the blue electrical box under the tub so the team can confirm the control is compatible with your system. Each control is tested on a matching setup before it is packed, and you receive a tracking number once it ships. If you are not sure which box the team means, what the digital controller is explains how the touchpad and the box work together.

Choosing Where to Mount It

There are two common placements. The first is in the deck near the existing push buttons, which puts the touchpad where the bather can reach it from the seat. The second is another spot on the tub that the team can show you in photos. The photos the team sends are taken on the same model as yours, sometimes with the door on the opposite side, so mirror the location as needed. Talk through the options with your installer before cutting, because the opening cannot be undone.

Installing the Control in the Deck

1. Remove the two push buttons where the control will go. The team has a video showing how to remove buttons from the top of the tub, and it is included in the repair video library.
2. Mark the opening to match the body of the control you received. The team can confirm the opening size for your control and send the written instructions.
3. Cut the opening with a router, then clean up the edges so the control slides in and sits flush.
4. Dry fit the control, then route its cable to the blue control box under the tub and plug it in.
5. Run a bead of white kitchen and bath silicone sealant around the control and press it into the opening. Wipe away any excess and let the sealant cure before the tub is used.

Removing or Replacing an Existing Control

If you are swapping out an older digital control, the team can send the video that shows how to lift the existing control out of the deck. After the new control is in, reseal it with the same kitchen and bath silicone. A control whose cable has slipped under the tub can sometimes be fished out and reconnected, but a control with a cracked face or dead touchpad should be replaced. See why the digital control pad is not lighting up before ordering, since a loose plug at the box is a common cause.

Using the Control After Installation

Once the control is sealed and powered, each icon on the touchpad runs one function of the tub. Push button controls versus the digital touchpad walks through every deck control, and the wiring variants are covered in the digital controller and heated seat schematics article. If none of the icons respond after installation, confirm the cable is fully seated at the control box before anything else.

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.