Support Center / Troubleshooting & Repairs / Why Do None of the Buttons Work Even Though the Tub Has Power?

Why Do None of the Buttons Work Even Though the Tub Has Power?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary4

Likely Causes
What to Check, in Order
When to Open a Ticket
Common Questions

When none of the buttons work but the tub has power, look at the blue control box behind the front access panel, because every deck button and every pump passes through it. The box has a small green power LED beside its power inlet. If the outlet is live and that light is dark, the box or its cord is not passing power. If the light is lit and nothing responds, the box has likely lost its configuration, and the control box reset usually brings everything back at once. The first thing to check is whether that green light is on.

Likely Causes

The control box cord or a pump cord not seated all the way in at the box.
A control box that is receiving power but needs its configuration re-learned.
A control box damaged by water, corrosion at a connector, or an electrical surge.
A tripped GFCI outlet under the tub even though the panel breaker never moved.

What to Check, in Order

Remove the front access panel and find the box. Ella boxes show a green LED when power is flowing in, so a dark light with a live outlet is your first clue. The control box no power guide covers this diagnosis in detail.
Press the reset button on the GFCI outlet serving the tub. A GFCI can trip without the panel breaker moving. If it will not hold, leave power off and have an electrician correct it.
Check that the box's power cord and every pump cord are pushed all the way in and undamaged. Which cord plugs where identifies each one.
Unplug one pump from the box and plug it straight into the same outlet with water above the highest jets. If the pump runs, power is fine and the box is not passing it through.
If the green LED is lit, run the control box reset before anything else, then reconnect the labeled lines and test each function.
If the tub went dark after weather or an outage, follow nothing works after a storm or power outage for the breaker and GFCI sequence.

Chapters in this video

0:00 Introduction to Master Control Boxes The video introduces two master control boxes that manage the massage systems and heated seat in Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs.
0:16 First Control Box Connections This section details the connections for the heater pads, air pump, water pump, and the main power input for the first control box.
0:41 Control Connectors and Switches The video explains where to connect the push buttons for the water pump, air blower, LED light, and the digital control keypad.
1:36 Second Master Control Box The second master control box is presented, showing its connections for the heated seat, air pump, water pump, and main power inlet.
1:55 20 Amp Power Connector The video highlights the 20 amp power connector for the second control box and explains how to identify its unique plug.

The video walks around the master control box port by port: the heater pad, air pump, water pump and power connectors, the air nipples for the water, air and LED push buttons, the display port for the digital keypad, the LED connector, the config switch, and the green power LED. Watch: Master Control Box Explanation with chapters and a full transcript.

When to Open a Ticket

If the green LED stays dark with a live outlet, a pump runs from the wall but not from the box, or the box shows water damage, corrosion or scorching, please leave power off and open a ticket with your serial number, a photo of the box showing its ports and LED, a close-up of any damaged connector, and whether your tub has push buttons or the digital pad, and reach your Ella dealer or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850. A replacement control box is a covered part under the Lifetime Limited Warranty on supporting equipment; it ships tested and configured with a return label for the old box.

Common Questions

Does the control box have to be fine if only the heat button on the front works?

Not necessarily. The heated seat runs from its own keypad and heater pad connections, a separate path from the deck buttons that switch the pumps and lights, so heat can respond while the massage side has lost its configuration. Check the green LED and run the reset.

Is the whole tub dead if only the shower works and the jets and lights do not?

The shower is plumbing, so its function does not indicate the status of the electrical components for the jets and lights. If your walk-in tub's jets and lights are not working, first check the GFCI outlet under the tub and press its reset button. Then, locate the blue control box behind the front access panel and check if its small green power LED is lit. If the green LED is lit, run the control box reset to re-learn its configuration.

What now if the light under the panel is not on and the breaker did not pop?

If the green power LED on the blue control box is not on and the main panel breaker has not tripped, first press the reset button on the GFCI outlet under the tub, as it can trip independently. If the outlet is live but the control box's green LED remains dark, this indicates the box or its power cord is not passing power. Please note this information for your support ticket, as the control box or its cord is the likely part needing attention.

Can I still use the tub if there is corrosion where a wire connects and the box may have gotten wet?

If there is corrosion where a wire connects to the control box or if the box may have gotten wet, please keep the power off for safety. You should send photos of the control box, showing its ports and LED, and a close-up of any damaged connector. The support team will review the pictures to confirm whether the connector can be cleaned and reseated or if the control box needs replacing, as a box that has been wet should not be tested live.

About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.