Balboa VL401 4-Button LCD Touchpad - Replaces VL403 LED - GS501Z / VS501Z / Sig 10 / E4
Balboa VL401 4-Button LCD Touchpad - Replaces VL403 LED - GS501Z / VS501Z / Sig 10 / E4 - Jets/Light/Cool/Warm is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Don't Guess - Ask Us!
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Balboa VL401 4-Button LCD Touchpad - Replaces VL403 LED - GS501Z / ...
Balboa VL401 4-Button LCD Touchpad - Replaces VL403 LED - GS501Z / VS501Z / Sig 10 / E4 - Jets/Light/Cool/Warm is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
The Balboa VL401 is the current LCD topside touchpad supplied for Balboa GS500Z, GS501Z, GS510Z, GS513Z, GS515Z, VS500Z, VS501Z, VS510Z, VS513Z, VS515Z and VS300FL4 spa control systems. It directly supersedes the discontinued red-LED Balboa VL403 — same dimensions, same 8-pin telephone-style connector, same mounting hole, same wiring. The only functional difference is the modern blue-on-black LCD display in place of the older red 7-segment LED.
We keep these physically in stock for fast shipping or local pick-up, unlike most drop-shipping websites.
Replaces the Red-LED Balboa VL403
Balboa Water Group discontinued the VL403 (red LED) and superseded it with the VL401 (LCD). If your spa originally shipped with a VL403 and the red display has dimmed, gone patchy, or failed completely, the VL401 is the correct drop-in replacement. The two panels are fully interchangeable — Balboa's own VL401/VL403 application notes confirm both panels share the same hardware platform; only the display module differs. No wiring changes, no software changes, no controller updates required.
Compatible Balboa Control Systems
The VL401 is supplied as a base or optional topside panel on these Balboa controllers:
- GS Series: GS500Z, GS501Z, GS510Z, GS513Z, GS515Z
- VS Series: VS500Z, VS501Z, VS510Z, VS513Z, VS515Z, VS300FL4
- SCS: SCS501 / SCS501 1005
- Signature Spas: Sig 10 / Sig 10L (also sold as SIG10 E4)
- E4 Lite Duplex Digital platform — all configurations
Balboa OEM Part Numbers Replaced
This VL401 supersedes or replaces the following Balboa OEM part numbers: 51606, 51676, 51676-01, 51708, 51778, 52008, 52118, 52267, 52274, 52424, 52424-01, 53726, 53726-01, 54094, 54104, 54105, 54130, 54135, 54251, 54251-01, 54664, 54665, 10669, 11100, 11671, 11885, BAL51676, BAL54094, BAL54105, BAL54135, plus the universal-overlay codes 80-VL401-03, ECO-401, G8241, ICON15, TS500. If the white identification sticker on the back of your old panel shows any of these numbers, the VL401 is the correct replacement.
Specifications
- Model: BWG VL401 (Lite Duplex Digital LCD)
- Balboa primary part numbers: 54094 / 54665 / 54251-01
- Face size: 160 mm × 56 mm (6¼" × 2¼")
- Cut-out / hole size: 135 mm × 35 mm
- Cord length: 7 ft (~2.1 m)
- Connector: 8-pin telephone-style plug
- Display: blue-on-black LCD
- Buttons: 4 (configuration depends on overlay — see variants)
Spa Brands That Used This Panel
Common Australian and international spa brands that shipped the VL401 / VL403 platform as their factory topside: Signature Spas, Designer Spas, Leisurite, SCS, Cyclone, Bullfrog, Great Lakes, plus a large number of Chinese-imported spa cabinets running Balboa control packs.
Choose Your Button Layout
- Blower / Jets / Temp / Light — for systems with an air blower
- Jets / Light / Cool / Warm — for systems without a blower
If you're unsure which overlay your spa uses, check the existing panel's button labels and match the layout exactly. The wiring and hardware are identical between layouts — only the printed overlay differs.
Related Balboa GS501Z Parts
- Complete GS501Z controller with heater, touchpad and light
- GS501Z heater assembly
- GS501Z PCB circuit board
- Other compatible topsides: VL401 Lite (3-button rectangle) | VL200 (3 or 4-button oval)
- Temperature sensors / thermistor pair
Genuine Balboa Water Group (BWG) part. Australia-wide shipping from our Carrum Downs warehouse with same-day dispatch on orders placed before 1pm AEST.
ACOPVL401N
In plumbing, named sizes are not the actual measurements. A pipe called “50mm” or “2"” does not measure 50 mm across. Instead, it follows nominal sizing, an internationally-standardised naming system.
Use the Outside Diameter (OD) to check your pipe against fittings. Below is a quick reference for common spa & pool pipe sizes:
| Imperial Name | Metric Name | Pipe Diameter (OD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2" | 15mm | ~21.2–21.5 mm |
| 3/4" | 20mm | ~26.6–26.9 mm |
| 1" | 25 mm | ~33.4–33.7 mm |
| 1.5" | 40 mm | ~48.1–48.4 mm |
| 2" | 50 mm | ~60.2–60.8 mm |
| 2.5" | 65 mm | ~75.2–75.5 mm |
These are nominal sizes and are designed to fit matching fittings — not to measure exactly what their name suggests. These are based on PVC Pressure Pipe AS/NZ 1477 Dimensions1.
- º Internal diameters vary slightly by manufacturer and class.
- 1 Not all pool/spa fittings match these dimensions exactly. Some do not follow Australian or international standards. Chinese spas may use proprietary fittings.
Understanding Plumbing Sizes & Nominal Measurements
Plumbing sizes can be confusing. PVC and many other pipe systems use nominal sizes—the size is a name, not the exact measured dimension. This convention is used across most pool and spa systems so that pipes and fittings remain compatible.
Why pipe sizes don’t match the measurements
The Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) system standardises pipe dimensions so that pipes, fittings, valves, and accessories interoperate. Plumbers work with these nominal names every day, but DIYers can be tripped up if they try to match by a tape-measure alone.
How to Measure Pipe Correctly
-
Pipe size is identified by:
- The pipe’s Outside Diameter (OD).
- The fitting’s Inside Diameter (ID) (socket opening).
- Pipe Class / Schedule (e.g., Class 9, 12, 18 or Sch 40) relates to wall thickness and therefore the Internal Diameter (ID) and pressure rating.
- The outside diameter of a fitting is not useful (wall thickness varies by manufacturer).
Hose & Tube Dimensions
Common flexible hose sizes used in pool/spa systems (approximate IDs).
| Imperial Name | Metric Name | Inside Diameter (ID) |
|---|---|---|
| 3/8" | 9–10 mm | ~9 mm |
| 3/4" | 19 mm | ~19 mm |
BSP – British Standard Pipe Thread Sizes
BSP thread names are also nominal. The thread OD will not equal the nominal name.
| BSP Thread Size Naming | Outside Diameter (mm / inch) | TPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1/16" BSP | 7.7 mm / 0.304" | 28 |
| 1/8" BSP | 9.7 mm / 0.383" | 28 |
| 1/4" BSP | 13.16 mm / 0.518" | 19 |
| 3/8" BSP | 16.66 mm / 0.656" | 19 |
| 1/2" BSP / 15 mm | 20.99 mm / 0.825" | 14 |
| 5/8" BSP | 22.99 mm / 0.902" | 14 |
| 3/4" BSP / 20 mm | 26.44 mm / 1.041" | 14 |
| 7/8" BSP | 30.20 mm / 1.189" | 14 |
| 1" BSP / 25 mm | 33.25 mm / 1.309" | 11 |
| 1-1/4" BSP | 41.91 mm / 1.650" | 11 |
| 1-1/2" BSP / 40 mm | 47.80 mm / 1.882" | 11 |
| 2" BSP / 50 mm | 59.61 mm / 2.347" | 11 |
| 2-1/4" BSP | 65.71 mm / 2.587" | 11 |
| 2-1/2" BSP | 75.18 mm / 2.960" | 11 |
| 3" BSP | 87.88 mm / 3.460" | 11 |
| 4" BSP | 113.03 mm / 4.450" | 11 |
| 5" BSP | 138.43 mm / 5.450" | 11 |
| 6" BSP | 163.83 mm / 6.450" | 11 |
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B-52424 + Jets/Light/Cool/Warm overlay