Altuglas spa keypad adapter plates

The Altuglas range on this page covers a single, very practical job: closing and re-using the opening left behind when a spa-side control panel is replaced. Topside keypads are rarely identical from one generation to the next, so the cut-out in an acrylic shell, a cabinet panel or a wooden surround often no longer matches the new unit. An undrilled adapter plate bridges that gap, giving a clean flat surface that can be marked out and drilled to suit whatever keypad is actually being fitted.

Here you will find the universal spa keypad adapter plate to drill in three finishes — white (PPS-10309), blue (PPS-10310) and black (PPS-10311) — so the plate can be matched to the shell colour or to the trim around the control. All three are supplied blank, without pre-cut holes, which is what makes them universal rather than model-specific.

What an adapter plate is for

Spa controls sit in a shallow recess or through-hole, usually on the top rim of the shell or on the equipment-side panel. Problems appear when the original keypad is discontinued and the available replacement has a different footprint, a different screw pattern, or a smaller bezel that no longer covers the existing aperture. Typical situations include:

Oversized old cut-out — the previous panel was wider or longer than the new one and leaves a visible gap around the bezel.
Mismatched fixing holes — the replacement keypad screws into positions that do not line up with the holes already drilled in the acrylic.
A damaged or enlarged opening — chipped acrylic or a hole that has been opened up during a previous repair.
A change of control brand — moving from one pack and topside combination to another during an electrical or heater upgrade.

In each case the plate is fitted over the opening and acts as a new mounting face, so the keypad is supported on a flat, continuous surface rather than on the edge of an oversized hole.

Measuring before ordering

Because the plate is universal, the fit depends entirely on the measurements taken on the spa itself. Work from the existing opening outwards and note the following before choosing a colour and ordering:

The cut-out — length and width of the aperture that has to be covered, measured at its widest points.
The surrounding flat area — how much uninterrupted surface there is around the hole for the plate to bear on, allowing for any curvature of the rim.
The new keypad body — the depth and shape of the part that passes through the plate, plus the bezel size that will sit on top of it.
The fixing pattern — the hole centres of the replacement keypad, and the cable or connector route behind it.
Obstructions underneath — pipework, bracing or foam insulation that could limit where screws can be placed.

Marking out and drilling

The plate is intended to be cut and drilled on site. Mark the hole centres using the new keypad or its template as a guide, then check the layout against the spa before any tool touches the material. Acrylic cuts cleanly but is unforgiving of heat and pressure, so drill at a moderate speed with a sharp bit, support the plate from behind, and ease off as the bit breaks through. Deburr the edges afterwards so the keypad gasket seats evenly.

When fitting, tighten fixings only until the keypad is firm — over-tightening is the most common cause of stress cracks radiating from a screw hole. A continuous seal or the keypad’s own gasket between plate and shell helps keep splash water out of the recess, and any cable entry should be dressed so it is not pinched between the plate and the shell.

Altuglas at PoolParthub.com

Here we stock the Altuglas universal spa keypad adapter plate in white, blue and black, listed under PPS-10309, PPS-10310 and PPS-10311. They are kept because a keypad replacement rarely ends with the keypad alone: once an original topside is no longer made, the mounting face usually needs rebuilding too, and a blank plate is the simplest way to do that without cutting into the shell.

Quote the part number for the colour wanted when ordering, and keep the measurements of the existing cut-out and the new keypad to hand. Those figures, rather than the brand of the old control, are what decide whether a universal plate will solve the job neatly.