Hot Tub

Sparky Joe

A homeowner wants to put a hot tub on the opposite side of his house from his 200 amp service panel. Because there is an RV pad right next to his service, I would have to get the cable into the basement to get to the other side of the house. He has 2 100 amp panels in his basement right near where I need to be, but these are feeding all his household circuits. Would I be able or allowed to feed the hot tub out of one of these sub-panels? His service panel also already has 280 amps worth of breakers in.

-Joe

Speedy Petey

It depends on the calculated load on the sub-panels and what they are feeding. It is a judgement call as to whether you can do it. Legally you can.

The fact that there are *** amps worth of breakers in a panel is of absolutely NO consequence. This number is completely useless. In fact I'm surprised you mention it.

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Sparky Joe

Its a 3000 sqf house with the 2 AC units fed from the service panel so I know it could never draw that much. Its just that Im helping a friend do this job and he seemed to think that we had to come from the panel outside, so before I took charge and told him to do it differently I just wanted some information to back it up.

Sparky Joe

Also, this homeowner doesn't have the hot tub yet, just the pad poured for it, and he wanted us to get the cable run and stubbed out of the house into a disconnect so that its all ready to go when he does buy it. But since I've never hooked up a hot tub before and I always do a nice clean job I was wondering if there's only one specific place you have to enter the hot tub or can you just chase the wires inside it? If I can't chase inside it then we'll just get the cable in the general area and won't punch any holes in the wall until we find out where they need to be.
Thanks -Joe

Rounders

Usually you can wire the hot tub for 40, 50, or 60 Amps. You can ask the homeowner to get the electrical specs. The different amperages will affect if the hot tub can heat the water while the blowers are running. i would advise wiring it for the highest amperage allowed, this way they wont have any complaints. Speedy's dead on with adding up the breakers. If we did that we would need a 400 amp service on a ranch. Anyway just look at the subpanels, see if they are any big draws like a range. If they are filled with 15 and 20amp circuits you should be fine, as long as you have the room. Dont forget you must use a Gfi Disconnect. I usually feed the tub with Liquidtite if it is close enough otherwise just pipe under it before the pad is poured. The hottub will have access points for wiring. Good luck.

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Brett
Boylston Electrical Company

Sparky Joe

Didn't know about the GFI disconnect thanks

Speedy Petey

Of all the tubs I have wired I have not seen one that is convertable to 40, 50 or 60 amps. They are set to a branch circuit amperage according to the loads inside. Many older units were convertible from +/-50a-120/240v to 120v-20a.

The GFI is not required to be in the disconnect. You can install GFI protection anywhere from the feeder to the branch breaker to the disconnect.

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Rounders

The newer tubs have jumpers in them for different wiring. They let you wire it with a lesser amperage, why I dont know. If you use the lesser amperage then the motors and heater cannot run at the same time. You can put the Gfi anywhere but they make hot tub disconnects now with everything built in. Just make sure it is at least five feet away from the tub and you have receptacle within 20 feet. Hot tubs can be a pain, the handbook can be a great reference for pools and hot tubs.

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Brett
Boylston Electrical Company

Sparky Joe

So a service outlet is also required. Have you seen one of these disconnects, I'm assuming they're breakers not fuses, that have the the service receptacle built in? tapped off the feeders to a 20 amp breaker?

brian11973

The disconnect hooks up just like a A / c disconnect. Line / load terminals. It has a gfci built in with a current transformer on the back. (BTW, My local supplyer has replacements) No breaker, no service plug. Rating of 60 Amps, I believe.

fridaymean

A service receptacle is required with 25' of any equipment. ( AC condensors, furnaces, etc.) It is for the repairman, sometimes us electricians, when the unit needs servicing. The 60 A GFI disconnect has a contactor and a 15A block style gfi, not receptacle, in it. I think the ones we have used have a circuit breaker in them as well, not fuses.

Speedy Petey

The spa disconnects I use simply have a two-pole 50a GFCB.

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Sparky Joe

I just thought it'd sure be convenient if they made something that had the service receptacle already tapped off the hot tub feeder, so I would't have to bring another cable out or use another space in the panel

Rounders

They make disconnects with service receptacles built in now, just saw one today at Graybar, They do make them up to 60 amps but I have not seen one with GFI protection.

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Brett
Boylston Electrical Company

mdshunk

If that RV pad has any reinforcing wire in it, you're gonna have an interesting bonding issue to solve.

Sparky Joe

What do you mean MD?