Original > Hot Tub Forum
Hot Tub Wiring
bachman:
I believe my set up is schedule 40 pvc / single strand wires from breaker box in garage through crawl space and basement ceiling to outside wall J-box, 50 amp GFCI. Then Sched 40 pvc underground to tub location on patio pavers. Where it comes above the paver stones, it's the liquid tight flexible conduit for 18" or so to the tub.
bud16415:
--- Quote from: BullFrogSpasMN on December 14, 2018, 02:13:59 pm ---
--- Quote from: bud16415 on December 14, 2018, 08:30:58 am ---
--- Quote from: hobble23 on December 13, 2018, 11:35:18 pm ---I'm looking at what wire I need to purchase for wiring my hot tub. I'm in Canada and Nova Scotia so we need to hire an electrician either way but I'd like to run the wires etc.
The Hot Tub we are getting requires 6 AWG with a minimum ground of 8 AWG. I could do almost the entire run indoors with a short section outdoors. I would like to not use TECH 90 on the indoors as it's overkill - but it seems there exists no wire for purchase that has 3 conductors + ground whereby the ground is 8 AWG. The ground is always 10 AWG which makes it not good enough.
I could use TECH 90 for the whole thing - but that really seems ridiculous to do that. Does this make any sense as to why I cannot find a compatible wire for such a common installation? Are folks generally ignoring that they need a 8 AWG for the ground?
--- End quote ---
I don’t know the code in Canada very well. All Romex 6/3CU NM-B W/G in the states comes with a #10 ground conductor as far as I know. I wired my own tube no electrician needed here with a 50a breaker at the panel used the #6 romex thru the house and code says that romex is not allowed for outside or in conduit service so you must transition at that point in a Jbox to outdoor service rated cable leading to your GFCI breaker located within eye sight of the tub but at least 5’ from the tub.
My tub required a 30a and a 20a GFCI so from there to the tub I ran single conductors in conduit #10.
If you can somehow keep the romex run in the house and go thru the exterior wall and straight into the GFCI breaker that would be legal here.
I don’t understand the code saying you need #8 ground for the run.
If it was me I would talk to who I was planning to hire to do the rest of the hook up and see if they even will allow you to run the wire. Sometimes they have to be able to inspect every inch of the run or they wont connect it. If you need ditches dug and such you could DIY and save there.
--- End quote ---
#8 jacketed wire is what 99% of hot tubs require for the ground....Run individual strands through 3/4" flex conduit is the most common way I've seen spas wired....(2) 'hot wires' (1) Common/Neutral Wire all in 6 awg then your jacketed #8 in green for the ground
--- End quote ---
Here is the code change in the states concerning grounding conductors and cable runs within the structure and non corrosive environments.
Not sure what Canada says but this may be the reason your information shows an insulated ground sized the way it was.
Again check with your electrician and Canadian code before making your interior run.
http://www.electricallicenserenewal.com/Electrical-Continuing-Education-Courses/NEC-Content.php?sectionID=373.0
As to BullFrogSpasMN I think the method you described would be fine, but I’m pretty sure NEC limits the length of flex conduit to 6’and in some cases 15’. Plus it would be very hard to pull 4 conductors that size thru flex conduit much longer than that. Ridged would be the only way to do it to code.
hobble23:
There is the matter of requiring an insulated ground on the exterior cable run. I will use tech 90 for that but on the interior portion this is where I’d rather not use the tech 90 but I think that is the only choice because all other cable with 6 awg come with a 10 awg ground and I need #8. I would not be able to pull conduit through the walls I don’t think due to access to run store are wires. Can you pull as much flex conduit as you want in the interior or is it restricted to 6 feet?. I don’t understand the length restriction in liquid tire and why it is needed.
Thanks
Andrew
bud16415:
--- Quote from: hobble23 on December 15, 2018, 09:58:31 pm ---There is the matter of requiring an insulated ground on the exterior cable run. I will use tech 90 for that but on the interior portion this is where I’d rather not use the tech 90 but I think that is the only choice because all other cable with 6 awg come with a 10 awg ground and I need #8. I would not be able to pull conduit through the walls I don’t think due to access to run store are wires. Can you pull as much flex conduit as you want in the interior or is it restricted to 6 feet?. I don’t understand the length restriction in liquid tire and why it is needed.
Thanks
Andrew
--- End quote ---
Again these are USA NEC codes and may or may not be close to yours. The idea behind the flex conduit is to allow for some movement and adjustment at the final point of connection.
I can tell you I ran about 50’ of #6 romex with the #10 ground to my GFCI. All thru the basement it was uncovered and for the last short length it exited the basement and ran up to my GFCI, I ran it inside 2” PVC. Coming out of the GFCI enclosure I switched to individual stranded wires and ran them back down and under the deck in flex seal-tite. My tub has a wooden floor in the area of the equipment and below that an ABS pan bottom. I Drilled a tight hole thru that and the deck and brought my power in from below for a nice clean look.
I have had no issues with doing this over the last 4 years.
So yes my grounding conductor from the GFCI to the tub is an insulated conductor.
If done correctly I would have run from my main panel to a new sub panel with the Romex inside the house that is totally to code and then ran conduit to the GFCI panel outside with individual conductors per what you are stating is required. It seemed silly to me to do that as in my case the wires were barely leaving the house and not going underground and are 100% dry.
The only way you will know for sure seeing as how you will be inspected is to ask in advance ether directly or thru the electrician you will use.
BullFrogSpasMN:
--- Quote from: hobble23 on December 15, 2018, 09:58:31 pm ---There is the matter of requiring an insulated ground on the exterior cable run. I will use tech 90 for that but on the interior portion this is where I’d rather not use the tech 90 but I think that is the only choice because all other cable with 6 awg come with a 10 awg ground and I need #8. I would not be able to pull conduit through the walls I don’t think due to access to run store are wires. Can you pull as much flex conduit as you want in the interior or is it restricted to 6 feet?. I don’t understand the length restriction in liquid tire and why it is needed.
Thanks
Andrew
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6' is typically what is allowed 'outside'....inside the spa or 'walls' you can run additional flex conduit if need be, although most inspectors won't cause a fuss if you have a couple extra feet outdoors, but ya don't run 35' of flex conduit across your patio as they won't pass it assuming you are even getting it inspected. 3/4" or 1" are the most common sizes used, with the 3/4" you might need some electricians 'lube' to make it easier to pull the wire through...good luck!
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