How To Wire Hot Tub

Connecting Accessories Like A Blower

Typically, accessories like a blower will connect using a 3 core cable. They will use just one of the output voltages and this does differ from Spa Pack to Spa Pack. For example, you can see above on the ACC pack that the pin out combinations are totally different for an Air blower than on a pump. For a Balboa pack, they generally use the Line voltage plus the neutral and the ground. You should definitely check the wiring diagram of the specific pack that you have purchased if you are not sure. The good thing is that with an accessory, you are unlikely to damage it if you get the pin out wrong. It will just not work.

Pool Safety Cover Installation

When installing your own safety cover, there are several steps to install it correctly. After measuring, install the springs onto the strap, threading the strap through the buckle. Then, determine anchor points for the two anchors at each corner and drill holes for each – approximately 4-6 inches behind the strap. Using your tamping tool and hammer, set the anchor into the drilled hole. After all the corner anchors are installed, attach them to the springs using the installation rod, keeping an eye on the seams to ensure theyre centred. Lastly, install the remaining anchors and adjust the tension as needed – working from one end to the other. Since safety covers come in many sizes, shapes, and materials, each installation process is different and requires expertise. If you find it challenging and would rather spare yourself the time and hassle, contact Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs to install your safety cover for the best results.

Important Thing To Note About Wiring A Hot Tub

The first thing you will need to know is the voltage potential of your home. To get an idea of the current you are supplied with, you will need to know your home’s voltage potential. the precise current amount will be slightly higher or lower than your home’s potential voltage supply.

When looking at various hot tub electrical requirements, knowing this information will come n handy. for example, you could decide to purchase a plug-n-play hot tub with 120v power requirements that you could plug directly into any wall outlet or purchase a traditional 240v hot tub that you will need to wire to your home’s central circuit breaker.

If you’ve been searching for hot tubs online, you’ve probably come across the two main hot tub types.

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About 120v Portable Hot Tubs

This guide is aimed at 240 volt portable spa installations. If you have, or are getting a 120 volt plug-n-play spa, most of this information will not apply to you. However, a few spas are easily convertible to run on either voltage models.

When configured for 120V use, spas in this class use a GFCI on the end of the power cord. This then plugs into a standard dedicated household outlet. Covered GFCI-protected outlets must be used outdoors. Converting these spas to hard-wired 240V serves two purposes: faster heating time and ability to maintain temperature in cold weather.

Where Does The Conduit Go

The conduit is used for any wiring that runs outside of the house. Typically an outdoor run will come from the backside of the main electrical panel, through the siding of the home and into an LB conduit body. The rest will then be trenched to the disconnect. Additionally, another run from the disconnect to the spa is also trenched or run underneath a deck if possible.

In the case of an indoor wire run, the conduit will start as soon as the wire exits the home. A hole is usually drilled through the foundation and then an LB conduit body is used as an attachment point for the conduit. From the LB the rest of the conduit is trenched to the disconnect or strapped along the bottom side of the home if trenching is not an option.

Trenching: How Deep Does The Conduit Have To Be?

The conduit must be buried 18 inches below surface level. This is to protect the wires and anyone who might be digging in the area.

Strapping: How Often Should The Conduit Be Strapped?

Our team of electricians is trained to place a strap every 3 feet of conduit. This will keep the conduit from sagging and prevent any single ten-foot section from coming loose should one strap fail.

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Hot Tub Wiring Explained

In this blog post, I will cover the hot tub wiring. Specifically, I am talking about how we can connect the various components to the Spa Pack. If you are looking for information on the Hot Tub Electric Requirements, then I have separate blog post on that.

What Kind Of Disconnect Is Required For A Hot Tub

When it comes to electrical safety, a hot tub requires a disconnect. Its a small, secured breaker box located at least five feet away from the hot tub. A disconnect cuts the power in case of danger. It will also speed up the heating of the water. Its vital to have a disconnect installed for a hot tub that operates on two20 volts.

First, the electricians have to determine where the hot tubs disconnect is located. For instance, if the tub is 110-V, theyll need to unplug its power cord from the main supply on the wall. However, if the hot tub is connected directly to the electrical panel, an electrician will need to install the disconnect. Regardless of where its placed, wiring needs to be inspected and tested before being buried.

The hot tubs disconnect box will connect to the main outdoor breaker panel. It contains a ground fault circuit interrupter and a circuit breaker. The GFCI is similar to the outlets near sinks and will trip if water contacts the outlet. The disconnect box must be located at least five feet away from the hot tub. It should also be located next to the main panel.

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Where Does The Conduit And Wire Go

We usually try to hide or bury the conduit coming from the panel to the disconnect as well as to the hot tub. We do this either by trenching 18 inches down and running any conduit that we can inside the houses crawlspace or basement.

The conduit coming from the panel may be visible, depending on the installation path.

The hot tub tail will be visible as it goes into the hot tub unless the tub and installation allow a bottom entry point.

Not All Hot Tubs Have Bottom Entry

Its important to check with the manufacturer to make sure that you can drill a hole into the bottom of the tub. Certain manufacturers place components all across the bottom that will break if a hole is drilled into the bottom of the spa.

Fast Experienced Hot Tub Wiring In Minneapolis St Paul Mn

• Our Minneapolis Electricians provide fast, professional results for your home.
• We are licensed and Insured with up-to-date knowledge of safety standards and codes.
• Deans Home Services Electricians evaluate electrical service issues then explain all available options
• Present you with a price before the work beings

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& 40 Amp Electrical Requirements

For a 32AMP hot tub, 6mm² 3-core SWA cable is needed and a 10mm² 3-core SWA cable is perfectly suitable for a 40AMP Hot Tub.

An IP65 45AMP Rotary Isolator Switch is also recommended so that the hot tub can be isolated outdoors in an emergency or for service work. This is simply a rotary on/off switch but should be sited more than 2 metres away from the hot tub so that bathers cannot be in the hot tub whilst touching the switch.

The electrician should fit a suitable weather proof block connector to the end of the tail from the isolator, the hot tub supply can then be directly hard wired into the weatherproof block connector inside the hot tub. Waterproof gland packs should be used to prevent ingress of water on all electrical connections . Ensure that all earth cables are clearly colour coded with green/yellow insulating tape or earth sleeve.

How To Wire A Spa

This guide shows how to wire most 240 volt hot tubs and portable home spas. We’ve included photos, a step-by-step hook-up movie& hot tub schematic wiring diagrams.

This information is provided to help you to be a more informed consumer. We advise hiring a licensed electrician to wire and install a spa.

If you’re not confident or qualified to do electric wiring, there’s still installation prep-work you can do to reduce expenses. We’ll walk you through a typical project to show what’s involved.

Jump to: 120V Hot Tubs

CAUTION: Electrical work and repairs can be dangerous, especially around water. There is a risk of shock or electrocution, which could result in serious injury or death. We strongly advise that hot tub electrical wiring be referred to a licensed electrician. Local code requirements for wiring vary and may differ from the educational examples on this web site. The local code regulations must be followed, with permits and inspections obtained. The installer should read and follow the hot tub owner’s manual and associated electrical component owner’s manuals and instructions.

Shut off electrical power to the hot tub or pool at the service panel prior to any inspections or work. Improper wiring may damage equipment and void the spa manufacturer’s warranty.

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Pvc Electrical Conduit And Fittings

We prefer the protection of buried conduit in a backyard setting where future digging may occur for planting scrubs, etc. PVC pipe is easy to install and inexpensive. 18″ is usually the required depth– check with local authorities. Secure conduit to walls with U clamps.

In our example, 4 wires are used in 1″ PVC conduit, which although a bit oversized, makes pulling the wire easier. For corner bends, wide 90° PVC elbows are used. Threaded PVC terminal adapters are cemented to the conduit for electrical box connections.

Our electrician used short lengths of flexible liquid-tight PVC conduit for the connections to our spa control pack. From the outside wall through to the electrical service panel, he ran LB Condulet. The LB allows easy access for running the wires.

What Is Needed To Install A Hot Tub

Requirements to install a hot tub are:

• An accessible location for delivery and placement.
• A concrete slab base, reinforced deck, or compacted soil with crushed gravel or pavers.
• Spa panel and emergency shutoff switch within 5 feet of the hot tub
• Dedicated electrical connection. Most spa panels require a 50 or 60-amp, 220V with a GFCI power supply or a 15-amp, 120-volt plug-and-play with GFCI.
• Nearby water access from a garden hose. A 300-gallon hot tub takes 1 to 2 hours to fill.
• Chemicals such as a pH balancer, sanitizer, alkalinity, calcium harness balance, and a chlorine or MPS spa shock.

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What Wire Do I Need For A 50 Amp Hot Tub

You can run a 50 Amp hot tub on a normal household electrical service for 100 feet without voltage drop. Larger conductors will handle 80 Amps. Once the load exceeds 100 feet, you will notice a voltage drop. Voltage drop calculations are not discussed here, but they are important to know as a large voltage drop can interfere with sensitive power inside your hot tub. In addition, too much voltage drop may void your hot tubs warranty.

For older homes, you may need a larger electrical panel to accommodate the power your hot tub needs. Your electrical panel may not have the space to accommodate additional breaker capacity. If you plan to add a hot tub, you may not be able to add additional equipment without causing the existing electrical panel to trip. In this case, you should consider a simple electrical panel upgrade to ensure safety and increased capacity.

If your hot tub uses 220 volts, you will need a separate disconnect switch. This switch should be located at least five feet from the water, 15 feet line of sight, or behind a permanent barrier. The wire you use for your hot tub should be number six AWG copper. Although this is safer for your hot tub, it will void your warranty. Copper wire is also a good choice if youre trying to save money.

Not Paying Attention To A Breaker Tripping

Bonding exists to allow a breaker to trip. So if you are using your hot tub and your breaker keeps tripping, dont consider it an inconvenience. Instead, you should immediately get out of the tub or turn it off. When this happens, it means that a breaker attempts to terminate a fault. It can be due to moisture in the electric system or loose wire. Whatever the reason, you cant ignore it otherwise, this hot tub wiring mistake can turn out to be very ruinous.

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What Are The Advantages Of A Wired Hot Tub And A 110 V Plug

You may think that an advantage of wiring a hot tub directly to your home’s circuit breaker box is an increase in the force of the water through the spa jets, but that’s not the case. Spa pumps function the same through a 110 v connection as they do through a wired connection. The real advantage of a wired connection is an increase in heat output. The many directly wired Hot Spring® hot tubs will heat more quickly than one plugged into a wall outlet because direct connection boosts heating power from 1 kilowatt to 4 or 6 kilowatts.

The advantage of a plug-and-play spa is convenience: It can be placed anywhere there is an outlet and it can simply be unplugged if moving the spa to a new location. The Hot Spring TX spa from the Hot Spot® Collection is a plug and play hot tub.

What Are The Different Types Of Hot Tub Connections

There are only two ways to connect a hot tub to power. The first is through a low 110 v connection that simply plugs into a wall outlet, and the second is through a 220 v, 230 v, or 240 v connection directly to your home’s central circuit breaker box.

In North America, power enters a home at 240 v and is split into two 120 v circuits that go to your wall outlets. It’s important to know that these numbers represent the voltage potential the true force of current can vary by as much 5 percent lower or higher. This means that 220 v, 230 v, and 240 v are interchangeable terms and that most plug-and-play spas can connect to 110 v, 115v, and 120 v outlets.

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Have The Spa Inspected

When youre finished wiring a hot tub, consult with an electrician to ensure that the installation follows all local safety codes. A certified electrician must also inspect your hot tub wiring before you use it for the first time.

Once everything has been checked and approved, bury the conduit in the trench, cover it with dirt and replace any sod you had to remove.

Learning how to wire a hot tub will make it safer to install and use. Make sure to have your wiring professionally inspected before using your hot tub.

Ready to get everything you need for hot tub installation? The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them.

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Hot Tub Salt Water System Cost

A hot tub saltwater chlorine generator system costs $500 to $1,700 on average, depending on the manufacturer and type of hot tub. Saltwater systems convert dissolved salt into chlorine automatically, which lowers maintenance. Salt costs less than chlorine or bromine and removes the need to use chemicals.

• Saltwater is softer and kinder to clothes and skin.
• Using salt extends the time between drainings to up to 12 months, but the initial costs are high.
• Some hot tub manufacturers decline warranty coverage when installing an aftermarket salt system.
• Salt causes corrosion of internal metal components, resulting in repairs, poor performance, and a shorter lifespan.
• Salt water can stain decks and damage surrounding plants and shrubs if it’s not washed down after use.

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Types Of Foundations For Hot Tubs

According to the home services marketplace HomeAdvisor, a 4-person tub filled with water could weigh as much as 4,000 pounds. So, before adding one to your back deck, consult with a general contractor or structural engineer to make sure the deck can handle the load. Other foundation ideas include:

• ConcretePouring a concrete pad is quick and easy. Jacuzzi recommends a reinforced concrete pad at least 4 inches deep.
• Spa padInstall these interlocking pads on grass or soil and level with sand for a sturdy but moveable foundation. Theyre ideal for temporary situations, such as rental houses.
• Concrete paversBecause they tend to shift, stone patio pavers arent the best choice for your hot tub foundation. Instead, use interlocking concrete pavers and have the pad they form inspected by a structural engineer or contractor to make sure the tub is properly balanced and level.

Wire Size & Type For Hot Tubs

After reviewing the spa owner’s manual, our electrician determined that our project needed #6 THHN stranded copper wire. He used four individual insulated conductors: red & black-hot, white-neutral, and green-ground wire in our example.

Your wire gauge requirements may differ from our example, depending upon the spa manufacturer’s specification, code requirements, and wire type. Unusually long runs may require larger wire size, as determined by the electrician.

Although copper is not cheap, scrimping by using under-size wire is a hazardous false economy. It may violate code requirements and/or void your equipment manufacturer’s warranty. Aluminum or copper-clad aluminum wire is not recommended. Sheathed cable, i.e. Romex®, is not permitted inside underground conduit.

Note: Spa control box terminals generally cannot accommodate wire larger than #6. Refer to the owner’s manual.

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