What Size Breaker Do I Need For My New Spa
All residential circuit breakers allow up to 80% of what they are rated for. This means:
- 40 Amp x 0.8 = 32 Amp
- 50 Amp x 0.8 = 40 Amp
Why does this matter? It matters because when youre looking at a spa you want to make sure the spas demand or electrical rating is less than 80% of the breakers rating so youll be looking for a spa thats 32 amps or less or 40 amps or less.
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.
What Is A Circuit Breaker
Circuit breakers live in the electrical panel in your house. The circuit breaker is what the wiring connects to and what protects the wiring in your home. The circuit breaker allows a safe amount of electrical current through the circuit. There are two types of circuit breakers that your spa needs.
Standard Circuit Breaker: This gets installed in your panel. It is similar to the other breakers in the panel. This is where the electricity for the spa starts. Here is what a standard circuit breaker looks like.
GFCI Circuit Breaker: This is an ultra safe circuit breaker. A GFCI circuit breaker is much like the outlet in your bathroom, it protects your entire spa. This breaker is usually in the Spa Panel near your spa. Here is what a GFCI breaker looks like.
You can figure out what size of breaker you will need by asking the spa store or looking at the spa manual. Its a good idea to ask an electrician about this if you are unsure.
Don’t Miss: How To Clarify Pool Water
What Size Wire For 50 Amp Hot Tub
Categories Home & Garden
You may have noticed that most modern spas and homes have hot tubs as they are comfortable and quite luxurious. You may buy one for yourself if you plan on using it regularly.
If you do not use a hot tub regularly, it will simply be a waste of energy and pose a threat to health if not properly maintained.
Clear Natural Spas Showroom
Welcome to the Clear Natural Spas Showroom information page, Our Showroom is based just outside Cheltenham and about 5 minutes drive from M5 junction 9.
Our Showroom isn’t very big, but well organised with normally 6 tubs on display. These range in price from £600 to £15,000 and really are what we consider to be the best price points through our comprehensive range of products.
Also Check: What Chemicals Are In Pool Shock
Is A 50 Amp Breaker Enough For A Hot Tub
A 50 amps breaker is considered the ideal and standard-sized breaker for a hot tub because most house owners tend to use a 50 amps breaker for the hot tubs.
In addition to that, most of the hot tubs available on the market are quite compatible with the 50 amps breaker.
Choosing the right-sized breaker for the hot tub is important. A right-sized breaker will help to provide an uninterrupted power supply to the appliance and prevent the hot tub from getting damaged due to any type of electrical overload or short circuit.
The breaker will be an efficient and convenient solution for the hot tubs. Generally, a standard-sized 50 amps breaker is needed to run a hot tub.
Because if the appliance faces any short circuit or overload, the wire may melt down and create a chance of potential fire. So, a breaker will be able to balance the power supply smoothly.
How Many Amps Does A Hot Tub Use
A majority of hot tubs need a 50 to 60-amp circuit, which requires a voltage of 220 to 240-V. However, the specific requirements will vary depending on your hot tubs make, model and manufacturer. This recommendation is based on the knowledge that you will be able to have multiple things running at once. From your swim spas heater and pumps to any additional piece that will be running on electricity, a 240-V, 60-amp circuit will allow for the functioning of them all.
When having your hot tub initially wired, it is imperative that you have a licensed electrician provide this service for you. Particularly when you are dealing with water and electricity, it is important to have someone with the experience and know-how to make sure no mistakes are made.
You May Like: How To Care For Above Ground Pool
What Size Breaker Do I Need For A 220v Hot Tub
When it comes to determining what size breaker you need for a 220V hot tub, there are a few things that you will need to take into account. First, you will need to know the amperage rating of the hot tub. This can typically be found on the nameplate or in the owners manual. Once you have this information, you will need to determine the wire size that is required for your particular hot tub. The wire size will be based on the amperage rating and the distance that the wire will be running from the breaker panel to the hot tub. Once you have all of this information, you can then use a circuit breaker sizing guide to determine what size breaker you need for your 220V hot tub.
Connect The Wires In The Appropriate Slots:
The hot tub will have 4-wires. Two will be neutral and earthing, and the other two will be live. You will have to connect all the wires to their appropriate slots in the GFCI in the breaker panel.
You will see the slots are marked. The red and black wires are the live or hot wires, and the white wire is the neutral wire. The earthing wire is usually green.
After you have connected the hot tub wires to the breaker panel, you will have to use an extra wire to provide power to the breaker board. You will have to bring two live, one neutral, and one earthing wire from the main panel. Connect the wires accordingly to the GFCI.
Don’t Miss: Where To Buy Pool Chemicals
How Do You Wire A Hot Tub
To wire a hot tub, an electrician will need several things. The list includes but is not limited to: electrical pliers, tape measure, wire stripper, tape, conduit and grease, just to name a few.
Even though you may not be doing this installation yourself, it is still important to know the steps involved. Before mounting the spa panel, your electrician will turn off all power to the main breaker box in your home. Your spa panel should also not be any closer than five feet from the spa.
The next thing your electrician will do is dig a conduit trench for all of the necessary wires. This specific part of the installation process will also depend on the details of your area and your building code. Therefore, it is a good idea to be aware of what this might entail for your specific region.
In terms of safety, it is also crucial that the conduit or wires are not being run directly underneath your hot tub. By preventing this, you are ultimately limiting the changes of water coming in direct contact with electricity.
What Size Breaker Do I Need For A Hot Tub
It is recommended to use a 50 amps breaker for your hot tub. Usually, in most households, the voltage requirements are 220V to 240V, so a standard 40 amps breaker will do the job as well. But you can use 50 to 60 amps breakers because they are commonly used by most homeowners.
Generally, there are different types of hot tubs available in the market which require different breakers to adjust to their wattage requirement.
Although most homeowners have voltage requirements of 220V to 240V in their house, the voltage shouldnt be an issue. You just need to look after the wattage that is required to operate the hot tub.
In most cases, 20 amps or 30 amps breakers will be able to operate a hot tub without any issue. Sometimes, it is better to read the instruction manual from the manufacturer company because they recommend breakers of specific amperage.
It helps to follow their instruction because even if the manual instructs you to install a breaker that has much higher amps than the specs, you should follow.
After all, it may be for using the other features. Below is a brief discussion on breakers for the different sized hot tubs:
Read Also: Do Solar Pool Heaters Work
Dig A Trench For The Conduit
Third, you will need to dig the conduit trench, unless the conduit can run under a deck directly to the box.
Ensure you consult your local building code to determine the depth for laying the conduit. Also, contact your local utility companies to make sure you do not cut into a buried utility cable or pipe. Some conduit trenches need to be eighteen inches deep.
Carefully remove the sod and cut it into manageable squares. Set it beside the trench. Use a shovel and dig the trench for your conduit. Or rent a trencher from Home Depot to make it even easier.
You do not need to trench the conduit from the disconnect box to your main breaker panel. You just need to trench the conduit from the hot tub to the disconnect. Do not run a wire or conduit under the hot tub.
How Do I Know What Size Breaker For My Hot Tub
Most spas will run effectively on a 50amp 2 pole main circuit breaker. Some spa manufacturers require a 60amp breaker. Although some manufacturers state their spas can use 8 guage wiring for a 50amp circuit, we recommend 6 gauge wiring on all 50/60 amp installations.
Can I use a 60 amp breaker for a 50 Amp hot tub?
The 60A breaker is protecting the wiring to the subpanel . You can do this if you want and you will be perfectly fine. BUT, if the tub really does pull 50A and you have it on at the same time as other devices in the garage which are taking more than 10A then the 60A breaker will trip.
You May Like: How To Patch Above Ground Pool
What Size Breaker Is Needed To Run A Hot Tub
For a hot tub, a 50 to 60-amp breaker is ideal. The National Electrical Code requires that you have an electrician hard-wire the spa into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. Also known as a GFCI, this helps prevent electrocution by cutting off the power source before anyone can be injured. These circuit interrupters are almost always installed where an electrical circuit may come in contact with water.
Also known as a manual disconnect device, it is also important to have the spa panel or hot tub electrical panel installed between your homes breaker panel and your hot tub. These two things ultimately provide the power your spa needs to function properly while ensuring no accidents occur.
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.
Shop this Project
You May Like: How Much Does An Indoor Pool Cost
Can 8 Gauge Wire Handle 50 Amps
The temperature affects the copper conductors Conductivity. However, if the conductor is heated to more than 200° F , the copper will begin to lose its ability to conduct electricity. This is why copper wire is not recommended for use in high-temperature applications. Copper conducts electricity better at higher temperatures than at lower temperatures.
The reason for this is that copper is more conductive at high temperatures because it has a higher melting point. As a result, copper conducts more electricity when it is hot, and less electricity as it cools down. Copper is also more resistant to corrosion than other metals, which makes it a good choice for applications that require long service life.
How To Wire A 50 Amp Breaker For A Hot Tub
Now you have made up your mind finally that you will install the 50 amp breaker for your 240 V hot tub.
You have made the right choice, I must say.
As I have been mentioning in several sections of this article that the 50 amp circuit breaker is considered to be the best for your 220 or 240 V hot tub.
You have got the thing, but you dont know how to wire it.
Is it a big problem? Certainly not.
Wiring a 50 amp circuit breaker for your hot tub need not be a tough task for you.
Below, I have guided you on how you can wire your 50 amp hot tub quite easily, all by yourself.
But before starting to wire your tub, make sure you also have the two-pole GFCI breaker.
Read Also: How Do I Raise The Ph In My Pool
Electrical Hookup Requirements For Hot Tubs
Most spas will operate with either 50 or 60 amp dedicated service at 220-240 volts.
Hooking up a 230 volt hot tub involves an electrician integrating the main house panel with a 50 or 60 amp breaker, the external GFCI/disconnect box and the spa pak/hot tub controller box. Be sure that the GFCI should corresponds to the house breaker, so for instance a 60A GFCI should be paired with a 60A house breaker. Whether 50A or 60A is required depends on the number of pumps and size of heater in the spa.
For most exterior spas, the electrician will run a 4-wire number 6 or number 8 wire to the spa location. The size of the wire to be used is determined by the maximum current draw of the hot tub, the length of the wire run and the NEC or local codes. Use thermoplastic nylon insulated copper wire, never aluminum.
See our current collection of GFCI load centers, GFCI power cords and GFCIs.
Is It Easy To Move A 120v Hot Tub
Just fill the hot tub with water, plug it in, and you can soak in it once the water has reached optimum temperature. 2) Highly Portable It is easy to move 120v hot tubs because there are no permanent power connections. Also, as most inflatable hot tubs are 120v, you can move them easily by deflating them.
Can you use a GFCI disconnect on a 240V hot tub?
Use a GFCI disconnect designed for 240V hot tubs, 4 or 3 wire spa types. The interactive schematic diagram below shows 3 and 4 wire configurations. Select the wiring configuration that your spa requires: Size the feeder circuit breaker in the service panel according to the spas load requirement.
You May Like: How To Maintain An Above Ground Pool
Lay The Conduit & Pull Wire
Install the conduit in a trench. Conduit is a long tube of metal or PVC that will hold the electrical wires. Consult your local building code to determine how deep to lay the conduit. Some conduit trenches must be as deep as 18 inches.
Use a shovel to dig the conduit trench. Carefully remove the sod from the trench location. If necessary, cut it into manageable squares, and set it aside. The trench should extend from the spa panel to the spa and from the spa panel to the electrical breaker panel. Do not bury conduit underneath the hot tub.
The conduit will exit the house near the breaker panel, so use a hole saw to create an opening through the outside wall. Then, measure, cut and cement the conduit and fittings. Your measurements and cuts should cover the distance down the wall from the breaker panel, across the trench and up to the spa panel, then down from the spa panel and across the trench to the spa.
If the underground run is shorter than six feet, you can use a conduit made of liquid-tight flexible metal or a non-metallic material. Conduit sections longer than six feet should be made of rigid metal, intermediate metal, or rigid, non-metallic materials listed for direct burial. PVC is a popular option.
Connect the indoor and outdoor conduits by inserting an LB fitting through the hole in the exterior wall. Next, run the wire.
Tip: Before you dig, contact your local utility company to mark your utilities and ensure you don’t cut into any buried lines, pipes or cables.
How Big Of A Breaker Do I Need For A Hot Tub
The spa must be wired into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter according to the National Electrical Code. This helps to prevent a fire from spreading to other parts of the house. If you are unsure if your bathroom is safe to use, you should contact your local fire department. If your bathtub is in a basement or crawl space, it may be safer to leave it alone.
Read Also: How Much Are Swimming Pool Heaters
