Spa Installed

Posted by John on April 23, 2006, 8:24 am

I would appreciate anyone with knowledge of the electrical code for a
Spa installation to comment on the following:
I did the smart thing and had a certified electrician install my 60 amp
Sundance spa. Sill, I'm concerned.
He used #10 THHN through conduit from the house meter to a disconnect
near the spa. #10 THHN from the disconnect to the spa.
I questioned him about this since #10 is only rated for 30 AMP and he
said this is OK on a 60 AMP circuit since each hot wire only carries 30
AMP. Is this correct?
The Sundance literature also says to use a GFCI breaker but the
electrician did not install one. Is this safe without GFCI? I suspect
not.
John

Posted by trader4 on April 23, 2006, 8:40 am

John wrote:
show/hide quoted text
Was that electrician licensed? Let's say the SPA needs 60 amps. Most
of that is for the heater. Let's say that's 40 amps, another 10 for
pump, blower, etc. The 240V 40 amps is flowing through one hot wire
and back out the other. The 120V 10amps is flowing through one hot
leg and back out the neutral. So, yes the wire needs to be rated for
the full 60 amps.
Also, the SPA needs a GFCI. Generally the best way to do this is to
install one at the panel. Also, the disconnect must be located near
the spa and visible/accessible, but at least (not sure the exact
distance, think its like 5 ft away from the spa, check code). And any
other metal near the spa, like metal railings, for example, must be
bonded to the ground loop of the spa.
I bet this guy didn't pull a permit either did he?

Posted by trader4 on April 23, 2006, 8:45 am

Oh, and I forgot to add, until that GFCI is installed, I would not set
foot in that SPA.

Posted by m Ransley on April 23, 2006, 8:50 am

Call your city electrical inspector, ask them and say you thought he
was to get a permit. You will have to get one but the city will get the
electrician to do it right.

Posted by John on April 23, 2006, 8:53 am

I've given strict instructions to everyone not to use the Spa. I've set
the water temperature to less than the ambiant temperature to prevent
the heater from running. Just a small circulation pump is running to
keep the water filtered.
GFCI question:
This is a three wire Spa (2 hot and ground only, 240 only, no 110, no
neutral). First, I'll insist on #6 THHN. For the GFCI to work properly
does he have to run 2 hot, 1 neutral and one ground from the meter to
the GFCI? Then bond the neutral to ground in the GFCI box? Then run 2
hot and the ground to the Spa?
Or, can the GFCI work with just the 2 hot and 1 ground (no neutral) run
from the meter to the GFCI box?
John

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