Why are some Spa's requiring two GFCI breakers?

[kwired]

But they only list a single part number for each manufacturer even though they are asking for 2 different breaker sizes.

Accessory items from spa manufacturer - a kit with needed breakers already in the kit. GE or Square D will have different catalog number for the entire assembly (if they sell it that way) or for individual components.

No different than purchasing "unit mount" breakers for HVAC equipment from HVAC suppliers, they usually have their own catalog number for those components instead of using the Square D or GE numbers, but is the same breaker otherwise.

 

[kwired]

No, and he did not bring that up. I guess I should have.
GE is pretty easy to get around here and their GFCI's are the same size as normal breakers which is nice in a small panel.
If only you could back feed a GFCI breaker GE makes a nice little 12 space outdoor panel, so a 2P-50 GFCI main and 2P 20 and 2P 30 would save you some $ in parts.
I got my answer, GFCI breakers are ineffective at long distances so they want that GFCI near the spa.


The spa panel in the diagram is the one typically 5-6 feet away as per article 680.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

They still trip on ~5mA of leakage. Problem is the longer the protected circuit is the more capacitive leakage can be and cause undesired tripping. This part of why it would be impractical to use a GFCI as the main breaker in a panel for the whole house, leakage each branch might be below 5 mA but add them all together and you might be tripping that main.

 

[kwired]

I have a 50A GFCI on mine and when the heater elements failed, it tripped. It took me time to figure out why, because the only way (on mine) to isolate the heaters was to pull fuses, which allowed the breaker to hold. Had there been separate GFCIs, I would have known immediately. Is that a problem? Not for me, but for some homeowner with no electrical background who would be reluctant to pull fuses and re-energize, it might be.

My experience failing element is first thing you should check for when GFCI is tripping, most the time that is going to be the reason. Most are easy to just disconnect element then energize the spa again - if circuit holds element had a ground fault. Most the time the breaker trips immediately after turning on because they don't usually switch both lines to the element. About only non element cause for trip I can recall was a leaking pipe fitting that was dripping directly onto a pump motor. Fixed the leak, dried out the motor and has been fine for several years now.

 

[Rad sparky]

When it gets cold, and the heater goes out tripping the heater gfci breaker, the tub won't freeze solid if the control and pump still works. Most breaker tripping problems I've seen on spas are due to the heater going bad.

 

[kwired]

When it gets cold, and the heater goes out tripping the heater gfci breaker, the tub won't freeze solid if the control and pump still works. Most breaker tripping problems I've seen on spas are due to the heater going bad.

Good point. Pump alone will contribute a little heat, and circulate it as well.

 

[brantmacga]

Greetings all this spa is one I see occasionally that requires two 2 pole GFCI breakers a 2P 20 and a 2P 30.

Didn’t see this mentioned by anyone else yet; the schematic you attached shows a 20/1 GFCI, not 20/2.

I would imagine the 30/2 is heat only, and you have a 120v pump, control board, and lighting. Although I have seen spas that do require multiple 240v circuits.

As for why both have to be GFCI and not just the feeder breaker only; I don’t know the exact reason, but I know pools require the lighting circuit to have a GFCI within the circuit, and I could see where UL also requires this for the spa listing. Most manufacturer data sheets I’ve read limit GFCI circuit length to 100’, and requiring GFCI’s in your sub panel could be to ensure this limit isn’t exceeded.


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[kwired]

Didn’t see this mentioned by anyone else yet; the schematic you attached shows a 20/1 GFCI, not 20/2.

I would imagine the 30/2 is heat only, and you have a 120v pump, control board, and lighting. Although I have seen spas that do require multiple 240v circuits.

As for why both have to be GFCI and not just the feeder breaker only; I don’t know the exact reason, but I know pools require the lighting circuit to have a GFCI within the circuit, and I could see where UL also requires this for the spa listing. Most manufacturer data sheets I’ve read limit GFCI circuit length to 100’, and requiring GFCI’s in your sub panel could be to ensure this limit isn’t exceeded.


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Feeder length isn't usually a problem though, as it often cost less to purchase a packaged "spa disconnect" which is a 2 space panel with 50 amp GFCI breaker than you can purchase the same 50 amp breaker alone, so the GFCI is near the spa anyway.