30 amp spa circuit with a 50 amp GFI spa disconnect

D

Deke1069

Member
Location
SC
Occupation
Electric Contractor
Is it okay to use a 30 amp circuit breaker to feed a 10-3 romex and use a 50 amp GFI spa disconnect at the spa?
 
Sure, as long as the NM cable is restricted to locations in which it is allowed to be installed. [I.e. if the spa disconnect is mounted on the outside of the building, the NM cable enters directly into the back of the spa disconnect.] The 50 amp GFCI will provide GFCI protection, and the 30A breaker will provide overload protection. In the case of a short circuit or ground fault, it may be toin coss as to which breaker, or both, trips.

Cheers, Wayne
 
Thank you, yes the NM cable will enter the spa disconnect which is mounted outside next to the spa. I just wanted to make sure it didn't matter if the spa disconnect was 50 amp but the over current is 30 amp.
 
Deke1069 said:
I just wanted to make sure it didn't matter if the spa disconnect was 50 amp but the over current is 30 amp.
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Correct. To be considerate of the future not-so-thorough person working on the circuit, you could label the 50A spa disconnect as being supplied by a 30A feeder, but it's not required.

Cheers, Wayne
 
wwhitney said:
Correct. To be considerate of the future not-so-thorough person working on the circuit, you could label the 50A spa disconnect as being supplied by a 30A feeder, but it's not required.

Cheers, Wayne
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Possibly can be a little more useful to add such label if the spa panel has open spaces and someone might be considering adding more circuit(s) to it.
 
Are you sure the SPA only requires (1) 30 amp circuit? Many of them now require (1) 30 amp & (1) 20 amp.

Some single circuit SPA's do offer the ability to connect to a 30 amp circuit but the performance takes a hit.
 
It actually does require two circuits, I ran a separate 20 amp 120 volt circuit for the pump that will be on a GFI receptacle and the pump will be switched from an air switch. The 30 amp 240 volt circuit is for the heater. Do you see any issues?
 
The one I just wired was only 30 amps- two seater- as long as the wire at source is correctly protected you can put any size larger disconnect- from breaker to equipment
 
Thanks for all your quick responses. Because I'm a professional procrastinater and need to complete this tomorrow I'm limited to what I have available in the small town I work in.
 
wwhitney said:
Correct. To be considerate of the future not-so-thorough person working on the circuit, you could label the 50A spa disconnect as being supplied by a 30A feeder, but it's not required.

Cheers, Wayne
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I propose a new section in Article 110. Installers shall be considerate of future servicing by using labels that explain the installation.
Maybe that falls under workman like manner?
 
Deke1069 said:
It actually does require two circuits, I ran a separate 20 amp 120 volt circuit for the pump that will be on a GFI receptacle and the pump will be switched from an air switch. The 30 amp 240 volt circuit is for the heater. Do you see any issues?
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There are spa's that can run on 120 volt 20 amp circuit or on 50 amp 120/240 volt circuit. The difference is changing a setting on the main control board. The pump always runs on 120 volts. But takes up enough circuit capacity when on high jets mode there is no more capacity for other loads to run. When in the 120 volt mode, the pump runs on low speed and the heater draws only 25% or what it does when connected to 240 volts - this can all run on 20 amp @ 120 volt circuit. If you put it in 120/240 mode the heater has four times the capacity and can heat while using the spa as well on a 50 amp circuit.
 
Hmmm, I’m not real sure why I have two accounts. Didn’t realize it until now. How do I rectify this? I’ll definitely let myself hear about this one!
 
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