6 foot limit of liquid tight for hot tub

[Stevenfyeager]

One electrical inspector some years ago told me that I used more than 6 foot of liquidtight to a hot tub and that is not allowed. He didn't make me change it but, was he right ?

 

[rc/retired]

680.42(A)(1) in the 2023 code doesn't show a maximum length for flexible conduit.
Do you know the code cycle when the inspector made the comment?

Ron

 

[infinity]

There is no 6' limit for LFMC.

 

[sparky1118]

One electrical inspector some years ago told me that I used more than 6 foot of liquidtight to a hot tub and that is not allowed. He didn't make me change it but, was he right ?

I recall years ago maybe 15 or so I heard the same exact thing about it. No one ever had a code article but many people said the same exact thing.


Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[infinity]

No book with me but I think that 3/8" may have a length limit?

 

[curt swartz]

I believe the 2011 NEC was the last addition that limited Liquidtight conduit to 6' for packaged SPA/Hot Tub units

 

[AC\DC]

6 foot limit if I remember is for vibration for no straping. I think there something that says 6’

 

[curt swartz]

2011 NEC Below:

680.42 Outdoor Installations.

A spa or hot tub installed outdoors shall comply with the provisions of Parts I and II of this article, except as permitted in 680.42(A) and (B), that would otherwise apply to pools installed outdoors.
(A) Flexible Connections.

Listed packaged spa or hot tub equipment assemblies or self-contained spas or hot tubs utilizing a factory-installed or assembled control panel or panelboard shall be permitted to use flexible connections as covered in 680.42(A)(1) and (A)(2).
(1) Flexible Conduit.

Liquidtight flexible metal conduit or liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit shall be permitted in lengths of not more than 1.8 m (6 ft) external to the spa or hot tub enclosure in addition to the length needed within the enclosure to make the electrical connection.
(2) Cord-and-Plug Connections.

Cord-and-plug connections with a cord not longer than 4.6 m (15 ft) shall be permitted where protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

Currently it’s 6’ without straps, and must comply with strapping if over 6’, which is every 4 1/2’.

 

[Stevenfyeager]

Thank you all. 680.42 was very helpful.

 

[infinity]

I was correct 3/8" LFMC is limited to 6' for several installations:

350.20(A) Minimum.
LFMC smaller than metric designator 16 (trade size 1∕ 2) shall not be used. Exception: LFMC of metric designator 12 (trade size 3∕ 8) shall be permitted as covered in 348.20(A).

348.20(A) Minimum.
FMC less than metric designator 16 (trade size 1∕ 2) shall not be used unless permitted in 348.20(A)(1) through (A)(5) for metric designator 12 (trade size 3∕ 8).
(1) For enclosing the leads of motors as permitted in 430.245(B)
(2) In lengths not in excess of 1.8 m (6 ft) for any of the following uses:
a. For utilization equipment
b. As part of a listed assembly
c. For tap connections to luminaires as permitted in 410.117(C)
(3) For manufactured wiring systems as permitted in 604.100(A)
(4)In hoistways as permitted in 620.21(A)(1)
(5)As part of a listed assembly to connect wired luminaire sections as permitted in 410.137(C)

 

[acin]

One electrical inspector some years ago told me that I used more than 6 foot of liquidtight to a hot tub and that is not allowed. He didn't make me change it but, was he right ?

he may be confused about 250 .118 5 d

 

[kwired]

he may be confused about 250 .118 5 d

Was my thoughts as well, 6 feet is the maximum length permitted when used as an EGC (when permissible to use any flexible conduit as an EGC).

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I wonder if the inspector was thinking about 250.118 where if you use LFMC as a ground it can't be more than 6' and can't be more than 20 amps.
Obviously not a problem if there is an equipment grounding conductor in the sealtite

250.118 Types of Equipment Grounding Conductors.


Listed liquidtight flexible metal conduit meeting all the following conditions:

• a.
  The conduit is terminated in listed fittings.
• b.
  For metric designators 12 through 16 (trade sizes 3⁄8 through 1⁄2), the circuit conductors contained in the conduit are protected by overcurrent devices rated at 20 amperes or less.
• c.
  For metric designators 21 through 35 (trade sizes 3⁄4 through 11⁄4), the circuit conductors contained in the conduit are protected by overcurrent devices rated not more than 60 amperes and there is no flexible metal conduit, flexible metallic tubing, or liquidtight flexible metal conduit in metric designators 12 through 16 (trade sizes 3⁄8 through 1⁄2) in the effective ground-fault current path.
• d.
  The combined length of flexible metal conduit, flexible metallic tubing, and liquidtight flexible metal conduit in the same effective ground-fault current path does not exceed 1.8 m (6 ft).
• e.
  If flexibility is necessary to minimize the transmission of vibration from equipment or to provide flexibility for equipment that requires movement after installation, a wire-type equipment grounding conductor or a bonding jumper in accordance with 250.102(E)(2) shall be installed.
• f.
  If liquidtight flexible metal conduit contains a stainless steel core, a wire-type equipment grounding conductor or a bonding jumper in accordance with 250.102(E)(2) shall be installed.