hooking up a spa or hot tub

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bakerbrotherselectric

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Hooking up a spa with a all-in-one GFCI 50 amp breaker/disconnect. I've had the understanding that the disconnect needs to be located within 5 to 10' of the inside wall of the spa. The first contractor told the customer that it needed to be located at 50' from the spa, which he planned on installing on the house? This I was not aware of. So looking at the code, 680.12, it states: and shall be located at least 1.5m(5') horizontally from the inside walls of the pool, spa, or hot tub unless separated from the open water by a permanently installed barrier that provides a 1.5m reach path or greater.
So reading this I understand that it needs to be located at least 5' away, but what would be the maximum distance the disconnect can be located? Is it legal to mount the disconnect 50' away from the spa? The only spot I can find the maximum distance is on the disconnect package itself. The package states that the NEC requires a disconnect switch within 10' of the spa. If someone can clarify this for me it would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks
 
bakerbrotherselectric said:
680.12, it states: and shall be located at least 1.5m(5') horizontally from the inside walls of the pool, spa, or hot tub unless separated from the open water by a permanently installed barrier that provides a 1.5m reach path or greater.
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Look at the words immediately before the ones you quoted above. They say that the disconnect must be "within sight from its equipment." That phrase is defined in Article 100 as meaning the disconnect must be visible (from the equipment it serves) and within 50 feet of that equipment. Thus, the "first contractor" was wrong. The 50 feet was a maximum limit, not a minimum. I conclude that anywhere from 5 feet to 50 feet is acceptable.
 
680.12 requires the disconnecting means to be readily accessible and within sight from its equipment. The definition of within sight in Article 100 limits the distance to no more than 50 feet.

Here is the definition of within sight:

"In Sight From (Within Sight From, Within Sight). Where this Code specifies that one equipment shall be “in sight from,” “within sight from,” or “within sight of,” and so forth, another equipment, the specified equipment is to be visible and not more than 15 m (50 ft) distant from the other."

Chris
 
Thanks fellas.. I feel like I need to get a masters degree in codology to figure some of this stuff out.:roll:
My business partner uses this program called "OPERA". He highlights what hes looking at, then tells opera to speak and it reads out loud what he has highlighted. Its pretty cool..
Thanks again guys..
 
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