HOT TUB Help

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jetlag

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Eatonton, Georgia
I got a call to connect a hot tub . The rating on the tub is 40a @240v. The owner has ran his own wire but not connected either end yet. He used 6/3 wg nm , The outside part he put in pvc. I know the code now calls for 4--#6 conductors and not the #10 EGC but I dont have to much problem with that since wont be inspected, My question is he purchase a 60 a a/c pull out disconnent he wants install near the tub because he says the on off switch on the tub doesnt work well and he wants to be sure the tub is off. Im not comfortable with the pull out disc on there and telling him he needs a hot tub 50 a breaker disconnect. Am I correct or is it ok to use the a/c disconnect? Also what would be the proper distance to install it from the tub?
 
Personally, if he doesn't want the job to be inspected then I would walk away from it. Hot tubs & pools are the two main thing that I would ALWAYS have inspected. If something doesn't get wired or bonded right and there was a accident or even worse A DEATH then it would come back on you. Because YOU are the trained professional NOT HIM. (STAND YOUR GROUND. IT'S NOT WORTH GETTING SUED FOR).
 
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HOT TUB Help

brother said:
I agree with others on the inspection issue. Especially since you said the on/off switch is not working right. Why is it not working right? is the 'hot' loose and energizing the metal off and on??

and also be sure he has a properly sized breaker. This would help protect you. .
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And also check the manufacturers requirement for the egc.
 
thanks romeo

thanks romeo

romeo said:
And also check the manufacturers requirement for the egc.
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That makes me think about something. Im not sure If I read the 4 #6 conductors in the nec. I think it is something they started saying on the instruction with hot tubs now. The tub is not new and there is a short piece of 6/3 nm wg still connected to the control box so it could be a tub that was built before the reguirement. I also forgot to figure on a 50a gfci . Why would that not come in the 50 amp hot tub breaker box ? I looked at one at supply and best I can remember it had a regular breaker. Does any one know the cost for a 50 a gfci .
 
thanks dennis

thanks dennis

Dennis Alwon said:
Depends on where you buy it and what brand but it cost around $85.00- $100.00
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Do you know if the hot tub disconnects at lowes contain a Gfci . They have one for 79 and a plastic one for 105.
 
thanks dennis

thanks dennis

Dennis Alwon said:
Depends on where you buy it and what brand but it cost around $85.00- $100.00
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Do you know if the hot tub disconnects at lowes contain a Gfci . They have one for 79 and a plastic one for 105.
 
jetlag said:
Do you know if the hot tub disconnects at lowes contain a Gfci . They have one for 79 and a plastic one for 105.
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I don't buy hot tub equipment from Lowes but that sounds like it would have a GFCI at that price.
 
I live in a colder climate, so I always try and sell a disconnect with freeze protection, basically a buzzer goes off when the GFCI trips. Worth the extra money vs. your tub freezing if you dont use it every day.
 
jetlag said:
I got a call to connect a hot tub . The rating on the tub is 40a @240v. The owner has ran his own wire but not connected either end yet. He used 6/3 wg nm , The outside part he put in pvc. I know the code now calls for 4--#6 conductors and not the #10 EGC but I dont have to much problem with that since wont be inspected, My question is he purchase a 60 a a/c pull out disconnent he wants install near the tub because he says the on off switch on the tub doesnt work well and he wants to be sure the tub is off. Im not comfortable with the pull out disc on there and telling him he needs a hot tub 50 a breaker disconnect. Am I correct or is it ok to use the a/c disconnect? Also what would be the proper distance to install it from the tub?
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You can not run NM outside in pvc.Walk away from this mess before your name gets involved.
 
thanks dennis

thanks dennis

Dennis Alwon said:
I don't buy hot tub equipment from Lowes but that sounds like it would have a GFCI at that price.
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I had been by lowes and looked at one before opening the thread. I couldnt understand why the hot tub switch box would not have a GFCI. I went back and looked again guess what , on the first one I origionally looked at the box had been open and it had a regular breaker. The box said a GfCI was included , You know rest of story, someone purchased the box, went home and removed the 50 amp GFCI installed a reg breaker and returned it for refund. The store just threw it back on the shelf for some handy man to put on a hot tub and not be gfci protected.
 
thanks jim

thanks jim

Jim W in Tampa said:
You can not run NM outside in pvc.Walk away from this mess before your name gets involved.
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The was a couple of very long threads opened here about running a short distance n m in conduit outside. There were just as many arguments on both sides. Most ahjs dont inforce this . Some people strip off the insulation on the conduit part because the conductors are thwn. The problem is the conductors are not marked and a tickey enough ahj can flag it . What to do , I dont want to pull the wire out and strip it , that would leave a bare ground in the conduit , which is supposed to be a #6 insulated anyway.
 
jetlag said:
The was a couple of very long threads opened here about running a short distance n m in conduit outside. There were just as many arguments on both sides. Most ahjs dont inforce this . Some people strip off the insulation on the conduit part because the conductors are thwn. The problem is the conductors are not marked and a tickey enough ahj can flag it . What to do , I dont want to pull the wire out and strip it , that would leave a bare ground in the conduit , which is supposed to be a #6 insulated anyway.
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Don?t much matter what is being enforced by an under trained inspector as the NEC does not allow NM cable to be installed outside.
The NM cable will not have an insulated equipment grounding conductor as required by 680 of the NEC either.

Using a pull out disconnect as the control switch for the hot tub will let the water in the tub stagnate which will not smell so good nor will it be a good idea to get into as one could get a dose of hepatitis.

Simply make the installation code compliant of knock a hole in the tub so it can?t ever be used in a noncompliant manner.
 
And one more reason not to get involved ,..Equipotential bonding grid I'm sure he installed it :rolleyes:
 
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