hot tub

[puckman]

wiring a hot tub/ spa in back yard. we ran a 6/3 romex inside the house and when going outside we put the romex in pvc about 8'.lenght. the inspector said egc has to be an insulated conductor when going outside. we change it and did it the way he wants it. i read 680.42 c and though we were ok . was the inspector right? he had no complaints with the romex in pvc. this is a 1 family. thanks for your comments. in n.j.

 

[Kessler4130]

Yes he is correct, the EGC must be insulated.

 

[jwelectric]

A hot tub in the back yard must comply with part II of 680

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 680.42(B), that would otherwise apply to pools installed outdoors.

This being said look at

680.21 Motors.
(A) Wiring Methods.
(1) General. The branch circuits for pool-associated motors shall be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, rigid nonmetallic conduit, or Type MC cable listed for the location. Other wiring methods and materials shall be permitted in specific locations or applications as covered in this section. Any wiring method employed shall contain an insulated copper equipment grounding conductor sized in accordance with 250.122 but not smaller than 12 AWG.

 

[Riograndeelectric]

also you must follow Manufactors installation guide lines.
I have wired many hot tubs and every manufactor I have come across require a fuul size EGC normally this is a # 6 as most hot tubs I have I wired spec out for #6 Hots and #6 Ground.

although a lot of electricians around here in denevr do not pull permitts and do not follow article 680. and use #6 romex. I have even seen a few Electricians run #4 SER Aluminum
I have heard the hot tub sales person tell Homeowner a permitt is not required.

I dont like to brag but I have never flunked an inspection for wirng a hotub.

 

[goldstar]

Somewhere along the line here in NJ someone in the DCA decided that a spa tub and a therapudic hydromassage tub were one in the same. As a result of that, if the manufacturer requires a 50 amp line run to a packaged tub, the EGC wire from the disconnect to the packaged tub is required to be an insulated # 8 solid in accordance with 680.74.

Your inspector was correct in tagging you for using RX inside the flex conduit to the tub. While in our minds we may think of the #10 inside the jacket of the RX as being insulated, indoor RX is not approved for outdoor use even though the insulated conductors are THHN. However, you can strip away the jacket, remove the bare # 10 and install an insulated solid #8 along with the # 6's and you're good to go.

But, here's the part that gets me. If a # 10 AWG is the approved EGC for a 6/3 RX cable assembly, why does the DCA make you change to a #8 between the disconnect and the tub ? I do it because they say so but it doesn't make sense to upsize the EGC when the feeder is a smaller size.

 

[infinity]

As a result of that, if the manufacturer requires a 50 amp line run to a packaged tub, the EGC wire from the disconnect to the packaged tub is required to be an insulated # 8 solid in accordance with 680.74.

Your inspector was correct in tagging you for using RX inside the flex conduit to the tub. While in our minds we may think of the #10 inside the jacket of the RX as being insulated, indoor RX is not approved for outdoor use even though the insulated conductors are THHN. However, you can strip away the jacket, remove the bare # 10 and install an insulated solid #8 along with the # 6's and you're good to go.

680.74 does not require the EGC to be a #8 solid conductor. 680.74 is for bonding all metal piping and parts in contact with the circulating water.

Also you can not install a solid #8 conductor in a conduit. The largest size permitted to be solid is #10. A #8 must be stranded.

 

[goldstar]

Also you can not install a solid #8 conductor in a conduit. The largest size permitted to be solid is #10. A #8 must be stranded.

Good point Trevor. I'll have to remember that for the next hot tub. Do you happen to know the code reference by any chance ?

BTW, I sent you a private message on another topic. Did you happen to view your PM's ?

Regards,

Phil

 

[infinity]

Good point Trevor. I'll have to remember that for the next hot tub. Do you happen to know the code reference by any chance ?


Regards,

Phil

Look at 310.3.