Jacuzzi

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mtnelectrical

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A friend call me he got a problem with his jacuzzi's disconnect.He says the GFI is tripping. This is the first time he will use it, He bought it on line and installed himself (very smart guy, but gfi is tripping) What are the ovbious things to look when you have a gfic breaker tripping?
 
If the GFCI is new (unused) it probably is installed wrong.
There could be something else but when a non electrician installs something like this that gives me the first trouble shooting point.
Why would some one try to save money on something this imporatant? The safety of you and your family. I just don't get it.
 
Yes Pierre I am an EC and I'll go there this week , just posted here to get more input that would help me to troubleshoot this problem faster. Isn't that one of the purpose of this forum?
 
Quote: "very smart guy"

Could it be possible, that he is so smart, that he din't get a permit, or inspection? ,or he bought one of those close out spas, that don't have a listing?

Last year we had three customers, that were not able to use their Hot Tubs, their was no way the inspector would pass them, because they were not listed.

Not having a permit or inspection, could put him in a bad position, should anything happen involving the Spa.

You say he is a friend, so you may want to let him know, there is more then just wiring it up.
 
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That was a sarcasm satcom. We know that really smart people wouldn't endanger family, well he really doesn't know how serious this installation is when it comes to GFIs but well it is kind of late for him now.Now I have to put my cape of "super friend"; pull the permit, have it inspected and be happy with my pizza and my cold beer. Well they have 4 beautiful daughters that I would hate to get injured somehow but, anyway I will see it Friday.
 
Not sarcasm, just fact, we see smart people take short cuts all the time, just let him know your not the bad guy, your just trying to help make it safe, and in compliance.
 
One was a close out, no return, he put it up for sale.

One of the others, the guy said blank the town and all their stuped inspections, he started using it, until his neighbor droped a dime on him, his problem was not listing, but too close to boundry line, a zonning violation.

Another one , was the only one that finally got approved, after one year of them fighting with the inspection department, reason for passing was inspector refused to approve it and quit, new inspector approved it.

One thing we learned with pools, and spas, there is more then just wiring them, always check first that the spa is listed, and they will issue a permit for the job, and zonning passed before you start wiring.
Oh just one more thing, check if the spa is on a deck, has the deck been approved and inspected, for the spa weight.
 
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Well, I'd first visually inspect the equipment. All connections correct and secure, appropriate equipotential bonding in place and connected correctly, nameplates of the equipment, etc.

I'd continue by checking for continuity between neutral and ground on the load side of the GFCI, and if none was present, begin reconstructing the trip to see if a component on the spa itself is at fault.

Better be some good pizza and beer to get me working on my off time. :D
 
Well I think there are some good italian restaurants around there. Im gonna changed them for my favorite veal alla Florentina with some Merlot uhmm. then, to the spa. Of course this is after fixing it otherwise I might get cooked myself there LOL!!!!
 
When does it trip?. Does the 2 pole gfi breaker hold only when the unit is off or does it trip only when you activate the controls?.
 
mtnelectrical said:
I've been told that the GFI CB tripps as soon he tries to put it on.

That is 1st place to look. In the panel to make sure GFCI breaker is properly wired. With DIOs they are frequently not done properly. All they do is run neutral from breaker to neutral bar. They don't run neutral from circuit over to breaker or they get wrong neutral to breaker.
 
I dont know the specifics for your particular unit, but I had a simular situation where a control circuit coil was rated 120 volts and that would trip my 240 volt Sq.D GFI breaker.
 
Allright guys thanks for all your advices and concerns. It was very simple, load neutral connected directly to line everything is fine now. Probably inspected next week after all paperwork. Unit was UL Listed and it is not on deck it seems it would pass all the inspection. Thanks you guys!
 
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