Spas and sub panels

[stlsteve]

I have been told by an inspector that if I wire a spa to a new subpanel that I cannot have the subpanel fed from a romex wire. He has said that since the panel was put in at the time the spa was installed it has to be individual wires in a conduit feeding the subpanel. The subpanel is a 100a. panel and the spa has a 50a. feed to it. He also says that I cannot feed the outdoor disconnect in romex and all he will say is look at article 680. Could anyone tell me what reason he or code he has for saying this. Thanks

 

[rick5280]

Re: Spas and sub panels

Could anyone tell me what reason he or code he has for saying this.
Because he is the inspector, and Article 680

If you look at Article 680.42(C), you will see that the cable needs to have an insulated equipment grounding conductor. NM-B cable does not have an insulated EGC.

Take a look at Article 680.25, which also has these rules, with a mention to the use of an uninsulated EGC in the feed to an existing remote panelboard, so the question becomes, is this panelboard existing or not? Your inspector will have to make this call.

Rick Miell

 

[drscott]

Re: Spas and sub panels

Rick,
Hey I'm from Michigan, so we are behind in times. Is this code section from the 2002 NEC ?
I don't see this in the 1999 NEC for Hot tubs, only for Permanently Installed Pools.
Doug

 

[mvannevel]

Re: Spas and sub panels

Here's where it gets interesting drscott. 680-41(g)(1) says that grounding shall be in accordance with Article 250 and be connected by the wiring methods of Chapter 3. BUT, 680-40 says that outdoor installations shall comply with the provisions of Parts A and B of article 680. Guess that's what we get for being behind the times here...