Troubleshoot Spa

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sean1

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Customer complaint is that after apporx. 30 minutes of running the spa in the heat mode, the GFCI breaker in the panel will trip. He can reset and run for another 30 minutes, and it will trip again.
Need troubleshooting tips.
Installation is as follows:
Install 50 amp 2-pole GFCI breaker in main panel; install (3) #6 and (1) #10 THHN copper conductors from panel in approx. 8' of 3/4" flex to a deep junction box in attic. Bond junction box with #10 to grounds. Run apprx. 50' of 6/3 Romex across attic to another junction box, and bond. Run approx. 5' of 3/4" flex and 8' of 3/4" EMT, with (3) #6 and (1) #10 THNN copper conductors, along exterior wall, to a 50 amp 4-prong receptacle. Attach 90 degree cord cap to approx. 10' of 6/4 SO cord and connect to spa control panel.
Need to know if there is an area in the installation that may be causing this problem.
Thanks for your help.
Sean
 
The first thing I would wonder is about the spa being cord and plug connected. Is it listed for such use? I have never seen a spa that large cord and plug, but that doesn't mean it's not.

I would say you can rule out an improper neutral ground connection as that would make the GFCI trip instantly. If it trips every thirty minutes with heat on I would think maybe it is due to current overload. What does your amprobe say?

Does the neutral have a nick in it and intermittently touching pipe, flex etc? This could expose itself if water got into the raceway.

Lastly the tub could have a bad heating element, or the breaker could be bad.
 
I would also look for overload and not ground fault.
Could be a bad heat element.
 
Thanks, guys, for the help with the spa troubleshooting. I had a feeling it might have something to do with the components of the spa.
Sean
 
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