hot tub 6 gauge wire image
Steve
Answer
It's pretty obvious you confused terms, but to be clear, I'm sure you meant 240 volt, but volts isn't what determines the wire size, it's the amps. It's determined by a chart that can be found on the internet when if you search "NEC 310.16 table". Romex and UF have to use the 60 degree column, and THHN can use the 75 degree column.
So check the label on the tub or tub controller, sometimes it will be 30 or 40 amps, but typically 50 amps. Wire size has to be rated for at least the amperage on the controller, breaker cannot be larger.
30 amps #10
40 amps #8
50 amps NM or UF 6/3+g or if using raceway with thhn then #8's
***For practical reasons learned from owning hot tubs If your controller does specify only 30 amps you would need to use only a 30 amp breaker, but I would recommend using 50 amp wire so that when your controller dies, (when, not if), you will not be limited to trying to locate a 30 amp controller and heater.
It's pretty obvious you confused terms, but to be clear, I'm sure you meant 240 volt, but volts isn't what determines the wire size, it's the amps. It's determined by a chart that can be found on the internet when if you search "NEC 310.16 table". Romex and UF have to use the 60 degree column, and THHN can use the 75 degree column.
So check the label on the tub or tub controller, sometimes it will be 30 or 40 amps, but typically 50 amps. Wire size has to be rated for at least the amperage on the controller, breaker cannot be larger.
30 amps #10
40 amps #8
50 amps NM or UF 6/3+g or if using raceway with thhn then #8's
***For practical reasons learned from owning hot tubs If your controller does specify only 30 amps you would need to use only a 30 amp breaker, but I would recommend using 50 amp wire so that when your controller dies, (when, not if), you will not be limited to trying to locate a 30 amp controller and heater.
Hot tub breaker size on main board inside house?
Unknown
My father in law has gone to school for a lot of electrical work, but I don't feel confortable with his work this time.
We have bought a hot tub that requires 60 amp to the tub. We installed a GFCI box outside with a 60 amp breaker on it, but then put a 100 amp breaker on our main panel inside. We have a 200 amp service. He seems to think that the tub takes more than 60 amp to start up each time and will flip the breaker at each startup if we have a 60 amp on the main panel.
Can someone put my mind at ease and let me know if he's correct. We also installed 8 gauge wire for the wiring part. Thanks!!!
I'm sorry, we did put 6 gauge wire. We went overboard on this.
Just worried that a fire won't happen due to too much feeding either..
Answer
i agree with Peter W here except he missed one thing. You said there is a 100 A breaker inside feeding the 60 A GFCI breaker outside. The main breaker in the box inside is 200 A. For a 100 A breaker the wire must be 2 awg (from his chart) to the 60A and from the 60A it should be 6 awg. Easiest fix would be to change the inside breaker to a 60, but you could pull new 2 awg wire to the outside.
i agree with Peter W here except he missed one thing. You said there is a 100 A breaker inside feeding the 60 A GFCI breaker outside. The main breaker in the box inside is 200 A. For a 100 A breaker the wire must be 2 awg (from his chart) to the 60A and from the 60A it should be 6 awg. Easiest fix would be to change the inside breaker to a 60, but you could pull new 2 awg wire to the outside.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
