Wire size for hot tub
- Thread starter GMCGarage
- Start date
kd3pc
Well-known member
the manual/manufacturer should give you details, based on your tub. A lot depends on whether you have a heater or two, big pump or two, can they both run at the same time - full tilt and whether you are planning on 240/120.
then you can do lengths and size
then you can do lengths and size
firebirdparts
Well-known member
I have 6 gauge. It might turn out to be 8 once you get beyond "general idea".
HoosierBuddy
Well-known member
Not an electrician...just a guy that has a hot tub.
I think you need #8 wire if copper.
I had an electrician wire mine up. He took the required 240V to a disconnect near the hot tub and the tub itself wired to the disconnect. The disconnect and the breaker are both 50 AMPs.
Please check my answer with others before proceeding.
Phil
I think you need #8 wire if copper.
I had an electrician wire mine up. He took the required 240V to a disconnect near the hot tub and the tub itself wired to the disconnect. The disconnect and the breaker are both 50 AMPs.
Please check my answer with others before proceeding.
Phil
Justind97
Well-known member
Depends on location. My brother's was Teck 3/6. That's what the electrician spec'd and I purchased it. Heavy MF.
rjacobs
Well-known member
Mine is 8/10 and was spec'd as good for up to 100ft run by the manufacturer. 50 amp.
BUT my tub is setup differently in that at the shutoff box near the tub it splits the 50 amp into a 20 and a 30 amp circuit, so im guessing the whole 50 is never or rarely ever used.
Look into what your tub manufacturer recommends.
BUT my tub is setup differently in that at the shutoff box near the tub it splits the 50 amp into a 20 and a 30 amp circuit, so im guessing the whole 50 is never or rarely ever used.
Look into what your tub manufacturer recommends.
They said they need 50 amp service at the tub. 240V.
Thanks, electrician coming wed. He confirmed that it would more than likely be 6 ga wire.
rjacobs
Well-known member
If you know no other specs than "50 amp at the tub location" than run 6 gauge...
If you can get more detailed info from the hot tub manufacturer, you might be able to get by with 8 gauge.
If the manufacturer or dealer cant tell you anymore than "50 amp service near the hot tub" I would be leary of them overall. Should be in the owners manual what electrical service requirements there are.
If you can get more detailed info from the hot tub manufacturer, you might be able to get by with 8 gauge.
If the manufacturer or dealer cant tell you anymore than "50 amp service near the hot tub" I would be leary of them overall. Should be in the owners manual what electrical service requirements there are.
Wouldn't the length of the run dictate the wire size? How do they know how far it would be?
rjacobs
Well-known member
The manual for my tub says 8 gauge is acceptable for up to 100ft. Again thats my tub.
If I had needed to run longer than 100ft, I would have called them and gotten advice or probably just gone to 6 gauge.
My electrician didnt question the 8 gauge home run with how my shutoff panel splits the load down to a 20 and 30 amp.
Its in the manual. 240V/50A. I dont see why its their responsibility to tell me how big and how far that size wire can run. They are hot tub designers/builders, not electricians. It says the max wire size for the attachment is 6ga. I read that as it could be smaller if situation warrants it?
What other detailed info would I need? They have a bus bar for a neutral, and two hots, and a ground. I assume they divide the power up after that to each motor, heater, etc??
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One manufacture says #6 wire to sub panel that is 5-50 feet from the spa. From there its #8 or bigger to the hot tub. Thats one manufacturer, and thats the most specific info I have found so far.
Again, electrician is coming wed, confirmed #6, so moot point to what the hot tub manufacture says from here on out.
Again, electrician is coming wed, confirmed #6, so moot point to what the hot tub manufacture says from here on out.
teamextreme
Well-known member
You are correct. Circuit ampacity and voltage are all any manufacturer of any type of equipment is going to give you. Amperage is not going to depend on length, or any other factors. If the manual says 240V, 50A, then that's all the info you need. To answer your question, the wire size will depend on what type of wire you are using. If you're using nm/b (Romex) then #6 is required. If you are using conduit and THHN, then #8 is acceptable. FYI, you'd get much better answers if you put this in the electrical sub forum.
Thanks, I got my answer.
I always thought current draw did dictate wire size, i.e. why do I need a bigger extension cord for longer runs, than shorter ones. How does the electricity know if its 5' or 500'?
SGKent
Banned
resistance in the wire. The longer the run the more the voltage drops. A heavier gauge wire has less resistance generally all other things considered like quality of the copper etc..
thats what I thought, and thus why the hot tub manufacture would not publish what size to use, other than from the shut off to the tub. (i think I read it should be no more than 5 feet.)
ard
Well-known member
FWIW...#6 will deliver 50 amps out to 163 feet.
Assuming it is just a plain tub, not a time machine version....
Also, if this is a 'stand alone' location, you may want to run a 20A (or15) circuit for light, receptacle, etc. in addition to what the tub needs
CraigStu
Well-known member
It is pretty easy to find specs for X amp load requires Y gauge wire. But then the distance needs to be factored in. I found this out the easy way about 40 yrs ago when I burned up the motor on my radial arm saw. The repairman looked at it for about 10 seconds and says, 'you been running this w/ an extension cord haven't you?'. Guilty. I made a new extension cord from a 25ft roll of romex. It was always kind of a pain to use but I haven't burned up any motors since.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I can't think of much that's more hack than using romex for an extension cord. I hope no one reads this and thinks that is a good idea.
Labradorian
Well-known member
teamextreme
Well-known member
Yes, current draw is the main factor for wire size. What I meant to convey was that the ampacity of the circuit required by the equipment manufacturer is not effected by the distance of the circuit. If it needs 50A, it needs 50A, regardless of if it's 10 feet away, or time machine distance away. The longer that distance is, the larger the wire needs to be to account for voltage drop. As stated by someone else, If #6 is good to 163 ft, then your install is fine. If you start going further than that, then you have to start upsizing wire to provide that 50A without seeing too much voltage drop.
ard
Well-known member
for the time machine version, you will need to call the power company and put in a separate meter
screw that...
hot wire it to the 22kv before the transformer!