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Adding GFCI breaker for indoor spa

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Donttouchthat

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I have a indoor swim spa that was installed by previous homeowner. The main panel is a 200a GE Powermark Gold Load center and it has a 60a 3 pole (non GFCI) breaker with 6/3 wire going out to the spa Cutler Hammer disconnect box. I was told by a spa service tech that the 60a breaker needs to be GFCI.

There basically are no available GE gfci breakers ( GE-THQL2160GF1) out there. Wondering the easiest (but safe) way of accomplishing this.

I came across a Siemens breaker on amazon and a reviewers post (see pic) who describes putting this breaker into his GE Powermark panel and "creatively" isolating the nuetrals at the disconnect but does not show this.

I am attaching pics my current disconnect box. Not sure whether I need to hook up a subpanel next to my main or in place of my disconnect (tight space). Thanks for any input!

Breaker-Amazon1.jpg
 

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mike93lx

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PCustoms

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Donttouchthat said:
I am attaching pics my current disconnect box. Not sure whether I need to hook up a subpanel next to my main or in place of my disconnect (tight space). Thanks for any input!

1676635136659.png
Click to expand...
What is that disconnect box attached to?

Where is it located relative to the spa?

As Mike said, changing the disconnect is likely the easiest solution.
 
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Donttouchthat

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D

Donttouchthat

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PCustoms said:
What is that disconnect box attached to?

Where is it located relative to the spa?

As Mike said, changing the disconnect is likely the easiest solution.
Click to expand...
Hey PC, It is attached to a 2x4. I don't see the box being grounded as the ground wire goes straight thru to one another. The box is right next to spa through an access panel. I forgot to ask Mike about the separation of neutral and ground in this new load center he posted. Do I need to get a neutral bar and isolate being that it is serving as a subpanel? Thanks
 
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mike93lx

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Donttouchthat said:
Hey PC, It is attached to a 2x4. I don't see the box being grounded as the ground wire goes straight thru to one another. The box is right next to spa through an access panel. I forgot to ask Mike about the separation of neutral and ground in this new load center he posted. Do I need to get a neutral bar and isolate being that it is serving as a subpanel? Thanks
Click to expand...
Beyond the first means of disconnect, the neutral and ground must be kept separate.

The Schneider website says it comes with a ground bar. See the product datasheet

www.se.com

QOE260GFINM - Enclosed circuit breaker, QO, 2 pole, 1 phase, 60A, NEMA3R, ground fault protection, nonmetalic, spa | Schneider Electric USA

Schneider Electric USA. QOE260GFINM - Enclosed circuit breaker, QO, 2 pole, 1 phase, 60A, NEMA3R, ground fault protection, nonmetalic, spa.
www.se.com www.se.com
 
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exranger06

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Donttouchthat said:
Hey PC, It is attached to a 2x4. I don't see the box being grounded as the ground wire goes straight thru to one another. The box is right next to spa through an access panel. I forgot to ask Mike about the separation of neutral and ground in this new load center he posted. Do I need to get a neutral bar and isolate being that it is serving as a subpanel? Thanks
Click to expand...
If you end up keeping the disconnect you currently have, the enclosure should be grounded. There should be a threaded hole on the back wall. Thread a ground screw into it, attach a ground wire to it (the same gauge as the ground wires in the cables), and connect it to the other 2 ground wires and wirenut them all together.
Also, get a knockout seal to plug up that hole in the upper right corner.

If you end up replacing the disconnect, you still attach the grounds the exact same way (unless it already has a ground bar, which would already be bonded to the enclosure. In that case, just connect the 2 ground wires to the ground bar). Since it has a GFCI breaker, there will be specific locations to connect the incoming and outgoing neutral wires.
 
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Donttouchthat

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exranger06 said:
If you end up keeping the disconnect you currently have, the enclosure should be grounded. There should be a threaded hole on the back wall. Thread a ground screw into it, attach a ground wire to it (the same gauge as the ground wires in the cables), and connect it to the other 2 ground wires and wirenut them all together.
Also, get a knockout seal to plug up that hole in the upper right corner.

If you end up replacing the disconnect, you still attach the grounds the exact same way (unless it already has a ground bar, which would already be bonded to the enclosure. In that case, just connect the 2 ground wires to the ground bar). Since it has a GFCI breaker, there will be specific locations to connect the incoming and outgoing neutral wires.
Click to expand...
Great, Thanks
 
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Youngandfree

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Donttouchthat said:
I have a indoor swim spa that was installed by previous homeowner. The main panel is a 200a GE Powermark Gold Load center and it has a 60a 3 pole (non GFCI) breaker with 6/3 wire going out to the spa Cutler Hammer disconnect box. I was told by a spa service tech that the 60a breaker needs to be GFCI.

There basically are no available GE gfci breakers ( GE-THQL2160GF1) out there. Wondering the easiest (but safe) way of accomplishing this.

I came across a Siemens breaker on amazon and a reviewers post (see pic) who describes putting this breaker into his GE Powermark panel and "creatively" isolating the nuetrals at the disconnect but does not show this.

I am attaching pics my current disconnect box. Not sure whether I need to hook up a subpanel next to my main or in place of my disconnect (tight space). Thanks for any input!

Breaker-Amazon1.jpg
Click to expand...
Google seemed to find that model number pretty easily for me.

www.electricsuppliesonline.com

GE THQL2160GFT Plug-In GFCI Circuit Breaker, 120/240V, 2 Pole, 60 Amp

www.electricsuppliesonline.com www.electricsuppliesonline.com
 
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Donttouchthat

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Stuart in MN

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Donttouchthat said:
I have a indoor swim spa that was installed by previous homeowner. The main panel is a 200a GE Powermark Gold Load center and it has a 60a 3 pole (non GFCI) breaker with 6/3 wire going out to the spa Cutler Hammer disconnect box. I was told by a spa service tech that the 60a breaker needs to be GFCI.
Click to expand...
When did the previous owner install the spa, and what version of the NEC was in use when that happened? If it was done at a point where a 240vac GFCI wasn't required you shouldn't have to retrofit existing work.
 
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PCustoms

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Stuart in MN said:
When did the previous owner install the spa, and what version of the NEC was in use when that happened? If it was done at a point where a 240vac GFCI wasn't required you shouldn't have to retrofit existing work.
Click to expand...
Haven't spas required GFCI for a while?
 
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Stuart in MN

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PCustoms said:
Haven't spas required GFCI for a while?
Click to expand...
Yes they have, I think the requirement was added in the 1995 revision of the NEC. Also, different states adopt the most current version of the NEC at different times; sometimes they'll stay with one version for years after a newer version is published or even make exceptions for certain parts of it, so in the OP's case his state may have added that requirement sometime after 1995. That's why I asked when the spa was installed.
 
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