My Christmas present to the wife and I is a hot tub.

Getting ready to run the wiring for it, and just wondering what my best option is given the below scenario.

I have to run about 50' from the main panel to the spa panel. Then will put the spa panel ~ 6' from the hot tub, within view.

My questions are as follows:

1.) Where to run the wire.

I have the option of exiting the house right by the main panel and running the majority of the length outside, but under the deck, or running it inside through the basement joists and exiting the house right below the spa panel. Both present hurdles, but I'm just looking for the best case from an electrician's point of view.

If I run it outside it will run perpendicular to all of the joists. I know wire secured to the bottom of a joist inside a house is a no no, but since this is outside could I secure it to the underside of the deck joists in conduit instead of drilling through my joists? What if its in conduit attached to the outside of the house? I know I see it in older houses, but wondering what the specifics of the code say.

2.) Which wire to run

The spa calls for 40 amps max so I'm going to run a 50 amp circuit using 6 awg Cu wire.

If I run it inside the house using interior 6-3 I would have to have a box inside and from that box run THHN or UF-B outside through conduit to the spa panel, correct? If so, I'd probably just opt for running UF-B the whole way, or THHN in flex conduit.

I'd really prefer to run the main stretch outside, just due to ease of access. If I am able to run the conduit under the deck joists or attached to the house, which wire is prefferable the UF-B or THHN?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Wife just bought me a hot tub for Christmas too.

My house had a hot tub before we moved in (no longer there), so it was already wired up except for the last 10 feet or so. I would burn the house down, so we hired an electrician to wire up the last 10 feet that was missing and wire it up.

Mine uses a 60 amp breaker at the panel, 6 gauge THHN wire all the way from the panel to the hot tub (red, black, white). At the hot tub, there is a spa breaker panel with a 50 amp GFCI breaker. A GFCI breaker is absolutely required, according to my understanding. Cant just use a standard 50 or 60 amp breaker at the panel. And then there is a solid copper wire ground wire that runs from the hot tub ground to a metal ground near the hot tub.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Mi...7181-_-100686230-_-N

If you are going to have it inspected/permitted than you will want to consult with a certified electrician in your area to make sure everything is on the up and up.

quote:

If you are going to have it inspected/permitted than you will want to consult with a certified electrician in your area to make sure everything is on the up and up.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^

In many areas they are considered the same as pools and require conduit run from panel to disconnect to tub. So before you get burned, make sure you can use romex for the indoor portion. Also you are required to have a GFI protected outlet within sight, but more than six feet from tub (I think also under 25' away).

Yes you can strap conduits to bottom of deck. You can't strap wiring to bottom of deck if it's subject to physical damage which they usually say anything under 8'off the ground.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

If you are going to have it inspected/permitted than you will want to consult with a certified electrician in your area to make sure everything is on the up and up.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^

In many areas they are considered the same as pools and require conduit run from panel to disconnect to tub. So before you get burned, make sure you can use romex for the indoor portion. Also you are required to have a GFI protected outlet within sight, but more than six feet from tub (I think also under 25' away).

Yes you can strap conduits to bottom of deck. You can't strap wiring to bottom of deck if it's subject to physical damage which they usually say anything under 8'off the ground.

Thanks for the input. I've read our local regs. and it defers to the NEC on the electrical portion. Only thing they're concerned with is that they can't see me doing a moby dick impression from the road...

I plan to run 4 wires from main to spa panel (spa panel is a GFCI breaker in a metal box like this ) sorry if I didn't make that clear.

Bubbatime, I think yours requires the ground rod due to it only being a three wire from main panel to spa panel (Skins correct me if I'm wrong here). The 4th wire would be the ground and if I have a ground from main panel, to spa panel, and from spa panel to hot tub then I don't need an additional ground.

I think my plan is to go with UF-B the whole way just for cost reduction, as its a bit cheaper than buying 4 strands of 6 awg THHN. I'll exit the house near the main panel and put it in solid conduit to the spa panel, and then a whip from the spa panel to the hot tub.

I better work on my reading skills, and also thinking.

Bubbatime, I see you posted the same link I did. This is what I was referring to as a "spa panel" as that's what the description calls it.

Secondly, I suppose if I want to save a good chunk of THNN I could do like yours and just add a ground rod near the hot tub. Probably why yours is wired that way.

quote:

Originally posted by ubelongoutside:
I better work on my reading skills, and also thinking.

Bubbatime, I see you posted the same link I did. This is what I was referring to as a "spa panel" as that's what the description calls it.

Secondly, I suppose if I want to save a good chunk of THNN I could do like yours and just add a ground rod near the hot tub. Probably why yours is wired that way.

If you use THHN it must be in conduit and that conduit must be complete. You are not allowed to drive a ground rod for the ground, it must go to electrical panel for enclosure ground.

I'd write more but got to get back to work.