Every Monday morning we have several service call after the DIYer of electrical contractor worked on the spa over the weekend and said there is something wrong with the spa..most often its the common wire in the wrong spot. Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
Awesome video, just what I needed. so many articles on the web say its 'ok' to use #6 wire for a 60amp circuit hot tub run. but the articles that explain things in detail make it clear that #4 is the correct wire size for the 60amp main panel breaker. I also needed to consider running through an attic and a distance of about 80'. the #4 is definitely more money and I'm sure that is what drives the reasoning behind using the #6 wire instead, but for me the peace of mind of using the proper wire (#4) for the run between the main and sub panel is totally worth it. I also went with the 6 space sub panel, the little spa type subpanels seemed so small and would not be fun with the #4 wire. I also will be adding a gfci outlet off the subpanel. thanks again for the video, it was great to find one where #4 wire was being used.
Thanks! This video gave me the info that I needed to complete my project. BUT . . . sorry, I have to nitpick . . . if I wiggle the stranded wires after tightening the screws, as often as not the connection will loosen up slightly and no longer meet the recommended torque spec. I repeat the wiggle/tighten process until the connection no longer loosens up. I saw this in another video, and was surprised how much these stranded-wire connections can loosen up. I suspect that over time this could become a point of failure.
Yep it happen a lot...In many of my videos I talk about when it is time to have GORILLA hands and when you don't . This one of those times ...Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
So I bought a square D 60 amp gfci breaker replacing a 50 amp due to upgrading our tub. The new 60 amp gfci doesn’t have a load neutral only 2 hot lugs. Is this only a 240 breaker and not a 120/240?Is there any way around this? Or do I need to buy a separate enclosure and breaker that allows a 60 with load neutral. Thanks in advance
Great vid, my Q? newly installed tub keeps tripping with a 20 gfci breaker in the sub panel, does this tub need a stronger breaker like a 50 amp, I keep seeing 50 amp, also how do I know if the sub panel can handle a 50amp? Sub panel is located about 70 yards from the main house, on the sub panel also supplies two ceiling fans in a Gazebo 20 amp and small pond with filter/fountain 20 amp, pool pump 60 amp - Any help is greatly appreciated in advanced tyvm
You have a lot going on ..I would call the office and talk to Scott and he will be able to get you going in the right direction Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
I’m also in AZ. Is a disconnect box not required by code? I want to pull a 100 amp sub-panel instead as I want to future proof and plan to add other things (sauna) a few years after this summers hot tub project. Thanks for the great videos!
in this video the Hot Tub was less then 20 feet away and in line of sight with no obstacles in the way so it meets code Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
Is it possible for these to get wet during a hard rain and trip? We had heavy rain and ours tripped. At least that's what we think happened. Ours is a Square D.
Actually it tripped again and it was not raining. The one wire going to the house is burnt up. I noticed the copper on the wire was exposed and when the electrician put it in the individual wires were spread apart. May copper being exposed or fact that wires were split apart?
I have that exact sub panel. There is no designated spot to connect an extra grounding bar. How did you determine and fasten the new grounding bar to the sub panel?
If you look at it really close on the right side top of the box you will see the pre drilled/taped holes in the box. that is were the ground bar goes. For the life of me I have no idea why they wouldn't put the predrilled /taped hole on the left side were there is more room and why they don't supply the ground bar when you buy the box, Hope that Helps Thanks for Watching & SCBSCRIBING
What is the name of the connector you use to hook the liquid tight to the breaker? I'm running 3/4" liquid tight to my tub and I have the liquid tight connector on the box for the hot tub, but it looks like you are using a different connector for the breaker.
If you do not have all four wires and the Hot Tub requires four wires and you only have three you will need to start over and install four wires #6 THHN /THWN We see this all the time and there is just no easy way to fix it... Start over and do it right so that it is safe and to code. Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
You are spot on... We make BANK fixing what others can't wire correctly...And we show everyone in our videos how to do it themselves. So many LIC electrical contractor get it wrong all the time,,Crazy Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
Good day to you Sir, My name is Gleen, from Seattle.I adore your works. If by chance would you send some list of your parts for hot tub sub panels? Thank you and more power to you.
GFCI is put in the main panel and you run the two hot wires common/neutral and the ground to the Sub panel... In the Sub panel you install a 50 Amp breaker and run the two wires and the ground to the Sundance spa.Thank You for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
I try to use the same manufacturer of sub panel as the main panel that way you are using the same breakers in both panels. Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
I'm wiring a 240V/50A Jucuzzi hot tub which requires 3 conductors; one of these conductors is ground. No neutral is run to the tub. That said, I'll have a red, black, and green running to the hot tub from the spa GFCI disconnect panel. How would the GFCI panel be wired without a neutral
You put the 50 Amp GFCI in the main panel and a 50 Amp breaker in the sub panel...Now from the sub panel to the Jacuzzi you would run two hot wires and the Ground to the Jacuzzi... in Seal tight/Liquid tight #6 THHN wire. Hope this Helps...Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
if you are installing a gfci breaker in the main panel and the main panel has the mixed bus bar with neutrals and grounds, That is where the white neutral coiled wire on the gfci breaker goes right?
Question what is the part number and where did you get them for the bus adapters you used for the number 4 wire? I am going to need 2 of them for my installation.
Este breik funciona igual para los equipos de 220v que no usan neutro, unicamente tierra, o sin ambas, se conectà igual?...... Otra pregunta: la corriente que circula por una fase es la misma que retorna por la otra fase y si hay diferencia seria una fuga y por donde se refleja esa diferencia en donde hay unicamente neutro y/o unicamente tierra
Did you have to use any 90 elbows for the liquid tight conduit? Just wasn't sure how far it would bend with #6 wire. I will be running from tub to back wall, then a 90 down the wall then another 90 up to the spa panel. Probably 10-15 feet.
I noticed all your incoming wires from the main panel are black? Isn't that really dangerous? I also noticed you had some colored tape labelling the ground and neutral wires (I see a smudge of red buried in there too) but I've had marking tape come loose and fall off over time. Just wondering. PS. OK, I remember you saying you used #4 AWG from the main, and I heard that doesn't come in colors, so NM. But still. . . .
I try to coil the neutral so when Im looking in the box for it I know witch wire it is...Now even after I find the neutral wire I will test it to make sure I have the correct wire.. Hope this helped you Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
You would put the GFCI in the main panel and run the four wires to a sub panel two hot wires a Neutral and a Ground and then form the Sub panel you would just run the two hot wires and the ground to your spa . Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
@@spaman5440 That makes sense but - my sub panel is in a detached garage a long way away from main panel & sub panel already has a 50A 240V breaker & outlet working correctly. I just want to upgrade the breaker to gfci per code from 2020 to charge my solar/battery backup unit.
Does the circuit breaker fulfill the requirement for a manual disconnect device for the spa? I have a sub-panel about 25ft from my proposed spa location, and would obviously prefer to use that instead of installing the required disconnects (3).
The reason I ask is because my spa requires is 240V 40amp and requires a #6 AWG copper wire. When I search 40amp breaker box, nothing pops up. I can only find 50amp disconnect boxes...not 40 amp.
@@digitaldust5843 I been doing this for over 25 years and have never seen a 40 Amp GFCI breaker nor I have ever heard of a spa requiring 40 amp breaker with #6.. I would use a 50 Amp GFCI and be done. Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
My electrician did not use a black wire what he did he used 2 red wires but inside spa pack he marked one of the wires with black tape but inside of gcf breaker box he did not mark one of the red wires in their so I don't know which one is black and which one is red. Does it matter?
what is the difference between the white wire and the green wire. My main panel has green (ground) wires and white (neutral) wires attached at the same ground bus. Should there be two different bus bars?
No ...In the main Panel they share the same bonding point ...When you wire the Sub Panel the white and Green are on separate bonding bars. Hope that Helps... Thanks for watching & SUBSCRIBING
@@spaman5440 my house only has 3 wires. Ground and two hots. I ran that to the sub breaker gcfi. My hot tub will not work with this setup since it's a 4 wire. Other than wiring a neutral all the way how can I get the gcfi to work? Am I out of luck?
@@alexandernuttall7936 You have to run all four wires from the main to the sub... If you have a problem or do not understand you can call the office and talk to Scott...He is usually baby sitting hot tubs in the back shop that he is working on... Hope this Helps and Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
So it is acceptable to install the gfci in the main panel and connect neutral pigtail to the bonded ground/neutral bar? I do not have seperate neutral and ground. My gfci keeps tripping and I was thinking it may be the shared neutral in the main panel.
We built an out door entertainment area and needed more amps to do this... We used #4 from main to sub for a 60 amp service.. and we put a 50 amp GFCI breaker in the Sub panel for the Spa and then we added several other breaker in the Sub Panel for out door lights , Sound system , ceiling fans , Frig ,TV with a surround system and so on. Hope... This Helps Thanks fir Watching & SUBSCRIBING
@@spaman5440 , in the main panel, do you have a 60 amp breaker? Then in the sub panel, the spa gets a 50 amp, but then with additional circuits the other breakers would add up to more than the 60 at the main panel. Would that cause the 60 amp breaker to trip regularly in the main panel?
No... for underground you would use a Schedule 40 grey PVC.. Liquid tight is for above ground short runs from the Sub panel to the hot tub only. Hope tis helps Thanks For Watching & SUBSCRIBING
Man trying to find the Eaton GFTCB250 Plug-On Mount Type GFTCB Ground Fault Circuit Breaker 2-Pole 50 A is hard these days and when you do they want double or triple the price. Any ideas where I can find one at a decent price?
The prices in the last year has gone out of control and Im hearing that they are going to go up higher...Buy ASAP Hope this Helps Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
You make the absolute best DIY instructional videos on TH-cam. Please keep sharing your knowledge.
Just what I needed
The comment on the common to the breaker and not the common bar fixed my issue! Thank you so much.
Every Monday morning we have several service call after the DIYer of electrical contractor worked on the spa over the weekend and said there is something wrong with the spa..most often its the common wire in the wrong spot. Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
Doesn't get any better then a good teacher! Thank you for you videos!
You're very welcome! Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING.
Thank you DO MUCH for publishing these. Also, you are an EXCELLENT INSTRUCTOR and motivator!
Awesome video, just what I needed. so many articles on the web say its 'ok' to use #6 wire for a 60amp circuit hot tub run. but the articles that explain things in detail make it clear that #4 is the correct wire size for the 60amp main panel breaker. I also needed to consider running through an attic and a distance of about 80'. the #4 is definitely more money and I'm sure that is what drives the reasoning behind using the #6 wire instead, but for me the peace of mind of using the proper wire (#4) for the run between the main and sub panel is totally worth it.
I also went with the 6 space sub panel, the little spa type subpanels seemed so small and would not be fun with the #4 wire. I also will be adding a gfci outlet off the subpanel. thanks again for the video, it was great to find one where #4 wire was being used.
I cannot thank you enough for your help and guidance! Like the father I’ve always wanted! Definitely gonna buy you a beer if we ever cross paths!
excellent. you are fast and thorough
where to buy the electrical box?
Thanks! This video gave me the info that I needed to complete my project. BUT . . . sorry, I have to nitpick . . . if I wiggle the stranded wires after tightening the screws, as often as not the connection will loosen up slightly and no longer meet the recommended torque spec. I repeat the wiggle/tighten process until the connection no longer loosens up. I saw this in another video, and was surprised how much these stranded-wire connections can loosen up. I suspect that over time this could become a point of failure.
Yep it happen a lot...In many of my videos I talk about when it is time to have GORILLA hands and when you don't . This one of those times ...Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
So I bought a square D 60 amp gfci breaker replacing a 50 amp due to upgrading our tub. The new 60 amp gfci doesn’t have a load neutral only 2 hot lugs. Is this only a 240 breaker and not a 120/240?Is there any way around this? Or do I need to buy a separate enclosure and breaker that allows a 60 with load neutral. Thanks in advance
Great vid, my Q? newly installed tub keeps tripping with a 20 gfci breaker in the sub panel, does this tub need a stronger breaker like a 50 amp, I keep seeing 50 amp, also how do I know if the sub panel can handle a 50amp? Sub panel is located about 70 yards from the main house, on the sub panel also supplies two ceiling fans in a Gazebo 20 amp and small pond with filter/fountain 20 amp, pool pump 60 amp - Any help is greatly appreciated in advanced tyvm
You have a lot going on ..I would call the office and talk to Scott and he will be able to get you going in the right direction
Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
excellent video, thank you for sharing your knowledge my household thanks you!
I’m also in AZ. Is a disconnect box not required by code? I want to pull a 100 amp sub-panel instead as I want to future proof and plan to add other things (sauna) a few years after this summers hot tub project. Thanks for the great videos!
in this video the Hot Tub was less then 20 feet away and in line of sight with no obstacles in the way so it meets code Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
@@spaman5440 okay awesome. My 100 amp sub panel will also be in sight and within 20 feet.
Is it possible for these to get wet during a hard rain and trip? We had heavy rain and ours tripped. At least that's what we think happened. Ours is a Square D.
Yes that can happen.. I would need more details to pin point it but its not hard to figure out what the cause was. Thanks for Watching &. SUBSCRIBING
@@spaman5440 Thanks for your input! Our hot tub is new and so is the breaker and all wires, so only thing we think could have happened.
Actually it tripped again and it was not raining. The one wire going to the house is burnt up. I noticed the copper on the wire was exposed and when the electrician put it in the individual wires were spread apart. May copper being exposed or fact that wires were split apart?
I have that exact sub panel. There is no designated spot to connect an extra grounding bar. How did you determine and fasten the new grounding bar to the sub panel?
If you look at it really close on the right side top of the box you will see the pre drilled/taped holes in the box. that is were the ground bar goes. For the life of me I have no idea why they wouldn't put the predrilled /taped hole on the left side were there is more room and why they don't supply the ground bar when you buy the box, Hope that Helps Thanks for Watching & SCBSCRIBING
What is the name of the connector you use to hook the liquid tight to the breaker? I'm running 3/4" liquid tight to my tub and I have the liquid tight connector on the box for the hot tub, but it looks like you are using a different connector for the breaker.
What if the whip in the kit from hot tub to sub has no common wire then what,also how to set tub w back of spabox how to read
If you do not have all four wires and the Hot Tub requires four wires and you only have three you will need to start over and install four wires #6 THHN /THWN
We see this all the time and there is just no easy way to fix it... Start over and do it right so that it is safe and to code. Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
This is the correct way to wire this…. Tons of videos on TH-cam that get the neutral part wrong .
You are spot on... We make BANK fixing what others can't wire correctly...And we show everyone in our videos how to do it themselves. So many LIC electrical contractor get it wrong all the time,,Crazy Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
Really comprehensive excellent educational video....TY
Hope this helps...Thank You for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
Good day to you Sir, My name is Gleen, from Seattle.I adore your works. If by chance would you send some list of your parts for hot tub sub panels? Thank you and more power to you.
How would the gfci breaker work in a sub panel if you are dealing with a Sundance 3wire without neutral?
GFCI is put in the main panel and you run the two hot wires common/neutral and the ground to the Sub panel... In the Sub panel you install a 50 Amp breaker and run the two wires and the ground to the Sundance spa.Thank You for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
Mr spa man what do you recommend when installing a hot tub a sub panel or a disconnect panel?
I try to use the same manufacturer of sub panel as the main panel that way you are using the same breakers in both panels. Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
What type and size liquid tight do you use my friend?
3/4 and whatever I can get at HomeDepot. Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
I'm wiring a 240V/50A Jucuzzi hot tub which requires 3 conductors; one of these conductors is ground. No neutral is run to the tub. That said, I'll have a red, black, and green running to the hot tub from the spa GFCI disconnect panel. How would the GFCI panel be wired without a neutral
You put the 50 Amp GFCI in the main panel and a 50 Amp breaker in the sub panel...Now from the sub panel to the Jacuzzi you would run two hot wires and the Ground to the Jacuzzi... in Seal tight/Liquid tight #6 THHN wire. Hope this Helps...Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
@@spaman5440 So from the main panel i connect the neutral from the GFCI breaker into my neutral bar ? After run line from GFCI into my sub?
if you are installing a gfci breaker in the main panel and the main panel has the mixed bus bar with neutrals and grounds, That is where the white neutral coiled wire on the gfci breaker goes right?
That is correct... Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
@@spaman5440 ok perfect. Thanks a million
Question what is the part number and where did you get them for the bus adapters you used for the number 4 wire? I am going to need 2 of them for my installation.
Este breik funciona igual para los equipos de 220v que no usan neutro, unicamente tierra, o sin ambas, se conectà igual?......
Otra pregunta: la corriente que circula por una fase es la misma que retorna por la otra fase y si hay diferencia seria una fuga y por donde se refleja esa diferencia en donde hay unicamente neutro y/o unicamente tierra
Did you have to use any 90 elbows for the liquid tight conduit? Just wasn't sure how far it would bend with #6 wire. I will be running from tub to back wall, then a 90 down the wall then another 90 up to the spa panel. Probably 10-15 feet.
I noticed all your incoming wires from the main panel are black? Isn't that really dangerous? I also noticed you had some colored tape labelling the ground and neutral wires (I see a smudge of red buried in there too) but I've had marking tape come loose and fall off over time. Just wondering. PS. OK, I remember you saying you used #4 AWG from the main, and I heard that doesn't come in colors, so NM. But still. . . .
What is the difference between coiling and uncoiling the Neutral?
I try to coil the neutral so when Im looking in the box for it I know witch wire it is...Now even after I find the neutral wire I will test it to make sure I have the correct wire.. Hope this helped you Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
What if I want to add a GFCI breaker in my sub-panel for my Nema 6-50R that doesn’t have a neutral since it’s only 2 hots & a ground?
You would put the GFCI in the main panel and run the four wires to a sub panel two hot wires a Neutral and a Ground and then form the Sub panel you would just run the two hot wires and the ground to your spa . Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
@@spaman5440 That makes sense but - my sub panel is in a detached garage a long way away from main panel & sub panel already has a 50A 240V breaker & outlet working correctly. I just want to upgrade the breaker to gfci per code from 2020 to charge my solar/battery backup unit.
Does the circuit breaker fulfill the requirement for a manual disconnect device for the spa? I have a sub-panel about 25ft from my proposed spa location, and would obviously prefer to use that instead of installing the required disconnects (3).
Can you use a 40amp Gfci Circuit Breaker in a 50 amp spa panel?
You can ...it is not recommend...In most hot tubs a 50 AMP GFCI is the recommended breaker with #6 wire.
The reason I ask is because my spa requires is 240V 40amp and requires a #6 AWG copper wire. When I search 40amp breaker box, nothing pops up. I can only find 50amp disconnect boxes...not 40 amp.
@@digitaldust5843 I been doing this for over 25 years and have never seen a 40 Amp GFCI breaker nor I have ever heard of a spa requiring 40 amp breaker with #6.. I would use a 50 Amp GFCI and be done. Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
Does the hot wire can go onto either side?
My electrician did not use a black wire what he did he used 2 red wires but inside spa pack he marked one of the wires with black tape but inside of gcf breaker box he did not mark one of the red wires in their so I don't know which one is black and which one is red. Does it matter?
what is the difference between the white wire and the green wire. My main panel has green (ground) wires and white (neutral) wires attached at the same ground bus. Should there be two different bus bars?
No ...In the main Panel they share the same bonding point ...When you wire the Sub Panel the white and Green are on separate bonding bars. Hope that Helps... Thanks for watching & SUBSCRIBING
@@spaman5440 my house only has 3 wires. Ground and two hots. I ran that to the sub breaker gcfi. My hot tub will not work with this setup since it's a 4 wire. Other than wiring a neutral all the way how can I get the gcfi to work? Am I out of luck?
@@alexandernuttall7936 You have to run all four wires from the main to the sub... If you have a problem or do not understand you can call the office and talk to Scott...He is usually baby sitting hot tubs
in the back shop that he is working on... Hope this Helps and Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
So it is acceptable to install the gfci in the main panel and connect neutral pigtail to the bonded ground/neutral bar? I do not have seperate neutral and ground. My gfci keeps tripping and I was thinking it may be the shared neutral in the main panel.
@@Jbern1220 did you figure it out? I have same issue
Very helpful. Thank you
Can you tell me what heater to order for a 2006 Jacuzzi j series? You videos are so helpful Thank u
Your using all stranded #6 correct?
I use #6 THHN and THWN wire only...I have seen installer use 6/3 but that in not suppose to be used for outside wet damp areas..
Even if it’s in conduit?
Great video. Can you please explain why 4 ga to sub and 6 ga to tub.
We built an out door entertainment area and needed more amps to do this... We used #4 from main to sub for a 60 amp service.. and we put a 50 amp GFCI breaker in the Sub panel for the Spa and then we added several other breaker in the Sub Panel for out door lights , Sound system , ceiling fans , Frig ,TV with a surround system and so on. Hope... This Helps Thanks fir Watching & SUBSCRIBING
@@spaman5440 , in the main panel, do you have a 60 amp breaker? Then in the sub panel, the spa gets a 50 amp, but then with additional circuits the other breakers would add up to more than the 60 at the main panel. Would that cause the 60 amp breaker to trip regularly in the main panel?
Great video going to wire my first hot tub this week. Can i run liquid tight underground?
No... for underground you would use a Schedule 40 grey PVC.. Liquid tight is for above ground short runs from the Sub panel to the hot tub only. Hope tis helps Thanks For Watching & SUBSCRIBING
Just currious why you went into the side of the shutoff for your feed rather than the top.
Can u show me where to order these parts?
I get everything from HomeDepot
Spa man my swimming spa doesn’t turn on but the Bluetooth works no lights on the keyboard what could it be
Man trying to find the Eaton GFTCB250 Plug-On Mount Type GFTCB Ground Fault Circuit Breaker 2-Pole 50 A is hard these days and when you do they want double or triple the price.
Any ideas where I can find one at a decent price?
The prices in the last year has gone out of control and Im hearing that they are going to go up higher...Buy ASAP Hope this Helps Thanks for Watching & SUBSCRIBING
thank you
Traslate to spanish👍