Derek Anderson – Page 3 – Swim Pool Guide

Overcurrent circuit or short circuit issues are not so rare with hot tubs. But yes, they are quite dangerous. We all love soaking in our hot tubs to get a fresh bath experience and sometimes muscle-soothing massages too. Having a hot tub at our homes is always a great experience. But, not always! A hot tub is an electrical appliance. And being one, it comes with several electrical issues. One of those issues is an overcurrent circuit or a short circuit. Though there are plenty of reasons for this issue, the one we are going to discuss in this article is the circuit breaker. Yes, circuit breakers sometimes become a prominent cause of this issue in your tub. It happens many times when you buy a hot tub for a specific power supply, say 40 amp. But the home circuit doesn't operate properly and you think of using a 50 amp circuit breaker for the tub. However; the question is, does that work? The answer is, Yes. Installing a 50 amp circuit breaker on your 40 amp hot tub can be the best move for you. However, you must check the requirements of your hot tub during the wiring just to be sure. If not, it becomes quite dangerous and raises the possibility of electric fire in your house. Your 40 amp hot tub may also work quite well with a 30, 40, or 60 amp circuit breaker, depending on its requirements. The best way to get the most appropriate circuit breaker for your hot tub is by following the manufacturer's guidelines and instructions. They know it better and will suggest you the most appropriate thing suitable for your hot tub. So, generally, you can use a 50 amp circuit breaker for a 40 amp hot tub without much hassles. In the further sections of the article, I will talk about other more important things about using a circuit breaker for your hot tub. What Kind of Circuit Breaker Do I Need for a Hot Tub? Different hot tubs require different kinds of circuit breakers to operate properly. After going through tons of hot tub manufacturers and buyers, I have found that most of the hot tubs purchased require a 240 Volt power supply with a 50 amp circuit breaker. However, hot tubs with more load require 60 amp circuit breakers and the low-power consuming hot tubs can operate quite well with 30 amp or 40 amp circuit breakers. To be sure about what kind of circuit breaker your hot tub needs, it is essential to check its size during the wiring. How Many amps Does a Plug and Play Hot Tub Use? The Plug N Play hot tubs are usually 110 V tubs. They are really power-efficient and provide you with a supreme bath experience. These tubs are easily plugged into your regular power outlet. And you don't even need any tech expert to install it. Another benefit of these hot tubs is that they are portable which means you can move them around from one place to another quite easily. Along with these setup and portability features, these 110 V Plug-N-Play hot tubs give your body a much more relaxing massage therapy. We all know that soaking in warm water itself is a great therapy for muscle relaxation. Along with that, the powerful jets make sure you feel relaxed and free after having a soak in the tub. You will be amazed to know that despite these great features, these Plug-N- Play hot tubs use only 11 amp to 15 amp of electricity to operate properly. However, due to this, they heat up slowly but the quality is never compromised. The 110 V tubs are quite popular among people who love to travel. Click Here to Get The Best Quality Plug N Play Hot Tubs for Your Family. What Size Breaker Do I Need for a 40 amp Hot Tub? 40 amp hot tubs are usually the 220 V or 240 V hot tubs. As compared to the other Plug-N-Play hot tubs and inflatable hot tubs, they are more powerful and provide you with a better bath experience. Some of the amazing features of these tubs include fast water heating, health-beneficial massage therapy, and large bath space for 5 to 6 people. If you have bought a new house and are planning to live there for a long time, there is no alternative to the 220 to 240 V 40 amp hot tubs. As I have already mentioned in the intro of the article, the 50 amp circuit breaker works best for a 40 amp hot tub. This answer is solely based on the research I have conducted and data available online. I have also found that the hot tub owners that are using 30, 40, or 60 amp circuit breakers and their tubs are working absolutely fine. The exact amperage of the circuit breaker depends on your hot tub model, its age, and the environment around it. Make sure the circuit breaker is used with the 2-Pole GFCI-protected breaker to ensure the complete safety of the hot tub and its circuit. How to Wire a 50 amp Breaker for a Hot Tub? Now you have made up your mind finally that you will install the 50 amp breaker for your 240 V hot tub. You have made the right choice, I must say. As I have been mentioning in several sections of this article that the 50 amp circuit breaker is considered to be the best for your 220 or 240 V hot tub. You have got the thing, but you don't know how to wire it. Is it a big problem? Certainly not. Wiring a 50 amp circuit breaker for your hot tub need not be a tough task for you. Below, I have guided you on how you can wire your 50 amp hot tub quite easily, all by yourself. But before starting to wire your tub, make sure you also have the two-pole GFCI breaker. 7 Steps to Properly Wire Your 50 amp Hot Tub Breaker If you want to wire your hot tub breaker yourself, then you should have knowledge of the National Electrical Codes (NEC) and the local electrical codes covering the wiring of your spa. You will need to get the wiring permit from your Buildings Permit Department. Once you have all these permits and knowledge, then you are legally ready to get started with the process. Now, you just need to follow the below mentioned 7 steps to successfully wire your 50 A hot tub size breaker in the easiest way. Step 1: Create a graphic presentation of your wiring process and show it before the AJH, the building permit department to get the permit. Step 2: Route the cable from the official service panel to the hot tub electrical connection box carefully. One safe way of doing this is by running the cable along the sides of the joists of your floor. On the other hand, you can also route them perpendicular to the sides of your floor by drilling holes through them. When running the cable along the sides of the framing members, make sure it's positioned at least 11/4-inches back from the nearest edge. Also, support the cable routing down to your spa at different positions. Step 3: Turn off the primary service breaker. Then remove the cover to the breaker panel. Drive the panel sideways with a hammer or a screwdriver and then wiggle it back and forth using a plier to get it removed properly. After that, remove a knockout from it and connect a cable in the hole. Step 4: Install the new 50 amp circuit breaker in the panel. The breaker may either fit the panel properly or need screws to get inserted there, depending on what type of breaker you are working on. Attach the white pigtail wire coming out of the breaker with the panel neutral bar.Imp Note: The panel bar is usually on the side or at the bottom of the panel. Step 5: Slide the cable through the connector and attach it properly by tightening the clamping screws. Using a razor knife, remove the outer jacket of the cable and attach the red and black wires to the brass-colored screws on the GFCI breaker with a screwdriver. Remove a few inches of insulation before connecting the wire and shorten them as required. Step 6: Now take the white circuit wire and attach it to the silver screw on the GFCI breaker. Similarly, make sure the bare grounding wire is connected properly to the green-colored bar of the panel grounding. Step 7: Install the GFCI breaker properly and make sure it is powered Off. Now, install the cable to the spa connection box. Follow the similar steps you followed while installing the cable to the GFCI breaker panel box. Connect the wires with the same colored wires in the spa connection box. And finally, attach the bare ground wire to the grounding lug of your hot tub. And it's done! You have now successfully wired your 50 amp circuit breaker on your hot tub without creating any mess. To be sure, ask the AJH for a thorough inspection. If all looks good, replace the service panel cover of the spa and turn the GFCI breaker On. That's how you appropriately wire the 50 amp hot tub breaker. (Source: Ehow.com) What Type of Disconnect Do I Need for a 40 amp Hot Tub? For a 40 amp hot tub, you should have a disconnect to ensure safety and the proper functioning of the tub. The length of the disconnect should be a minimum of 5 feet and a maximum of up to 50 feet. However, the most preferred disconnect is 15 feet if you want to keep your 40 amp hot tub secure and shock proof for long term. References: https://www.flinthillsspas.com/plug-play-hot-tubs-what-you-need-to-know/ https://www.freeflowspas.com/blogs/news/the-difference-between-110v-and-220v-hot-tubs https://www.customspasdirect.com/spa-electric/