Installing an Electrical Circuit for a Whirlpool Tub
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How to Install an Electrical Circuit for a Whirlpool Tub: Where a 240 volt circuit is required with a neutral a 3-wire cable with a ground must be installed, 4 wires in all. |
Components of a Whirlpool Electrical Circuit
[ad#block]Electrical Question: I am installing a model 2004 whirlpool outside on my patio.
- Where it was removed from had 3 wire 6 gauge cable run from the house to a box outside with a 50 a GFI.
- This box had a ground wire ran to a ground stake.
- Then 6 gauge cable ran about 6 ft to the whirlpool.
- On new install we were going to run 6 gauge 3wire with a ground to 50a GFI box.
- Then 6 gauge 3-wire cable 6 ft to whirlpool.
- Inside panel at the whirlpool it has 2 lugs for hot and a ground lug strip.
- Outside of panel on same box is another ground lug strip.
- Should we connect neutral to inside ground strip and ground to strip outside box?
- Both should be same electrically.
- And should this unit have its own ground stake?
Thank you.
Background: Charles , a Homeowner in Indiana.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Charles.
How to Install an Electrical Circuit for a Whirlpool Tub
- The ground and neutral must be separated.
- Where a 240 volt circuit is required with a neutral a 3-wire cable with a ground must be installed, 4 wires in all.
- The ground should run back to the panel where the circuit originates and be bonded.
- Make sure you get a permit to install the electrical circuit wiring and have an inspection.
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Whirpool tub manufacturer specifies two dedicated 20amp circuits with GFCI protection for tubs with whirpool motor and inline heater. Motor draw is rated at 9 amps 120v and inline heater is rated at 12 amps 120v.. Service to existing tub is 10ga wire with 30amp gfci breaker. Adding another dedicated circuit will require pulling new wire through conduit in slab or trenching slag (tub in middle of bathroom and not adjacent to wall). Considering the rated load of both devices is 21amps, do I really need two dedicated circuits?
Thanks
Hi David,
Here are some options for you to consider:
Relocate the 120 volt 30 amp circuit cable to an unobstructed accessible area close to the laundry equipment.
Use the 30 amp circuit to power a small 2 circuit sub panel where two 120 volt 20 amp circuits may be installed for the required individual outlets.
If the 30 amp circuit is 240 volt 4-wire with a dedicated neutral and ground wire then the circuit can be used as it is to provide power for the sub-panel.
If the 30 amp circuit is 240 volt 3-wire without a dedicated neutral wire then the circuit can be converted to a 120 volt circuit for the sub panel and the two main lugs of the sub panel will need to be connected together in order to distribute the circuit power.
NOTE: Because this is a sub-panel the ground wires and neutral wires must be connected to separate terminal strips.
Because of the location the sub-panel the 30 amp circuit should be protected by a GFCI circuit breaker back at the main panel.
NOTE: It is best if the sub-panel is 240 volt 4-wire which will balance the neutral current load more efficiently, otherwise you should test the return current of the neutral wire and make sure it does not exceed the rating for the AWG wire type.
You have mentioned that this circuit is in a conduit, therefore if the conduit size has the available wire capacity, then I would encourage you to consider installing either the necessary 240 volt 4-wires as needed for the sub-panel, or just go ahead and install the necessary wiring for the two 120 volt circuits as specified, just make sure the two 120 volt circuits are not fed from the same bus in the panel. Again, the point is to balance the neutral as much as possible.
TIP: You can use the existing wires (or one of the wires) as a pull wire to pull in the wire (or the fish tape) for the new circuit wiring if that is the decision you make – and it depends on the condition of the conduit.
I hope this helps,
Dave