skip to main content

Quick Check on Adding a Ground wire for a 4-wire Hot Tub

16 years ago

Hello All,

By now, I have read many many posts on this subject, but in my own words, would like to get a simple confirmation (or advice).

I am installing a hot tub. Its a pretty small Jet Pack, rated for 26 amps at 240V with a 4 wire hookup. This unit is a 120/240V model, but I am wiring for 240.

50 feet from the tub is the Meter and Main Panel. Inside the main panel is a 100 amp breaker with black and red wires, and a white wire that is hooked into a large bar.

My main question is about running the ground wire. I was going to use a 6 gauge 4 conductor that has the bare ground, to a subpanel and disconnect about 10 feet from the tub.

My understanding is that the ground wire, at the Main Panel side, should be hooked into the same bar that the white neutral wire is hooked to, but then they are isolated in the run, and hooked to different places once they reach the GFCI breaker.

Is this correct? I just want a confirmation. The ground wire is hooked to the same place as the neutral at the main panel?

Also, I read somewhere that the ground should be the same size wire as the hots, but how is this achieved with the bare ground wire that is already part of the 4 conductor cable? The bare usually is solid, but slightly smaller (seemingly) than the three insulated conductors.

I understand that once the 4 conductors leave the Main Panel, they all have different hookups...ground to ground, and the neutral to the GFCI and on to the neutral of the Jet Pack.

Any confirmation here would be great.

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

caltropic
16 years ago
The main panal in older houses you will put he White (neutral ) and the ground toghether on the same bar. I have seen some new houses that have the white on one side and the ground an the other , but if one was to look carefully they are the same bar and are connected on the bottom.

The ground should be the same gauge or bigger than the Hot wires. #6 is good for your Hot tub run.

You are correct about the Hot tub end hook ups. The only thing is that the "load side of the gfic does not hook up to the white bar. Only the line side will do that. Since the tub is pre wired this will not be and issue and you will just attach the wires to the connections as shown in the directions. When you power it up you will generally need to reset the gfic trip button as it needs to be powered up for this to happen.

enjoy the tub.
Related Discussions
What are the basics of hot tub wiring?
Q
Comments (7)
Kudzu, as an avid DIY, I appreciate the fact that you've educated yourself to be able to safely perform all of these tasks for yourself. THe reality of the world today is that we live in a very litigious society. That's one of the reasons that hiring a "real" electrician is so costly. THey carry insurance that covers them in case of an error and a lawsuit. You, as a private party, do not. Peforming electrical work for someone else exposes you to a tremendous liability. If your neighbor's wife uses the new hot tub and is electrocuted, you are financially and morally liable for the deed. This isn't an area that you should be asking for help over the internet with. If you know enough to be able to do it safely, that's one thing. But, you don't, and are asking advice on how to perform this work for someone else who also doesn't know. That's a recipe for disaster. Prudence dictates that sometimes, even for a competent DIYer, a professional is the best option. Tell your neighbor that you don't want the liability for killing his family and that he shouldn't want that either and to call in an electrician.
...See More
Hot Tub Wiring Component Selection
Q
Comments (14)
Smithy, WHY would you waste the money on #4 (!) when it has been determined that #8 will be perfectly adequate??? jrturner92, in the US you CANNOT use NM or UF for the outside portion of the wiring to a hot tub. We MUST use conduit can conductors with an insulated ground. I believe Canada is the same. You guys have something called Tek cable I believe. This is the ONLY flexible cable allowed for the outside portion of the wiring. Also, I see that you do not plan to do this, but I believe Canada is the same in that the disconnect MUST be within sight of the tub. So putting it in the basement, even with a lock, is NOT a consideration.
...See More
adding ground wire for oven install
Q
Comments (9)
Can't vouch for LA, but the California and the NEC still allows the grounded conductor to be used for the equipment ground purposes on existing range circuits. If there's wire already in conduit, snakey or otherwise, you'll find it very hard to pull in a new wire. Second are you sure that conduit goes all the way back to the panel. Are you sure it's even conduit and not some sort of armored cable? If you want to run a four wire circuit, it's probably not doable without pulling a whole new length of cable from the panel.
...See More
3 vs. 4-wire 220
Q
Comments (7)
A "regular" meter assumes that the waveform is a perfect sine wave. A true RMS meter can measure RMS even when the waveform is distorted. Voltage is always a difference (AC, DC, RMS measurement or whatever). The only thing magic about the "neutral" is that it is connected to your house ground which gives a reference (this is handy because grounds are commonly everywhere which means any voltage differential from ground is a potential shock hazard). Your 120V device will work fine as long as the two wires feeding it have a 120V differential. A 240V device similarly for 240V. The only time a neutral is needed on 240 circuits is when there is some need to also get a 120V load on the same circuit. There are a few times where the grounded conductor (neutral) plays a safety role though this is largely been deprecated. Certain (ungrounded) two wire devices (lamps are a common one) use a polarized plug to make sure the exposed metal parts are on the grounded side of the circuit. Older dryer and range installations may be grandfathered to use the grounded conductor to ground the equipment frame as well.
...See More

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES Finish Your Remodel Right: 10 Tasks to Check Off

By Laura Gaskill

Nail down these key details to ensure that everything works properly and you’re all set for the future

LIGHTING 10 Ways With Wall Lights That Don’t Need to Be Wired In

By Lara Sargent

Learn how to add illumination to your home without carving into the walls

ACCESSORIES How to Hide Those Messy Wires

By Scheer & Co. Interior Design

Untangle Yourself From Ugly Electrical Cords With a Few Tricks and Accessories

DIY PROJECTS Hide All Those Wires in a DIY Charging Station

Keep your gadgets handy and charged with a flexible storage board you can design yourself

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 13 New Ways to Make a Splash With a Hot Tub

By Amber Hopman

Check out the modern options and custom features that are making outdoor spa tubs hot again

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

MOST POPULAR What to Know About Adding a Deck

By Mitchell Parker

Want to increase your living space outside? Learn the requirements, costs and other considerations for building a deck

HOUSEKEEPING The Quick and Easy Way to Clean a Microwave

By Marianne Lipanovich

All you need is water and a couple of other natural ingredients to get your appliance sparkling and smelling fresh again

FURNITURE Meet the Quick-Change Artists of Interior Design

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Are you missing a great little stool, ottoman or bench? Just look at the ways they can adapt to what you need now

GROUND COVERS Ground Force: 10 Top Ground Covers for Your Garden

By Carol Bucknell Garden Design

Protect your soil from weeds and drought this summer with a living mulch of ground covers

Sponsored

More Discussions

How To Rehab Old Pool Decking

0

Best outdoor furniture brand? And which type of Sunbrella?

1

New Pool - Liner Properly Installed?

1

How to cover a pool?

2

Sunbrella Rain on Outdoor furniture: is Ebel Palermo worth the cost?

0