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Electrical Wiring

Hot Tub Wiring Problem With GFI

16 years ago

I have a 50amp breaker wired to my hot tub. My old tub had 4 wires red, black, white and green. It worked fine... my new tub only wants red, black and ground. No matter how I wire it now the GFI trips. I wired it bypassing the GFI just using the breaker at the main panel and the tub runs. I even replaced the GFI breaker it still resets.

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Comments (3)

Ron Natalie
16 years ago
How did you wire it?

The red and black go to the load terminals on the GFCI. The neutral pigtail from the GFCI still needs to go to the panel neutral bus. The ground shouldn't touch the GFCI at all.

If you wired it right and the GFCI is working, then it's possible your tub does indeed have a ground fault! Very dangerous.
cobraguy
16 years ago
I find it strange the new tub doesn't have a neutral. There are things on those tubs that use 120V.
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Because of the inherent risks of water and electricity, it's damned important you get everything right. If you have even the slightest doubt, call a licensed electrician. You can NOT use a bare ground wire. If the GFCI is not tripping, you have it either wired wrong (more likely) or it's defective (less likely). Fix the problem BEFORE using the spa. Tell us how you have it wired or take some clear pictures and post them.
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So, I can use two blank GFI 'plug-sized' switches instead of a large subpanel? Forgive my lack of technical words, however, I do understand the concept. To confirm I'm on the right page, I'd be okay to run: ONE dedicated line from my switch board (provided it can handle the load spec'd out - per BigBird) to a two gang jct box with 2 GFI switches (one for the heater and one for the motor). Did I get it right? I'm going to be keeping my drywall guy in business here; I've already cut a huge hole in the wall for the larger box... Thanks!
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Thanks for all the information / help. It is greatly appreciated!!! I have calculated the voltage drop using the equation reference above and using another have found. Using the calculator above, I get the following results (200' run, 50A, 240V): #6 9.5V drop 4% #4 6.0V drop 2.5% The other formula I used gave slightly lower results. It seems like 4% is real borderline. I will check the distance and if less than 200', might consider #6. My understanding is a max of 3% for the sub so that the total does not exceed 5%. I am on a dedicated transformer providing a 200A service within 100' of the home. Have no idea the size of the feeder line. The house is all electric but is not large as it is a weekend place. Thanks,
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Brickeyee, I agree with you but I think I do have it hooked up correctly. I think the GFCI breaker may be defective. I guess that is my actual question. I'll reiterate how I have it hooked up. Black and red from the house 50 amp breaker to the inputs of the GFCI. Red and black from the GFCI breaker to red and black on the hot tub. Neutral from the hot tub to the neutral on the GFCI. Ground from the hot tub to ground bus in the house. Now if you think that is incorrect please tell me what is incorrect don't just treat me like some kind of fool. Thanks
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Ron Natalie
16 years ago
I don't find it unusual. I've got a sundance spa of fairly recent vintage and it is 240V only. Essentially it has 240V motors for the pumps and 240V for the heater. The lights (and on some units) run off low voltage.

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