Best option for spa wiring

**restorick** · 12-01-2007, 07:15 AM

Folks,

I've done a number of wiring jobs where everything was indoors and I only had to deal with romex.

But running a circuit for a hot tub is throwing me for a bit of a loop. My investigation shows that I can't run romex inside liquid-tite, but I certainly can run that indoors.

How would I best go about running this circuit? Do I get enough 6/3 romex and then strip off the outer insulation to run inside liquid-tite? Or do I setup a waterproof junction box outside where I change from romex to THHN?

Sorry if this seems like a basic question, but installing a subpanel in my garage seemed to be a hell of a lot more straighforward than this project, and there's a ton of conflicting info out on Al Gore's internet.

Thanks in advance for any advice,
Rick

**Chris75** · 12-01-2007, 08:16 AM

You need a disconnect 5' away from the hot tub, so at that junction you would have to use a wet location wire... not romex...

You really do need to read through part IV. Spas & Hot Tubs within art. 680.

NEC 2005 Link

This link is probably better suited for you though...
http://www.mikeholt.com/files/PDF/Pooldownload.pdf

**restorick** · 12-01-2007, 08:52 AM

Chris,

Appreciate the link. I'll read through code 680, and check with my local inspector to see if I need to do anything special to comply here.

Rick

**Chris75** · 12-01-2007, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by restorick

Chris,

Appreciate the link. I'll read through code 680, and check with my local inspector to see if I need to do anything special to comply here.

Rick

Check out the 2nd link, it has pretty pictures, the section you want starts on page 656 of the pdf file, if you have any more questions just ask...

**Bob NH** · 12-01-2007, 10:46 AM

I did one for my son with 3/4" PVC conduit. The last few feet of flex was connected to the end via a terminal adapter and liquid-tite fitting. The inspector was happy with it all.

I used #6 but if your load doesn't exceed 50 Amps you should be able to use #8 THHN/THWN with #10 ground. If you have a large 240 Volt heater (meaning low neutral load) you might be able to use #10 for the neutral. Compare that with Romex (NM) where you need #6 for 50 Amps.

**Alectrician** · 12-01-2007, 11:42 AM

We sleeve the last few feet of romex all the time and although a violation (wet area) never EVER get called on it.

To be compliant, change to thwn at a JB. This puts extra splices in the circuit and because I do a ton of troubleshooting, I'm not a big fan of extra splices.

**Chris75** · 12-01-2007, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Alectrician

We sleeve the last few feet of romex all the time and although a violation (wet area) never EVER get called on it.

So does that make it right? I speed once and awhile, it's still against the law...

Originally Posted by Alectrician

To be compliant, change to thwn at a JB. This puts extra splices in the circuit and because I do a ton of troubleshooting, I'm not a big fan of extra splices.

You need a disconnect anyways... do the job right, or don't do it at all...

**Alectrician** · 12-01-2007, 02:03 PM

You need a disconnect anyways...

What's your point? Did I imply otherwise?

do the job right, or don't do it at all...

Then.....drive the speed limit or don't drive at all.

Don't start with me dude.

You choose when you can safely break the law and I choose whe I can safely violate the code. Same thing.

**Verdeboy** · 12-01-2007, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Chris75

So does that make it right? I speed once and awhile, it's still against the law...

I always say, follow your conscience--not the laws, rules, or codes.

Here's some laws that are still on the books in some states. There's a million more where these came from:

It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle.

Dominoes may not be played on Sunday.

You may not drive barefooted.

It is illegal to maim oneself to escape jury duty.

It is illegal to impersonate a person of the clergy.

Women are able to retain all property they owned prior to marriage in the case of divorce. However, this provision does not apply to men.

Masks may not be worn in public.

Putting salt on a railraod track may be punishable by death.

Boogers may not be flicked into the wind.

Bear wrestling matches are prohibited.

It is legal to drive the wrong way down a one-way street if you have a lantern attached to the front of your automobile.

Men may not spit in front of the opposite sex.

Incestuous marriages are legal.

It is illegal to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter in church.

You must have windshield wipers on your car.

You may not have an ice cream cone in your back pocket at any time.

**Chris75** · 12-01-2007, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Alectrician

Then.....drive the speed limit or don't drive at all.

Don't start with me dude.

You choose when you can safely break the law and I choose whe I can safely violate the code. Same thing.

My point is, do you think it is the smartest thing to give bad advice on a DIY forum, especially since you know better?

He might as well go to Home Depot and ask them...

**Alectrician** · 12-01-2007, 03:47 PM

do you think it is the smartest thing to give bad advice on a DIY forum

A) I didn't tell him what to do, only told him what I do.

2) If it WAS advice, it's not bad advice. There is nothing mechanically wrong with it. It is a technical violation.

He might as well go to Home Depot and ask them...

I know more about this stuff than you and all the Home Depot guys put together so you are going to have to find another way to try and insult me..

**Chris75** · 12-01-2007, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by Alectrician

A)

I know more about this stuff than you and all the Home Depot guys put together so you are going to have to find another way to try and insult me..

I'm not about to have a argument with someone who justifies doing non code complaint work...

**Alectrician** · 12-01-2007, 04:04 PM

I'm glad we settled that then.

**Speedy Petey** · 12-01-2007, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Alectrician

We sleeve the last few feet of romex all the time and although a violation (wet area) never EVER get called on it.

To be compliant, change to thwn at a JB. This puts extra splices in the circuit and because I do a ton of troubleshooting, I'm not a big fan of extra splices.

Oh boy. Here we go AGAIN.
You may not be a fan of splices, but the rest of us here are not fans of NON-compliant work.
This is not advice. I'm just saying how I would do it.

You know what, make your splices bulletproof then. Or better yet, DON'T make splices. Do it the right way and run the NM to the disconnect (if it is mounted on the house) and go from there with THWN in conduit and the maximum allowable 6' of sealtite at the tub.