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I'm looking at what wire I need to purchase for wiring my hot tub. I'm in Canada and Nova Scotia so we need to hire an electrician either way but I'd like to run the wires etc. The Hot Tub we are getting requires 6 AWG with a minimum ground of 8 AWG. I could do almost the entire run indoors with a short section outdoors. I would like to not use TECH 90 on the indoors as it's overkill - but it seems there exists no wire for purchase that has 3 conductors + ground whereby the ground is 8 AWG. The ground is always 10 AWG which makes it not good enough. I could use TECH 90 for the whole thing - but that really seems ridiculous to do that. Does this make any sense as to why I cannot find a compatible wire for such a common installation? Are folks generally ignoring that they need a 8 AWG for the ground?
Quote from: hobble23 on December 13, 2018, 11:35:18 pmI'm looking at what wire I need to purchase for wiring my hot tub. I'm in Canada and Nova Scotia so we need to hire an electrician either way but I'd like to run the wires etc. The Hot Tub we are getting requires 6 AWG with a minimum ground of 8 AWG. I could do almost the entire run indoors with a short section outdoors. I would like to not use TECH 90 on the indoors as it's overkill - but it seems there exists no wire for purchase that has 3 conductors + ground whereby the ground is 8 AWG. The ground is always 10 AWG which makes it not good enough. I could use TECH 90 for the whole thing - but that really seems ridiculous to do that. Does this make any sense as to why I cannot find a compatible wire for such a common installation? Are folks generally ignoring that they need a 8 AWG for the ground?I don’t know the code in Canada very well. All Romex 6/3CU NM-B W/G in the states comes with a #10 ground conductor as far as I know. I wired my own tube no electrician needed here with a 50a breaker at the panel used the #6 romex thru the house and code says that romex is not allowed for outside or in conduit service so you must transition at that point in a Jbox to outdoor service rated cable leading to your GFCI breaker located within eye sight of the tub but at least 5’ from the tub. My tub required a 30a and a 20a GFCI so from there to the tub I ran single conductors in conduit #10. If you can somehow keep the romex run in the house and go thru the exterior wall and straight into the GFCI breaker that would be legal here. I don’t understand the code saying you need #8 ground for the run. If it was me I would talk to who I was planning to hire to do the rest of the hook up and see if they even will allow you to run the wire. Sometimes they have to be able to inspect every inch of the run or they wont connect it. If you need ditches dug and such you could DIY and save there.
Quote from: bud16415 on December 14, 2018, 08:30:58 amQuote from: hobble23 on December 13, 2018, 11:35:18 pmI'm looking at what wire I need to purchase for wiring my hot tub. I'm in Canada and Nova Scotia so we need to hire an electrician either way but I'd like to run the wires etc. The Hot Tub we are getting requires 6 AWG with a minimum ground of 8 AWG. I could do almost the entire run indoors with a short section outdoors. I would like to not use TECH 90 on the indoors as it's overkill - but it seems there exists no wire for purchase that has 3 conductors + ground whereby the ground is 8 AWG. The ground is always 10 AWG which makes it not good enough. I could use TECH 90 for the whole thing - but that really seems ridiculous to do that. Does this make any sense as to why I cannot find a compatible wire for such a common installation? Are folks generally ignoring that they need a 8 AWG for the ground?I don’t know the code in Canada very well. All Romex 6/3CU NM-B W/G in the states comes with a #10 ground conductor as far as I know. I wired my own tube no electrician needed here with a 50a breaker at the panel used the #6 romex thru the house and code says that romex is not allowed for outside or in conduit service so you must transition at that point in a Jbox to outdoor service rated cable leading to your GFCI breaker located within eye sight of the tub but at least 5’ from the tub. My tub required a 30a and a 20a GFCI so from there to the tub I ran single conductors in conduit #10. If you can somehow keep the romex run in the house and go thru the exterior wall and straight into the GFCI breaker that would be legal here. I don’t understand the code saying you need #8 ground for the run. If it was me I would talk to who I was planning to hire to do the rest of the hook up and see if they even will allow you to run the wire. Sometimes they have to be able to inspect every inch of the run or they wont connect it. If you need ditches dug and such you could DIY and save there. #8 jacketed wire is what 99% of hot tubs require for the ground....Run individual strands through 3/4" flex conduit is the most common way I've seen spas wired....(2) 'hot wires' (1) Common/Neutral Wire all in 6 awg then your jacketed #8 in green for the ground
There is the matter of requiring an insulated ground on the exterior cable run. I will use tech 90 for that but on the interior portion this is where I’d rather not use the tech 90 but I think that is the only choice because all other cable with 6 awg come with a 10 awg ground and I need #8. I would not be able to pull conduit through the walls I don’t think due to access to run store are wires. Can you pull as much flex conduit as you want in the interior or is it restricted to 6 feet?. I don’t understand the length restriction in liquid tire and why it is needed.ThanksAndrew
I had an electrician I trusted so everything was to his liking, ideas or standards. I take no credit in any part of it aside from my estimate on where the conduit comes up - About 10" off from the corner of the tub …. Doh !!!!