110 V. 220 voltage

[Bee]

 :)Hi Everyone!
This is my first posting, although I've been reading EVERYTHING here for days.  I cant tell you how helpful all the info is.  Thanks to everyone who's posting here.

My question is about a Hot Springs Prodigy.  I live at an elevation of 8900.  The dealer told me that the 110 would be "okay".  220 would be better but it would run fine on 110.  If I switch to 220 I have to pay for the subpanel (around $200).  Not a huge deal but if we dont go with 220 are we making a mistake??

FYI also looking at the Bahia, jacuzii J345 and Caldera Olympia.

[hymbaw]

Not a huge deal. That being said, if you are going to use the tub in the winter, I would go with 220. At 110 there is only enough amps to run the jets OR the heater. At 220 BOTH can run. Also, with the Prodigy the heater runs at 1500watts on 110v and at 6000watts on 220v.(water will heat faster with 220)

[East_TX_Spa]

I second hymbaw's excellent advice.  If you lived in a warmer climate, 110v would be more than efficient.  But since you are residing up in the hills, 220v is your best option.

Good luck with your shopping!

Terminator

[Mendocino101]

Yes good advice and just a added note all 110 spas will operate in the same manner heater or jets regardless of the brand...So if in your shopping you come across someone who tells you theirs will run both...it is not true....

[Chas]

One more tidbit of info:

110 volt spas usually need to have a dedicated outlet installed. That is because most tubs draw 15 or 16 amps - which is all you are supposed to draw on a 20 breaker. As a result, if you just plug the spa into an existing outlet, you will have trouble popping breakers when other items use that same circuit.

I mention this because most folks end up having to run this new dedicated line from the main panel to the spa, and for a few hundred bucks more they could go 220. The other benefit of going to 220 volts is that you can easily run additional circuits to the spa area for lighting, bug zappers, music, fans, fountains or other items which can make the spa more enjoyable.

[Brewman]

And sometimes you might need both.  If the electrical inspectors are enforcing to relatively recent code, then a 120V GFI protected outlet must be installed no closer than 10' from the spa's water, and no farther than 20'.  
My inspector checked for this, but happily I already had one.

[MarKee]

Chas:  That's odd, out of all of the 110v spas I've sold I've only had 1 customer with issues with popping the breaker.  Most outside outlets are dedicated, so why would you install another?  I think Marquis tubs draw 12-14 amps with the heater/pump on low.  One thing I always thought was weird, why doesn't Hotspring supply a plug in for the 110v spas they sell?  A lot of manuf. supply the plug in with a GFI breaker at the end of the cord?

[Chas]

Chas:  That's odd, out of all of the 110v spas I've sold I've only had 1 customer with issues with popping the breaker.  Most outside outlets are dedicated, so why would you install another?  I think Marquis tubs draw 12-14 amps with the heater/pump on low.  One thing I always thought was weird, why doesn't Hotspring supply a plug in for the 110v spas they sell?  A lot of manuf. supply the plug in with a GFI breaker at the end of the cord?

Well, tell us where you live then, because here in the US most houses built within the last twnenty years have the outdoor outlet daisy-chained through a GFI in the bathroom.

The code requires that outdoor outlets be GFI-protected, and the same for bathroom outlets, so the cheap/easy way to do that is to put one GFI in a bathroom, and then just run the other outlets from there. So when you turn on the blowdryer, if the heat is on in your tub the breaker will trip - or certainly SHOULD trip...

And condominuims will often have the outdoor outlet on a 15 amp breaker.

As far as HS - they have always included an outlet for all 110 spas, at least for the almost 20 years I have sold them. They put a GFI on the end of the 15' power cord, and the outlet is a new buble-cover type which has been added to the code requirements lately: it can stay closed and be water proof even while in use.

[drewstar]

...The code requires that outdoor outlets be GFI-protected, and the same for bathroom outlets, so the cheap/easy way to do that is to put one GFI in a bathroom, and then just run the other outlets from there. So when you turn on the blowdryer, if the heat is on in your tub the breaker will trip - or certainly SHOULD trip...

Yup. That's been my experience in my houses.   One house, the outdoor outlet wasn't sealed properly and if we had heavy rain,  the bathroom outlet would flip.

On my current house the outdoor circuit to the pool is wired via the bathroom and dollars to donuts if the pool pump is running and my wife uses the hair dryer....pop! Off it goes.

[Bee]

Thanks guys for all your help.  Although I dont understand alot of the lingo it sounds like it's worth the extra money to have 220.  

I'm scheduling wet tests on the prodigy and a few other tubs this week - fun homework!!

Thanks again for the info!

[wmccall]

.  I live at an elevation of 8900.  .

Feet? Where would that be?

[Bee]

Colorado - 40 miles outside Denver.  Our temp varies by 10-15 degrees from Denver so from what everyone said I'll go 220.

[r100rs]

I am guessing you must be living around Connifer/Bailey area.

Yes go with the 220v.

r100rs

[MarKee]

The Oregon building code must be different because we have zero problems with outlets tripping with our spas.  I know there are several GFI protected outlets in my house, there is one in both bathrooms, one in the garage, not sure about the outside.

[nicker]

honestly spend the extra money and go with the 220.  To me these tubs that run the 110 is foolish, why make them.  Convienience I guess.  

And considering what was said that you "may" need a dedicated outlet installed you are already paying.  Id' go with 220 for sure!