60 amp service or 50 amp

[guardrail22]

So did you wire 60 amp to run pumps and heater together? Seems to require 4/3 with bare ground, where 50 amp would be 6/3.

[JacuzziJack]

Do you have a manual for your tub? Does it specify? Most hot tub mfgrs specify in the instructions (for each particular model) what the beaker size needs to be.

Mine requires a 50A breaker for both heater and pumps. Wire size is also dependent on length of run and there could be certain code requirements (not an expert on that).

[bud16415]

My tub is a Caldera Geneva a good size 6 person with dual pumps and an air pump and a pretty aggressive heating system and it runs on a 50 Amp supply. I ran 6-3 with ground. My run was about 30’ from my main panel to the GFCI disconnect breaker sub panel.

The ones I see that require 60 Amp supplies are mostly the larger 8 person tubs with 3 pumps. 

[Beck0101]

I've got an 8 person tub with three pumps that runs happily on 50 amp service.  I also used #6 conductor.  Ran it about 30' to the spa panel and another 20' into the main.

[guardrail22]

I have three pumps and heater. Instructions call for 50 amp if pumps and heater aren’t to be operated together, 60 amp if they are. Real question is “how important is it to be able to pump and heat simultaneously?”

Leaning toward 50 amp because pumps will heat water and we can always turn one off.

[Tman122]

Real question is “how important is it to be able to pump and heat simultaneously?”

Depends on where you live?

[Conine2965]

If you in a really cold climate you may want to go with 60. But other wise 50 should be fine.

[Beck0101]

On my Bullfrog A8 I can assure you the pumps and heater run at the same time on 50A.  Perhaps only the circ pump drops off when the other pumps are on?  Never heard of such a thing but it may happen. 

If you're in the spa for more than 20 minutes in the winter time in a northern climate you're going to want the heater running...temp drops pretty quickly with the cover off.

[Tman122]

Guys, it's about amp draw. Not number of pumps. Smaller pumps use less amps. Smaller heaters use less amps. It's possible for a smaller tub with fewer pumps to draw more amps than a larger tub with more pumps.

Has nothing to do with brand. However fully foamed in tubs seem to hold heat a bit longer due to the heat built up in the body of the tub. But it's very minimal. In a northern climate you want heater and pumps to operate at the same time.

[SerjicalStrike]

With 2 2.5hp pumps running on high and the heater on, you are drawing somewhere around 48 amps.  It will run on a 50amp breaker, but all the codes I have seen require the breaker to be sized 25% over what the rated load would be.

2 pumps on low and the heater running easily run on 50amps.