To GFI or not

[uwireme]

I hooked up a swim spa per the manufacture cut sheet ?50 amp breaker and GFCI?. Inspector found a nameplate on the side of the unit ?Circuit ampacity 40 amps maximum?. I have a 60 amp breaker from a sub panel to a 50 amp GFCI breaker disconnect, can I move the 50 amp GFCI to the sub panel and change the spa disconnect breaker to a regular 40 amp?

 

[ceb58]

I hooked up a swim spa per the manufacture cut sheet ?50 amp breaker and GFCI?. Inspector found a nameplate on the side of the unit ?Circuit ampacity 40 amps maximum?. I have a 60 amp breaker from a sub panel to a 50 amp GFCI breaker disconnect, can I move the 50 amp GFCI to the sub panel and change the spa disconnect breaker to a regular 40 amp?

Before I did any thing I would want to find out why the cut sheet and name plate has two different requirements as to amp size.

 

[97catintenn]

cut sheets often cover several models. I'd go by the nameplate.

 

[stickboy1375]

I hooked up a swim spa per the manufacture cut sheet “50 amp breaker and GFCI”. Inspector found a nameplate on the side of the unit “Circuit ampacity 40 amps maximum”. I have a 60 amp breaker from a sub panel to a 50 amp GFCI breaker disconnect, can I move the 50 amp GFCI to the sub panel and change the spa disconnect breaker to a regular 40 amp?

Just wired a Hot tub yesterday, nameplate read "Circuit ampacity 40 amps maximum, 50 amp OCPD Required" I'll take a picture of the nameplate tomorrow...

 

[uwireme]

I have a call into the manufacture to find the amps.

Would the spa be GFCI protected properly if the 50 amp GFCI breaker feeds the spa disconnect with a regular 40 amp breaker?

 

[stickboy1375]

I have a call into the manufacture to find the amps.

Would the spa be GFCI protected properly if the 50 amp GFCI breaker feeds the spa disconnect with a regular 40 amp breaker?

Yes... but I'm betting the unit requires the 50 amp breaker...

 

[uwireme]

So if the spa disconnect panel has a feed from a GFCI breaker everything in the panel has GFCI protection, so I would also be able to install a regular receptacle to this panel and it will be GFCI protected?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

So if the spa disconnect panel has a feed from a GFCI breaker everything in the panel has GFCI protection, so I would also be able to install a regular receptacle to this panel and it will be GFCI protected?

That is true but then you may have trouble with the receptacle tripping the gfci. I would fed the panel with a standard breaker and use a gfci receptacle.

 

[jumper]

Just wired a Hot tub yesterday, nameplate read "Circuit ampacity 40 amps maximum, 50 amp OCPD Required" I'll take a picture of the nameplate tomorrow...

I looked at a few spa manuals and I believe the 40 amps refers to the max. running draw.

Since a hot tub/spa is basically made up of a pump motor and a resistance heater, the 40 amp draw could be on a 50 amp OCPD for inrush of the motor.

Seems like a typical appliance spec.

 

[LEO2854]

I looked at a few spa manuals and I believe the 40 amps refers to the max. running draw.

Since a hot tub/spa is basically made up of a pump motor and a resistance heater, the 40 amp draw could be on a 50 amp OCPD for inrush of the motor.

Seems like a typical appliance spec.

I agree with that ,and i think the inspector does not know what he is talking about.

 

[uwireme]

Here is the reply from the manufacture

The Ul rating system rates electrical devises at 80% of required electric capacity that is why on the UL plate it states 40 Amps and the electrical requirements is 50 amps.

Yes you do need a dedicated 240 volt 50 amp power source protected with a 50 amp GFCI.


All is well

Happy Friday

 

[kwired]

Here is the reply from the manufacture

The Ul rating system rates electrical devises at 80% of required electric capacity that is why on the UL plate it states 40 Amps and the electrical requirements is 50 amps.

Yes you do need a dedicated 240 volt 50 amp power source protected with a 50 amp GFCI.


All is well

Happy Friday

If what he said is their reasoning for why they are marked the way they are marked they have some misunderstanding.

They should be determining that the load is 40 amps and then multiplying that by 125% for continuous load and determining the minimum conductor ampacity is 50 amps. Then you have to protect that conductor at its ampacity which is also 50 amps. Now with combinations of motors and other loads the overcurrent protection could possibly be higher to allow for motor starting without tripping the overcurrent device.

 

[stickboy1375]

Hot tub I just wired..

Hot tub I just wired..

 

[97catintenn]

I should have thought out my answer more than just jumping in a posting :dunce:

 

[kwired]

View attachment 6614

My guess the actual max load is 40 amps, that would make 50 amp conductor required as well as a 50 amp overcurrent device if this is a continuous load - I think it is - I just asked in another thread if a spa is a continuous load.

They could have labeled it a little less confusing. It does say 6awg and 50 amp breaker. Could really get by with 8 awg if 75? conductors if they did not specify 6 awg.

 

[220/221]

Change the 60 to a 40 and you will have max circuit ampacity of 40 amps and be compliant according to the nameplate.

 

[kwired]

Change the 60 to a 40 and you will have max circuit ampacity of 40 amps and be compliant according to the nameplate.

what about near the bottom of nameplate where it says "connect only to circuit protected by a class A 50 amp GFCI"?

 

[jumper]

Bad way to label imo.

Just put MCA and MOCD with required type would be easier.

 

[jumper]

I should have thought out my answer more than just jumping in a posting :dunce:

nothing wrong with your answer.

 

[stickboy1375]

Bad way to label imo.

Just put MCA and MOCD with required type would be easier.

I don't see how its a bad way to label... All the INFO you need is stated. The only thing bad, is the nonsense requirement for a minimum #6 conductors.