Outdoor Hot Tub Electrical Requirements

If you are shopping for a hot tub, you may be curious as to what the outdoor hot tub electrical requirements are for your region. It can seem a little daunting to have water and electricity in such close proximity and for good reason. Therefore, it is essential to only let qualified electricians and contractors install your hot tub and not attempt the DIY route.

In the article below, we will discuss what the important electrical requirements are for your hot tub and how to make sure that you and your family can stay safe.

Important Hot Tub Electrical Info

In North America, hot tubs operate on a wire ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) that is usually between 220 to 240 volts with a 40 to 60 AMP circuit. It is important to make sure that the electrician installing your hot tub is familiar with the National Electrical Code as well as any municipal requirements.

As a new hot tub owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that you and your electrician have fully read all instructions prior to installing. The electrical requirements for installing an outdoor hot tub where the wire run is less than 15 metres (50ft) are:

• The hot tub must be connected to a dedicated circuit which is protected by a two-pole, class ‘A’ GFCI.
• Only use copper conductors
• All electrical plugs, outlets, lighting, and equipment within 1.5 metres (5ft) must be GFCI protected.
• The ground terminal must be connected to the grounding means provided in the electrical supply service panel with a continuous copper wire equivalent which meets the minimum size requirements.
• There will be at least two marked bonding lugs on the external surface or inside the supply terminal box. To reduce the risk of electrical shock, connect the local common bonding grid in the area of the hot tub to these terminals with an insulated or bare copper conductor not smaller than No.6 AWG for Canada and No.8 AWG for the United States.
• All hardware such as drains, rails, ladders or other metal components within 3 metres (10ft) of the hot tub must be bonded to the equipment grounding bus with copper conductors no smaller that No.6 AWG.

Outdoor Hot Tub Electrical Tips

There are a couple of other tips that you should be aware of before installing your outdoor hot tub. First, make sure that you never install your hot tub under or near power lines. This is a direct violation of the National Electrical Code. but more concerning is that the practice is simply unsafe. Also, if you are planning on using any underground wiring near your hot tub location make sure to consult a contractor and an engineer that is very knowledgeable with hot tub electrical systems.

Now that you know all about outdoor hot tub electrical requirements, download a hot tub buyer’s guide to learn more about our energy efficient models.