Joshua Peterson with Peterson Electric in Wheat Ridge Colorado for a customer of ours. We were called out to look at some wiring for a spa that has been wired in the past. We were trying to see if that old code from 20 years ago and the wire and everything was correct, in order to met the new requirements for their spa. One thing I want to point out here is the way the power comes in. It basically comes in underground to a long body, plastic PVC, and it comes into the tub. It comes in a UF cable, an 8/3. It is really good cable and is approved for underground. It resists water and sunlight, so that is why it is good 20 years later. The last guy didn’t measure the wire right, so he thought that this would be okay to tape up a bunch of wire nuts, extend the wires freelance into the control box. The problem is that the control box is metal and has a couple of ground points, all that was eliminated when the motor was changed, so we didn’t have a bonding for the motor or control box. If that ground faulted without any ground fault connect, the person would have probably ended bonded in the tub in the water and kill them, electrocute them. The other issue is no disconnect within site, so the breaker panel is in the garage behind a barrier, a wall and door, so there is no way to service this safely. The code states in 680.40 how the disconnect has to be within site, but not closer than 5 foot. We also have a couple of code requirements if there is any metal surrounding, not a wheel barrel, but a permanent structure we would have to bond it. This is within 10 foot and it is metal and it is a clothes line, so this would have to be bonded or removed. Also talks about lights around a hot tub, anything 5 foot and 12 foot above, so you have to be aware of how the lights are hanging, either festoon or permant lights. You don’t want anyone reach up and change a light bulb in the tub. Great example of how to replace and put in a new tub. Keep in mind, when you have a tub delivered the most important thing is which way your seat faces that you want to look at the view. Once you have the view decided, then think about what way the cover will lift up and privacy. Then at that point, the electrician will know where the connection points should be to run the conduit. Otherwise, you may have to re-wire it. It is better to place your tub and then have us re-wire it and then fill it and we test it.
