[dellis]

I recently purchased a hot tub (spa). It calls for 6-3 with ground 240 volt 50 amp gfci breaker installed. I have almost completed the job and have some questions. I installed a 50 amp breaker in a subpanel in my laundry room and ran the 6-3 wire with ground down in the crawl space out to the deck. Should the wire run in the crawl space be in conduit? Once under the deck, I ran the same wire 6-3 NM type B in liquid tight from the 50 amp gfci breaker box to the spa. Is it OK to run this wire from a subpanel instead of the main panel? Also, the connection terminals on the 50 amp gfci breaker ( two hots and one white load neutral) are too small for the 6 gage wire to get a good connection. What is the best way to connect these three wire if the holes are too small for the 6 gage wire to fit into? Do you see anything wrong with what I have done so far? I will appreciate your help!

Thanks,
dellis

[tkrussell]

If the cable is subject to physical damage, conduit is needed. I doubt there is a chance of damage if run in a crawlspace. If the cable runs across the bottom of joists, the cable must be stapled to wood runners that run the length of the cable. The cable cannot run across the bottoms of joists alone. Best to run on the side of a joist or in the corner on top of the foundation.

How on earth did you get 6-3 Romex through liquidtite? What size did you use? Should have been at least 1" , maybe 1-1/4" to fit the cable inside. We never run 6-3 Romex in LT, let alone any conduit. I hope the cable went easy and smooth.


Connecting to a subpanel will depend on the rating of the circuit feeding the subpanel, and the existing load on that panel. A 50 amp circuit for a spa can draw up to 40 amps. You may overload the subpanel if it is rated too small.

The 50 amp GFI breaker should certainly handle #6 wire, find the terminal label on the breaker and/or the instructions for the breaker to confirm the terminals can handle #6.

Do not cut strands off the #6 to make it smaller to fit into the terminal.

There is usually a strip gauge on the side of the breaker to show how long to strip the wire. Do not twist the strands, try to keep them exactly how they are before you strip the insulation.

[dellis]

I used 3/4 inch liquidtight. It wasn't easy and I could only do about 7 feet. I then did an additional 7 feet from the opposite direction and put electrical tape where they joined. This is the only part of the circuit that is exposed to the weather and it is under a new deck. Do you think this will be OK? If you don't use 6-3 in conduit, what do you use in an outdoor situation? I am not at home now, but I think the subpanel is 200 amp. Service and the box is now full. I did twist the wire before trying to fit it into the connectors on the 50 amp gfci breaker. I will try your advice and redo them for a tight connection. Think I will take the breaker out and turn upside down so I can see the terminals good, make the connections and then reinstall the breaker. Thanks for your help.

[tkrussell]

Sorry , but I don't know why I said to not twist the wires.

Twisting the strands some is fine. Just don't overdo it.

I do this problem solving all day, so having a senior moment here, no disrespect to seniors,soon to be one myself.

The taped coupling to join the liquidtite shouts a Do It Yourself did this.

But fortunately all your using the liquidtite is for a sleeve and not as a true raceway. Support the liquidtite every four feet with a good conduit strap and this is fine.

I commend your work to get that cable through, I know the how this stuff reacts and mixes. No harm done but I bet you won't try that again.

Don't worry about the cable in the LT, the cable is tough and the inside of the LT is very smooth.

Rx is not allowed outdoors.

What is normally done is the Rx stops at a JB near the outside, and then LT can be run, or conduit, whichever is appropriate to the tub. Separate wires are cut to fit and pulled in through the conduit or LT to the tub. Sometimes a cable that looks like Rx, called UF cable, is run.

If the panel is 200 amp you should be fine.

[dellis]

Thanks