[Donsambear]

The wireing in the development in wich I live has the neutral and earth ground bonded togeather. I was trying to connect a NEW SPA to a 50 amp GFCI and it kept tripping . I was told by an electrician that it could not be done safely. Is this true ?

[donf]

You have got to be leaving a lot out of this. For example, are you using a GFCI outlet or breaker.

NEC Code requires that any cabling near water be connected to a breaker or outlet be protected by GFCI.

For example, what connects backwards from the GFCI (outlet) if there is one to the main Service Panel. For 50 Amp, I believe you should be using #6 wire.

How are you getting from the main Service panel to the hot tub.

Also, the GFCI may be tripping because it's found either Hot to Ground or Neutral to ground short, so you really need to cull through your wiring to make absolutely sure there are no mistakes.

[Stratmando]

I would use 2 #6, 1 #8, and a 10 for ground. Run 4 conductors, 3/4 inch PVC.
The load side can't have neutral and ground tied together.

[tkrussell]

Donf,
Please take a moment and read the post again:

I was trying to connect a NEW SPA to a 50 amp GFCI and it kept tripping .

And you ask:

For example, are you using a GFCI outlet or breaker.

I would like to suggest you slow down and read questions more carefully.


Donsambear, where exactly is the neutral and equipment ground bonded? It should only be at the box that contains the main breaker or at the meter. From that point on there should be a 4 wire feeder to the panelboard. Each circuit should have an equipment ground that connects to the equipment ground bar, and neutrals only on the neutral bar.

This includes at the GFI breaker. Any connection of the equipment ground and the neutral on the load side of the GFI will cause a trip.

How is this connected? Any chance of a photo?

[donf]

OK by reread the question do you mean the, " 50 Amp GFCI keeps tripping" referring to a GFCI Breaker and not an Outlet. Sorry, next time I will try to keep my eyes open.

If I missed any thing else, please let me know.

[Donsambear]

To; Donf I have 3 overhead wires coming into the meter service pannel. I installewd a 50 amp breaker in that pannel came from that pannel sith3 #4 wires and 1 #6 ground as the Spa manufacturer specified. Installed a 50 amp GFCI in a sPA pannel . Then to the Spa as specified by the manufacturer. When it threw the GFCI breaker I checked the load side with an OHM meter and found continuity Then saw that the neutral incoming wire was on the same lug as the wire going to the earth ground. Also my neighbors on both sides are the same. I was further informed that this was the normar setup back in the 1960s when this neighborhood was wired. And is still in use in europe . Thanks

[shader]

Donsambear-in critical applications such as this you should get your info from tkrussell-he's the expert on this board and is very knowelagable about the NEC code.

[tkrussell]

What does this mean?:
When it threw the GFCI breaker I checked the load side with an OHM meter and found continuity .

Using an ohm-meter on the load side of a breaker will show what? If the breaker is energized, it can damage the meter. Need to now a bit more about this statement.

Any chance of a photo of th GFI spa disconnect? This is where I think the issue is.

The GFI breaker has a neutral lug, sometimes difficult to find, for the load neutral wire. The GFI has a white pigtail that needs to be connected to the line neutral, that must be insulated from the equipment ground. The line equipment ground must ground the box of the disconnect, and connect to the load equipment ground going to the spa control.

If all of this is done correctly, there is a chance there is a ground fault problem in the spa, and the GFI breaker is working as intended.

Try disconnecting the load side of the GFI, all wires, see if the tripping continues.

[Donsambear]

Sorry about that I intended to say I checked continuity from neutral to ground and found continuity . There is no insulation between the neutral strip and the service pannel. As I said before, other neighbors are wired the same and it appears that when this development was first connected to the grid that was legal in this country and still is in Europe. My concern is that I can not use an industrial type CFCI Breaker to protect the Spa as the manufacturer specifies. Is there another type breaker that will work having neutral and ground connected

[tkrussell]

The neutral and ground can be connected together in the service panel, if the main breaker is in that panel.

How is the GFI neutral connected?

No there is no other breaker, must use a GFI breaker for a spa.