Check out some similar questions!

Jon Morton · Oct 27, 2007, 05:41 PM

All right, I'd like to thank you guys ahead of time for the help.

As you can tell from the title, I'm trying to figure out a way to hook up our new hot tub (this tub can be either 110 or 220, 220 will obviously be more powerful). I don't have any room left on the service so I was going to hook the tub up to the Air Conditioner and just make sure it's not running when the pumps are on.. Problem with this idea is that I opened up my box for the air conditioner and found a 6 gauge black and white wire, and that was it (had a small ground also).

I wasn't aware that a 220 can be run this way. Obviously since it is 6 gauge then it's a strong current. Would it be possible to piggytail off it and fool the hot tub into thinking it's a 220? On a side note when you hook the tub up as a 110 you just make a bridge from the one hot to the other (does this make sense), so I figure I can BASICALLY do the same thing and just have that much more power.

WILL THIS WORK? :)

Thanks again, Jon

tkrussell · Oct 27, 2007, 09:01 PM

There is no "fooling" with electricity.

What is the voltage and amp load or wattage of the tub?

The largest load of a hot tub is not the pumps, but the 240 volt electric heaters.

Check your panel to see if it will accept tandem or half size breakers. Sharing a circuit breaker as you mention is not a problem, just not typically done.

More importantly, what is the size of your Main? It also needs to be able to handle the load of the tub.

Jon Morton · Oct 28, 2007, 01:04 PM

Well like I said the tub CAN be run 110 if it needs to (it's not that big). If I run it with the air conditioner feed then would I just run the ONE hot and then bridge it? I would be doing this with the spa box AND the tub itself.

Also (like I said earlier) the air conditioner only has two wires, that would HAVE to be ONE hot and ONE Neutral right?

Thanks, Jon

tkrussell · Oct 28, 2007, 02:51 PM

I follow you up to "bridge it". Sure you can use one leg of a breaker, and only use one appliance at a time. Black and white neutral will get you 120 volts. I am more concerned with the amp rating of the breaker, and what is needed for the tub.

Jon Morton · Oct 28, 2007, 05:09 PM

Hmmm.. Let me figure that out and I'll get back to you :)

labman · Oct 28, 2007, 05:46 PM

It is very seldom that anybody needs to add to tkrussell's answer. I think I am reading your question differently than he is. I think he will agree that the A/C likely is 240 volts, 2 hots, a ground, and no neutral. Your hot tub likely needs a hot, a neutral, and a second hot could be used. So the A/C has the 240, but no neutral for the hot tub components needing 120 volts.

tkrussell · Oct 29, 2007, 02:54 AM

He wants to know if he can use the 2 pole circuit breaker, as there is no more room in the panel for another breaker just for the hot tub.

Jon Morton · Oct 29, 2007, 05:50 AM

So the AC unit is two hots and no neutral? I would ultimately like to run two hots to the tub, but then I won't have a neutral obviously. I wasn't aware something would work without neutral, apparently the AC unit does?

Jon

tkrussell · Oct 29, 2007, 06:36 AM

You really need to decide what the tub will be, 120 or 240 volts.

Also need to know the amp or wattage draw, asked once still no answer.

First you want 120 volts, which is hot and neutral.

Now you state "ultimately like to run two hots to the tub".

Keep in mind, many 240 volt hot tubs also need a neutral.

And yes, there are many 240 volt appliances that do not need a neutral, such as AC.

Pick out a tub and we can go from there. Seems your trying make something your not really sure of and make it fit to who knows what.

We need to get specifics to provide a valid accurate answer, otherwise this is just a guessing game.

Jon Morton · Nov 3, 2007, 04:33 PM

All right, (again I appreciate all the help)

First off, I have a 100 amp service. I attached a picture of it so you can get an idea. The box in the upper right hand corner is for the air conditioner.

I couldn't really find what the "amp or wattage draw" is. All I could find is this.
Your 220 volt spa pack will require a 50 amp dedicated GFCI, load neutral, circuit breaker. Your 110 Volt spa pack requires a 20 amp dedicated outlet."

Hope this helps..

Jon[IMG]

[/IMG]

Washington1 · Nov 11, 2007, 08:48 PM

From what I'm seeing, I would upgrade the service to 200 amps, and run a dedicated circuit to the Hot tub. That's just me!

tkrussell · Nov 12, 2007, 04:56 AM

I have to agree with Washington. You won't be able to have much else on in the home with the tub running.

The tub will need a 50 amp breaker here at the panel, and a 50 amp GFI at the tub. This generally can be #6-3 with ground NM-B Romex cable, except if any cable will be exposed outdoors. Then liquidtite flexible conduit will be needed.

The hot tub will need two hots, a neutral, and the ground, which the #63- cable will provide. Then in addition you need a #12-2 cable and a 20 amp fuse or breaker for the spa package.

You can try connecting the new tub to this panel and take your chances.