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#6 Ground Wire? Hot Springs Gleam Requirements


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My house is pre-wired for a spa. Trouble is, that the wiring is 6/3 and behind sheetrock (of course it is). With 6/3 comes 6 gauge hot in red, 6 gauge hot in black, a 6 gauge neutral, and a bare 10 gauge ground. The installation directions (http://www.olympichottub.com/download/limelight_owners_manual_2013.pdf) for the Gleam spa indicates a #6 ground wire. Am I stuck ripping open my wall?

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Just as a follow-on - I measured my wire length from my main electrical service panel and came in at 34 feet. From http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html?material=copper&wiresize=3.277&voltage=110&phase=ac&noofconductor=1&distance=34&distanceunit=feet&amperes=50&x=64&y=13, it would seem that the electrical carrying ability of #10 wire is greater at this distance than #6 wire has at 100 feet. The Gleam installation manual calls for #10 wire for distances up to 100 feet.

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  • 3 weeks later...

If wired properly, the ground wire does not sustain current to the heaters, motors, or other electrical components. It's there to minimize shock hazard in case of an electrical malfunction and is only live for an instant (until the breaker trips).

So, it's a matter of safety and code compliance. To my understanding, that would be reasonably low risk, especially if you have a GFCI between the cable in question and the spa. I'd certainly spend a few bucks to have an electrician check it out before opening my walls.

I do find your instructions about using #10 ground up to, but not over,100 feet, a bit confusing. It's length should not make that much difference and what about #8

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I'm not sure you're reading the schematic correctly. The Gleam, with a 3 breaker service, requires 6 gauge from your main panel in the house, to the sub-panel that houses the spa breakers, which is mounted wherever. In the sub-panel, there are either 3 breakers (60 amp service) or two breakers (50 amp service), whichever you prefer, it can do either. The 10 gauge run is for the 30 Amp 240v breaker in the sub-panel to the Spa, which is good for up to 50 feet. the 6 guage run (from your main house panel to the seperate subpanel sold with the spa) is good for up to 100 feet.

arrowatertest is correct in that a 10g ground should be safe from the subpanel, to the spa terminal block, but with the 60 AMP service, but I believe 6 gauge ground is NEC code. 10 g ground is NEC complaint with a 50 amp service from the sub-panel to the spa. Check local codes to be sure

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