3 Wire to 4 Wire for Hot Tub

[Cutterpup]

Hi I know that this is not a T&TTT type question, but hopefully someone can explain this to me. My new(to me) hot tub requires a 4 wire hook up.. that is black 120v, red 120v, white neutral and green ground. The main panel in the house has the white and green ground going to the same bus bar. So far every sparktecian has said to me to run the white and the ground all the way back to the main panel, HOWEVER the hot tub is being run off a sub panel that has only the 3 wires in it (red/black/green) then to a GFI disconnect breaker which has the 4 wires. So the QUESTION is since the white and ground are the same in the main can I run the white only to the sub panel or do I have to run it another 30 feet and connect it to the same bus as the ground wire?

Thanks and I will invite the gang over for some stargazing and liquid libations

Dan

[Miriam C.]

You need an electrician!!! Or an experienced installer.

[planovet]

I wish my tear had a hot tub

[bobhenry]

I wish my tear had a hot tub

Get the optional gasketed screw on cover.

I didn't and every time I stop my teardrop the hot tub slops over

[jeep_bluetj]

That sub panel is wired wrong for what you're doing (240v only, used for stuff like an air conditioners. You need 120/120 split phase for a hot tub.. i.e. you need a neutral.)

On a 110v branch circuit with a GFI you _can_ omit the ground, but I surely wouldn't on a hot tub. (And I'd need to look it up what is really required NEC wise, but it's FULL OF WATER! Ground it well, use a gfi)

You can NEVER omit the neutral, and hook it to ground. EVER. Even if it's wired that way in your main panel (which IS correct, but only there. Not in a subpanel, nowhere else is neutral connected to ground.).

Neutral carries current (and most definitely will with your hot tub).
Ground only carries current when something went horribly wrong.

ALSO, don't think about using the "green" as neutral -- that's veryveryvery wrong. Greeen or bare is ALWAYS ground, and cannot be relabled.

A hot tub needs a 4 wire feed, sized appropriately, with a GFI. Never ever ever run a hottub or pool without a GFI.

I'd agree with getting an electrician. You really don't want to sit in a miswired hot tub.

[eamarquardt]

Listen to Jeff, he speak with stright tounge!!!!!!!!!

Cheers,

Gus

[atkryder]

Jeff is very correct in what he says!!

You really need a GFCI breaker installed directly installed in your main panel then a branch circuit ran from that breaker to your hot tub! I have a 2008 nec code book if you want to know exactly what is says.


Seth