I'm finishing my basement and am wondering what type of wiring I need to run for a future, outside hot-tub? I've spoken with two electricians in my area and both said "heavy guage" and nothing more. I feel they are both overpriced and will empty my bank account very quickly if hired! Any advice on what type of wiring to buy at Home Depot? It will be run through my unfinished basement ceiling to an outside wall. I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.
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- Wiring for future hot-tub
Most hot tubs require a 120/240V 50A GFCI circuit. This can be accomplished by running 6/3 w/G from your service panel to a spa panel that contains the 50A GFCI breaker. Wiring from the spa panel to the tub should be three 6ga THWN (red, black, white) and one green 10ga THWN, all in conduit. These are US requirements.
One possible way to do this is to just run an empty conduit (either metal EMT or plastic, 3/4" or 1") from the main breaker box to the outside location where you will someday connect the hot tub.
That's pretty easy to do when remodeling, and very cheap. Especially if you leave it empty, and don't have to buy any wire. When the time comes that you want to install the hot tub, then all the electrician has to do is pull the appropriate wires thru that conduit -- an easy task. And, of course, connect them to a breaker in the main box and an appropriate disconnect switch on the outside of your house.
Thus you haven't invested anything in buying wires you're not using right now, and when you do install a hot tub, the electrician can use the right size wire & breaker needed for that one.
That's pretty easy to do when remodeling, and very cheap. Especially if you leave it empty, and don't have to buy any wire. When the time comes that you want to install the hot tub, then all the electrician has to do is pull the appropriate wires thru that conduit -- an easy task. And, of course, connect them to a breaker in the main box and an appropriate disconnect switch on the outside of your house.
Thus you haven't invested anything in buying wires you're not using right now, and when you do install a hot tub, the electrician can use the right size wire & breaker needed for that one.
