SPA / Hot Tub Panel for 220 or something else?

If it plugs in, post it here.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
tiramisu
Swill Maker
Posts: 489
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2018 3:03 pm

SPA / Hot Tub Panel for 220 or something else?

Post by tiramisu »

220 power for Boiler.
Is spa/hot tub sub panel the way to go?

Used spa panels can be had for around 200$ at 220 50 amps GFCI which is overkill for my 5500 watt heater
but gives me room for a second element if I ever lose my mind which does seem to happen fairly often.

Setting up power for my still has been a real pain point for my little project.
On one hand I am tempted to use 2 -110v elements and give up on the wiring project
but on the other having 220 opens me up to all sorts of machine tools in the garage that I would really like to play with.

thoughts appreciated.

Thanks,
t.
User avatar
elbono
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 610
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2021 1:05 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee, USA

Re: SPA / Hot Tub Panel for 220 or something else?

Post by elbono »

Where I'm at NEW 50A spa panels are $120 at the big box stores.

I'm starting my journey into electric heat, I put the 50A GFCI upstairs in my main panel to feed a 6 space sub panel downstairs in the garage/basement. The GFCI breaker is the cost, they were out of bare breakers so I bought a spa panel. Either was $120, I ended up with an empty box. I "back fed" the sub panel with a regular 50A breaker and put in another 50A breaker to feed the tig welder I'm in the process of getting to let me modify my boiler to run electric. The remaing two spaces will be for the heat. "Spaces" are for one pole breakers (120v) double pole breaker (220v) take two "spaces"

Short version:
That's very expensive for a 50A GFCI in my part of the world.

You can put the GFCI anywhere in the chain, anything downstream of it is protected.

Plan ahead, allow for options.
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
User avatar
elbono
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 610
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2021 1:05 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee, USA

Re: SPA / Hot Tub Panel for 220 or something else?

Post by elbono »

tiramisu wrote: Sat Aug 20, 2022 1:55 pm On one hand I am tempted to use 2 -110v elements and give up on the wiring project
I noticed/thought about this later. I don't know your plan for this but it needs GFCI protection too. 110v circuits have one of the two wires in a 220v circuit are just as dangerous. If the 110v receptacles (plugs) are on the same circuit (breaker) you don't get anymore power available than just wiring them on the same cord..
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
tiramisu
Swill Maker
Posts: 489
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2018 3:03 pm

Re: SPA / Hot Tub Panel for 220 or something else?

Post by tiramisu »

I see hot tub sub panels with no breakers at the big box store home depot for 120CAD
But with 50 amp gfci breaker that's 244CAD for eaton

200 used on fleabay with shipping for Square-D.
User avatar
Oldvine Zin
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 2414
Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2015 9:16 pm
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: SPA / Hot Tub Panel for 220 or something else?

Post by Oldvine Zin »

tiramisu wrote: Sat Aug 20, 2022 7:06 pm I see hot tub sub panels with no breakers at the big box store home depot for 120CAD
But with 50 amp gfci breaker that's 244CAD for eaton

200 used on fleabay with shipping for Square-D.
Wow that same panel with the breaker here in the US is only $109USD :crazy:

Stay safe
OVZ
User avatar
elbono
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 610
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2021 1:05 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee, USA

Re: SPA / Hot Tub Panel for 220 or something else?

Post by elbono »

Is amazon an option?

Unless there's some crazy trade war going on you should be able to get a new one for about 150 CAD.
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
Post Reply