How do I install a bond wire for my tub heater?

Question

I have an inline heater for my jacuzzi tub. The "electrical connection" directions say "using a #8 solid copper wire, bond the heater as per approved local bonding codes. A bonding lug is provided on the heater." I found the bonding lug and they provided the wire. But what do I bond it to? It is not shown in the picture and the electrical plug-in is 3-prong. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

I'm not positive, but I think that the wire should run from the lug on the heater to a lug that is either on the pump or on the control box so that the heater is grounded to the rest of the system. The original heater should have been wired the same way.

Answer 2

You need to bond it to ground. the same way the pump is bonded to ground. You need to get that wire to the ground wire somehow. Don't use the tub until you do, it's so the water does not become electrified if there is a short.

Answer 3

First of all BONDING and GROUNDING are not the same thing! Do not connect the bond wire to the grounding conductor!

I assume you are referring to a hydromassage bathtub, and not a hot tub. The term hydromassage bathtub is how the National Electrical Code refers to a tub mouted inside with a water supply and a drain, as apposed to a self contained unit which is referred to as a hot tub. However, if you ARE referring to a hot tub, the principle for bonding is the same.

According to the National Electrical Code 2008,

"All metal piping systems and all grounded metal parts in contact with the circulating water" of the tub are required to be bonded together.

If the water supply lines are copper, they must be bonded, and for that you will need a couple of water piping bonding clamps, but if they are plastic, the only things to bond together are the tub motor and the heater, and any metallic junction boxes that may be associated with this equipment. There should be a bond lug on each component, and you loop the UNSPLICED and unbroken solid conductor of #8 copper from one lug to the other. This establishes an equipotential plane, whereas no one metallic component has a better ground than any other component, preventing any fault currents from traveling across the water. Additionally, all electrical components must have GFCI protection, so make sure you have a GFCI receptacle or circuit breaker protecting the circuits supplying both the heater and the motor.