What guage wire do i need?

Question

I am installing a hot-tub and I have to run a wire from my house to my garage. I will run the following on this circuit: 120 Volt/11AMPS Pump, 120 Volts/8 AMPS Blower, 240 Volt/25 Amp Heater. I'd also like to run a few lights, a stereo, but nothing else that is a significant draw.

Thanks!!!

Answer 1

A sub-panel in the garage will be the most convenient solution. One large cable off of a 50 amp 220 volt breaker installed in the main panel to the garage with a 4 wire  8 gauge cable suitable for direct burial. Of course this would have to be run, in the suitable areas, in conduit to protect it. A grounding rod installed at the garage to ground to. This would give you enough power at 80% of the breaker to have a little left over for the lights and stereo. Once you install the sub panel then the power for the individual circuits are then tapped off with the appropriate wire sizes as mentioned in other posts. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Ron has it right.

A 3 wire +G. circuit from a 60A. 2P. breaker in your main panel,

(3 #6 Cu. + G.) to a 60A. sub-panel, (load center), in the garage,

should do it. (Get at least 6 circuits, maybe more,

you'll use them eventually.)

Use a 20A. 1P. gfci C.B. (2 #12 +G.) for your pump.

Use a 20A. 1P. gfci C.B. (2 #12 +G.) for the blower.

(It can serve an additional outlet or two as well.

Use a 40A. 2P. gfci C.B. (3 #8 +G.) for your heater.

The hot tub should be very well grounded, even with gfci protection.

I'd suggest a separated bare #6 ground wire to the ground bus of

our sub-panel.

Do be sure you run all wiring, especially that outdoor wiring,

according to Code with proper weather proof enclosures etc.

A hot-tub is an area where wet people are especially vulnerable.

I question the need for both a blower and a heater.

Are you sure you're not reading a spec. for a gas heater option?

Answer 3

You really should run three circuits to the garage.

The first would be a three conductor with ground 10 gauge connected to a double 30 amp breaker. This would be for the heater.

The second should be a two conductor with ground in 14 gauge connected to a single 15 amp breaker. This would be for the pump. The third would be same as second and would be for everything else and could handle up to 1800 watts total ( amps x volts)