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What Size Breaker Do I Need for a Hot Tub? (Explained)

Choosing the right sized breaker for your hot tub is important to provide it with an adequate electric power supply.

It will also help to prevent any electrical damage and keep the hot tub functional. In today’s article, we will discuss the size of breaker needed for a hot tub. 

What size breaker do I need for a hot tub?

It is recommended to use a 50 amps breaker for your hot tub. Usually, in most households, the voltage requirements are 220V to 240V, so a standard 40 amps breaker will do the job as well. But you can use 50 to 60 amps breakers because they are commonly used by most homeowners.

Generally, there are different types of hot tubs available in the market which require different breakers to adjust to their wattage requirement.

Although most homeowners have voltage requirements of 220V to 240V in their house, the voltage shouldn’t be an issue. You just need to look after the wattage that is required to operate the hot tub.

In most cases, 20 amps or 30 amps breakers will be able to operate a hot tub without any issue. Sometimes, it is better to read the instruction manual from the manufacturer company because they recommend breakers of specific amperage.

It helps to follow their instruction because even if the manual instructs you to install a breaker that has much higher amps than the specs, you should follow.

After all, it may be for using the other features. Below is a brief discussion on breakers for the different sized hot tubs:

110v hot tub: 

Generally, the 110V hot tubs have the plug and play feature. These small hot tubs require a 15 amps breaker to operate. In some cases, the requirements may reach up to 20 amps.

220v hot tub: 

It is highly recommended to use a 50 amps breaker for a 220V hot tub because it is the most commonly used breaker for tubs in this range.

240v hot tub: 

You can rely on 240V hot tub by using breakers that range from 40 amps to 60 amps. Make sure to use a 2-pole GFCI-protected breaker for maximum safety.

32-amp hot tub: 

You simply need to use a 32 amps breaker for a 32 amps hot tub that has an isolator switch so that you don’t face any trouble while operating the hot tub. 

40 amp hot tub: 

It is recommended to use a 50 amps breaker for the 40 amps hot tub with a GFCI disconnect breaker panel. This will provide you with safety and efficiency as well as prevent the hot tub from getting damaged due to overload or short circuit.

Can a hot tub run on a 30 amp breaker?

Yes, some hot rubs can be operated using a 30 amps breaker without any issue because they were made to become compatible with the 30 amps breaker.

In addition to that, the 30 amps breaker will suit the hot tubs only when the basic requirement for breakers in the particular hot tub is 30 amps or less than that.

That is why it is recommended to use breakers of a little bit higher amperage than the requirement of the hot tub. In that case, you can also follow the user manual of the hot tub manufacturer company.

In most of the user manuals, the breaker amperage value is mentioned. This will help to understand the basic requirement of the breaker for the hot tub and help to run the hot tub without any hassle.

In addition to that, you may see that the breaker requirement seems higher than the specs. That is because the extra amps will be used in other features of the hot tub.

Is a 50 amp breaker enough for a hot tub?

A 50 amps breaker is considered the ideal and standard-sized breaker for a hot tub because most house owners tend to use a 50 amps breaker for the hot tubs.

In addition to that, most of the hot tubs available on the market are quite compatible with the 50 amps breaker.

Choosing the right-sized breaker for the hot tub is important. A right-sized breaker will help to provide an uninterrupted power supply to the appliance and prevent the hot tub from getting damaged due to any type of electrical overload or short circuit.

The breaker will be an efficient and convenient solution for the hot tubs. Generally, a standard-sized 50 amps breaker is needed to run a hot tub.

Because if the appliance faces any short circuit or overload, the wire may melt down and create a chance of potential fire. So, a breaker will be able to balance the power supply smoothly.

What are the jacuzzi hot tub electrical requirements? 

The electrical requirements for the jacuzzi hot tub are not that much complicated. Although it is from a different brand the requirements are almost the same compared to the standard hot tub.

The most important part to consider when installing a jacuzzi hot tub is the voltage requirements, amperage requirements, and the outlets. It is important to choose the right type of electrical equipment when installing the jacuzzi hot tub.

It is important to install the breaker that is instructed to use in the manual so that the hot tub does not ace any type of issues when operating. Below is a brief discussion about the electrical requirements for a jacuzzi hot tub:

Voltage requirements:

Generally, the average voltage requirement for a jacuzzi hot tub should range from 120 volts to 240 volts. In most cases, the swim spas require exactly 240 volts of electric power supply to operate properly.  

Amperage requirements: 

The standard amperage requirement for a jacuzzi should be 50 amps. Generally, the smaller-sized hot tubs require 13 amps power supply. On the other hand, the larger hot tubs require a 30 to 50 amps power supply to operate.

GFCI certified outlet:

Finally, the most important part of installing a jacuzzi hot tub is the wiring and outlets.

Many homeowners recommend installing 120 volts outdoor GFCI outlet. The outlet should be at least 10-15 feet away from the hot tub for safety.

Do I need a GFCI outlet for the hot tub? 

Yes, it is highly recommended to use a GFCI outlet for a hot tub. Many people recommend using 120 volts outdoor GFCI outlets to use for the hot tubs.

It is also advised to have the outlet placed 10 to 15 feet away from the hot tub to ensure the safe operation of the appliances. Wiring and outlets are the most important parts of installing a hot tub.

In addition to that, the wiring will ensure maximum safety for the hot tub and the power supply. Generally, you need to be careful about the outlet as well.

These are some important components that have high importance when it comes to safety. Due to overload or short circuits of power supply, the wires can get overheated. As a result, there is a chance that the wire might get melted and cause a fire.

That is why you need to use high-quality electrical components for the hot tub to operate accurately. 

How to wire a hot tub breaker? 

Wiring is considered one of the most important parts of installing the hot tub. Without proper wiring, it can cause serious damage and expense for your hot tub to repair. In some cases, the wires can get Due to an overload of electricity and meltdown.

As a result, the wires can cause serious trouble, such as Catching Fire. In addition to that, there is a chance of allocating electrocuted due to a short circuit if the wiring is not done properly.

That is why it is highly recommended to wire a hot tub breaker properly to avoid any type of damage. The work can be done in a few steps. Simply follow the steps below to wire a hot tub breaker properly:

Shut off the power: 

The first thing you need to do when you wire a hot tub is to shut off the power of your entire house. This will ensure safety.

Install the breaker: 

Once you have turned off the power now you can work on the installation of the breaker. Install the circuit breaker on the panel carefully. Check if all the weldings have been done correctly. 

Pull the wire to the outlet: 

Once you have installed the breaker and connected the wires to it, now you have to pull the wire to the outlet for connecting it to the power. Once you are done, turn on the power.

Final Thoughts

Generally, it is recommended to use a 50-amp circuit breaker for the hot tub. Depending on the voltage requirements in the household standard, a 50 to 60 amps breaker will do the job as well. It is recommended to install a breaker that has amperage higher than its specs.