GFCI Circut Breaker for Bathtub Jacuzzi
#1
12-06-04, 06:38 AM
GFCI Circut Breaker for Bathtub Jacuzzi
Have a new home with a jacuzzi bathtub and the pump/motor is on a dedicated 20Amp GFCI circut. The switch is air pressure controlled with no wiring whatsoever. It the tub is fiberglass and the switch is plastic, then what/where is the risk of of being shocked while in the tub? Thought through it both ways and can't come up with why. Called our city inspector-- that was like talking to someone at home depot or lowes. Anyone no the exact reason. Understand please that I am not thinking about changing it to a regular breaker, just want to understand the methodology. Thanks.
#2
12-06-04, 07:39 AM
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I'm not sure why you are asking. But is the faucet metal? Is there anything metal within several feet of the tub? Also remember that the GFCI protects you not only while you are in the tub but also after you step out of the tub.
I'm not surprised you get little help from the building inspectors. They are not there to explain electrical theory to you or to satisfy your curiosity. They are usually plenty busy with other things. And unlike HD or Lowes, they're not soliciting your business so they don't really have to be nice to you (although many inspectors I've talked to are very helpful and nice).
I'm not surprised you get little help from the building inspectors. They are not there to explain electrical theory to you or to satisfy your curiosity. They are usually plenty busy with other things. And unlike HD or Lowes, they're not soliciting your business so they don't really have to be nice to you (although many inspectors I've talked to are very helpful and nice).
#4
12-06-04, 08:06 AM
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Tub may not always have plain water.
If you've ever had a doctor tell you to soak some part of your body in Epsom salts then you can figure it out from there. Many bath additives contain conductive salts. The now conductive water is flowing through an energized pump. If the pump develops a fault to it's shaft, impeller or volute casing there will be a voltage gradient through the water. If there is metallic drain plumbing or any other path for the current to return to the source electrocution or electrical paralysis drowning could occur.
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Tom H
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Tom H
#6
12-06-04, 08:22 AM
Thanks, just to be absolutely clear, the issue was not whether or not to replace the breaker with a GFCI. Just trying to learn and I did. The tub works fine and is not in need of a breaker. The whole salt thing is pretty interesting. That post is what I like about this forum.
#7
12-06-04, 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by shreveporteric
The tub works fine and is not in need of a breaker.
#8
12-06-04, 12:23 PM
guys, guys, guys, the price or the question of whether or not to use a GFCI was not the focus. The ways that you could get shocked/electr. were and they have been discussed. To be clear, again, I was not looking for justification to replace it with a regular breaker down in the future. It works fine and is not broken. Just trying to learn. I am not one of those guys who is penny wise and pound foolish and totally agree that life is priceless.
#9
12-06-04, 02:06 PM
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Not a problem. I have seen some scarry posts here from uninformed people cutting corners which put not only their own lives, but those of others in danger. Many times these same people argue about doing things according to the NEC vs. the their (dangerous) way. Many have obviously no experience with electricity and yet defend their uninformed and unsafe opinions to the point of arguing with the professionals who donate their time and advice. It suffices to say that you have a mixture of electricity and water and therefore requires GFCI protection to prevent electricution from electrical faults. NEC section 680-70 requires that a hydromasage tub's electrical system is required to be supplied from a GFCI protected circuit. In addition, any metal piping needs to be bonded to the grounding system.
