I’m looking at installing a Spa and need a 4 conductor line to the GFCI disconnect. Since #6 line is about $1.00/ft and the run is 100′ this is getting expensive, I was wondering if the fourth conductor (Gnd) has to be with the other three lines.
I have a #4 GND. wire that passes the same area as my disconnect. This is used to ground the copper plumbing and travels straight back to the panel. Could I make my gnd. connection to this line?
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The basic response is that your electrician should know what to do. You do have an electrician handling this, don't you? Some things like adding switches and outlets are generally not a problem but water and electricity don't get along well. Even I would have to deeply read Articles 680 and 250 of the NEC before attenpting this type of work. Do you have a permit? Will it be inspected?
In some circumstances, the principle that some sort of grounding is better than none at all applies. Thus in some circumstances you can tie into another ground wire that returns to the same panel. But the rules for swimming pools are very strict and are not something to cut corners on. If you or your customer can afford a spa, then you or your customer can afford the proper, safe wiring. Note: if this is for a customer, then you have no right to be involved in this type of work. If this is for your own home, only your immediate family and friends are at risk for your possibly inadequate and unsafe wiring.
Since you are pulling new conductors, you would probably be required to pull a new ground wire with them. However, it propably may only have to be a #4.
~Peter
Thanks for the concern. I was not intending to cut corners but in the full scope saving $150.00 for a 6K project only shows how cheap I am. This is for my own home and I have pulled a permit and will have it inspected.
The code has changed since I last did this. I installed a pool at my last house and the 220 line only required a 3 conductor on a GFCI plus a grounding rod used at the pool side for chassis gnd. This too was inspected and passed.
My first mistake was getting misinformation from HD. He said that seperate #6 lines must be pulled including the gnd. I made a call into the city ele. inspector this morning and found that a 6/3 romex can be used. The #10 gnd thats included in the romex is code acceptable ... As far as using the plumbing ground wire, he said it would work in theory but fails code, since all curcuits must have seperate ground within each line.