What you need to Know to Prepare for the Wiring of your 220V, 230V, or 240V Hot Tub

If you’re thinking about purchasing a home spa, you probably have some questions about the difference between 110v, 220v, 230v, and 240v hot tubs and how to prepare for the direct wiring of a spa. This FAQ provides the answers.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOT TUB CONNECTIONS?

There are only two ways to connect a hot tub to power. The first is through a low 110v connection that simply plugs into a wall outlet, and the second is through a 220v, 230v, or 240v connection directly to your home’s central circuit breaker box.

In North America, power enters a home at 240v and is split into two 120v circuits that go to your wall outlets. It’s important to know that these numbers represent the voltage potential; the true force of current can vary by as much 5 percent lower or higher. This means that 220v, 230v, and 240v are interchangeable terms and that most plug-and-play spas can connect to 110v, 115v, and 120v outlets.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A WIRED HOT TUB AND A 110V PLUG-AND-PLAY HOT TUB?

You may think that an advantage of wiring a hot tub directly to your home’s circuit breaker box is an increase in the force of the water through the spa jets, but that’s not the case. Spa pumps function the same through a 110v connection as they do through a wired connection. The real advantage of a wired connection is an increase in heat output. The many directly wired Hot Spring® hot tubs will heat more quickly than one plugged into a wall outlet because direct connection boosts heating power from 1 kilowatt to 4 or 6 kilowatts.

The advantage of a plug-and-play spa is convenience: It can be placed anywhere there is an outlet and it can simply be unplugged if moving the spa to a new location. The Hot Spring TX spa from the Hot Spot® Collection is a plug and play hot tub.

IS THE EXTRA HEATING POWER OF A DIRECTLY-WIRED HOT TUB WORTH IT?

There are a couple of very good reasons that you would opt for the extra heating power of a directly connected hot tub:

• You live in an environment with cold winters or extreme temperature changes. One of the most satisfying aspects of owning a hot tub is enjoying its heat on a snowy day or, for those who live in desert environments where temps can drop quickly after dark, on very chilly evenings. Directly connecting your spa to the power supply will help your heater keep up with cold external temperatures.
• You want to cool down your hot tub and heat it back up frequently. A wired hot tub will heat more quickly, preventing the need to wait a long time before enjoying the spa again. With the CoolZone™ hot tub cooling system, from Hot Spring, you can cool your spa water and heat it up again in just a matter of hours.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW TO CONVERT MY HOME SPA TO A 220V, 230V, OR 240V HOT TUB?

Converting your plug-in home spa to a wired 220v, 230v, or 240v spa is a multi-step process that begins with planning the route from your home’s main circuit box to the hot tub’s location. There are many options when choosing the perfect location for your spa, and a lot of landscaping ideas for integrating your spa into your backyard seamlessly. There are also specific installation requirements to consider.

Conversion requires running conduit and wiring from the circuit box to a Ground Fault Connection Interrupt (GFCI) circuit breaker between the hot tub and the power source. The GFCI must be housed in a weatherproof box located no less than five feet away from the hot tub and clearly visible from it. Possible GFCI box mounting places are on the outside wall of your home, on a deck post, or on a post you anchor into the ground. Your local hot tub dealer can convert your spa during installation or help you plan your conversion if you decide to do it later.

IMPORTANT: All electrical connections to the control box must be accomplished by a qualified electrician in accordance with the National Electrical Code and with any local electrical codes in effect at the time and place of installation.

The main difference between a 110v and a wired hot tub connection really comes down to how you will use your spa. Those who use their hot tub mainly for relaxing soaks, hydrotherapy, and wellness benefits will be happy with a plug-and-play hot tub. Those who use their hot tub often and in all types of temperature conditions will greatly appreciate the quick heating power direct wiring provides. No matter which you choose, you can count on your new spa to enhance your life.