[mooncow321]

My parents house had a restoration company install in the garage a 220V outlet in anticipation of a hot tub. What I found there was a 110V outlet with one red conductor attached to the left side and one black conductor attached to the right side. There is a ground wire but no white wire. In the panel, the red and black are not connected to breakers.

Why would someone have done this?

Can I plug the red and black into breakers, and install a 220V outlet by pulling a white from a nearby JB?

Other than running a new 3 conductor wire, what options do I have?

 

[rjniles]

What is the voltage requirement, straight 240 or 120/240?
What is the amps required?
What size wire did they run?
Is the wire a cable or is it conduit?
Is there a plug on the hot tub?
What is the plug configuration?

If it is a straight 240 receptacle, it does not require a white neutral wire.

 

[mooncow321]

I'm unsure, the hot tub apparently can be used on 120 or 240.
30 amps.
They ran 12 gauge.
It's a red cable 2 conductor 1 ground.
The hot tub has a plug, not sure how it achieves using different voltages; if it has two plugs or what.

Edit: Straight 240 doesn't need a white. I've learned something today. thanks rjniles.

The outlet that was installed looks normal (vertical openings)

 

[rjniles]

Are you in Canada?

#12 is not rated for 30 amps. If the tub can be 120 or 240 there is a dual amperage rating.

Show us a picture of the receptacle and the rating plate on the tub.

 

[mooncow321]

I found this:

The GFCI is in the 120V cord. The cord comes out of the equipment base on the left side. The outlet that you connect to must be rated at 120 volts and 15 amperes.
Note: Hot tub is convertible to 220V. If you choose to convert to 220V, you must install a 30 or 40 amp GFCI breaker. Minimum wire size is #8.

I've emailed the supplier but it remains unclear whether or not this hot tub can run strictly on 240v (no white wire), although I'm starting to doubt it. And I was wrong, the outlet was a 240 outlet in the garage.

If we go for the strictly 240v application, I would need two 30 amp breakers, a new run of #8 2 conductor, and a 30 amp gfci outlet to plug into. Right?

If we go for 120v application, I would need to bring a white into the mix, right? Not sure the best way to do that...

Edit: Is it a bad idea to run a separate white? The run of the white would be longer than the red and black.

 

[rjniles]

You never answered my question whether you are in Canada. Red jacketed cable with a black and red conductors is not a US thing. If Canada you need to find out if you can remark a red or black to use as a neutral. The NEC says no.

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[rjniles]

You cannot run a separate wire as a neutral.

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[mooncow321]

I am in Canada.

Edit: If I understand correctly where you're going with this, you are suggesting to use the red wire as a white wire (as long as it's allowed by my local code) to install a 120v outlet?