[rjniles]

I am removing a standard 5 foot bath tub and installing a jetted spa tub (wife's Christmas present). The electrical requirements call for 2- 15 amp GFCI protected circuits: 1 for the jet pump and 1 for the heater. I am planning on installing 2 GFCI 15 amp breakers in my main panel and running 2 runs of 14-2 NM-B to a single gang plastic box behind the tub skirt. The tub has 2 appliance cords (tub pump and heater). I will terminate both circuits on a duplex receptacle with both tabs broken to separate the circuits.

Does anyone see any issues with my plan.

 

[joed]

No issues but you could also do it with one double pole GFCI breaker and 14/3 cable.

The cheapest way would probably be to use two regular 15 amp breakers and then use two 15 amp GFCI receptacles.

 

[rjniles]

No issues but you could also do it with one double pole GFCI breaker and 14/3 cable.

The cheapest way would probably be to use two regular 15 amp breakers and then use two 15 amp GFCI receptacles.

I already had the 2 15 amp GFCI breakers. I didn't want to use receptacles because they would end up under the tub (accessibility?).

 

[MrElectricianTV]

I am removing a standard 5 foot bath tub and installing a jetted spa tub (wife's Christmas present). The electrical requirements call for 2- 15 amp GFCI protected circuits: 1 for the jet pump and 1 for the heater. I am planning on installing 2 GFCI 15 amp breakers in my main panel and running 2 runs of 14-2 NM-B to a single gang plastic box behind the tub skirt. The tub has 2 appliance cords (tub pump and heater). I will terminate both circuits on a duplex receptacle with both tabs broken to separate the circuits.

Does anyone see any issues with my plan.

Are you sure about only needing 15 amp circuits? Usually the heater requires a 20 amp circuit. How much horsepower (HP) is the pump?

For safety sake I would keep both circuit breakers on the same phase so you only have 120 volts going to the tub.

Does the pump have a bonding lug?

 

[Oso954]

I didn't want to use receptacles because they would end up under the tub (accessibility?).

I don't see accessibility as a problem.
I wouldn't want wife (kids, grandkids) resetting the GFCI on the tub. If it tripped, don't use the pump or heater until it gets checked. As long as the GFCIs are in easy reach thru an access panel, they should be OK.

If you are counting on the cord to be your disconnect, the receptacle and cord should be within easy reach of an access panel anyway.

 

[rjniles]

Are you sure about only needing 15 amp circuits? Usually the heater requires a 20 amp circuit. How much horsepower (HP) is the pump?

For safety sake I would keep both circuit breakers on the same phase so you only have 120 volts going to the tub.

Does the pump have a bonding lug?

The tub has not been delivered yet but I downloaded the install instructions. Definitely call for 2 15 amp circuits. It does not mention a bonding lug.
I will be place the receptacle so that it is easily accessible with the apron cover removed.

 

[Arrow3030]

Get approved handle ties. Two circuits on the same yoke need handle ties even if not on a MWBC.

 

[Jim Port]

The gfi cannot be under the skirt.

 

[rjniles]

The gfi cannot be under the skirt.

I am using GFCI breakers.

 

[Jim Port]

Oso, in post 5 said something about the gfi under the skirt .

 

[Arrow3030]

Get approved handle ties. Two circuits on the same yoke need handle ties even if not on a MWBC.

This is one that I put out there because I remembered reading it. I tried fact checking and couldn't get an article reference out of the 2011 NEC. Maybe I skimmed over it or maybe I read it from an unreliable source. Whether it's code or not it seems like a good idea.

 

[rjniles]

This is one that I put out there because I remembered reading it. I tried fact checking and couldn't get an article reference out of the 2011 NEC. Maybe I skimmed over it or maybe I read it from an unreliable source. Whether it's code or not it seems like a good idea.

You're right, sounds like a good idea if code or not.

 

[rjniles]

Did a little further research and it appears I cannot terminate both of my circuits on 1 duplex receptacle and handle tie my 2 GFCI circuit breakers together. I will install 2 single gang boxes with a separate receptacle for each circuit.

Reason: GFCI and AFCI circuit breakers are not rated for use with handle ties.

http://www.ieci.org/newsroom-and-insights/multi-wire-branch-circuits

 

[Arrow3030]

Hmm. That article only seems to address MWBC. Maybe I missed something though.

 

[brric]

Hmm. That article only seems to address MWBC. Maybe I missed something though.

RJ had intended to put the circuits on the same yoke.

 

[mpoulton]

Did a little further research and it appears I cannot terminate both of my circuits on 1 duplex receptacle and handle tie my 2 GFCI circuit breakers together. I will install 2 single gang boxes with a separate receptacle for each circuit.

Reason: GFCI and AFCI circuit breakers are not rated for use with handle ties.

http://www.ieci.org/newsroom-and-insights/multi-wire-branch-circuits

The issue addressed in that article is only relevant to multi-wire branch circuits, not to the handle tie requirement for multiple circuits on one yoke. The problem with GFCI and AFCI breakers and MWBCs is that they are incapable of sharing a neutral (will trip instantly) and are not slash-rated for 240V line-to-line circuits. Neither of those problems matters at all in this situation, where two completely independent circuits are run to a single device. The handle tie is still required, but slash-rating and a shared neutral are not. I think a handle tie would work fine here as long as two separate neutrals are used.

 

[Arrow3030]

This is what I was getting at

 

[brric]

See 2014 NEC 210.7
Where two or more branch circuits supply devices or equipment on the same yoke, a means to simultaneously disconnect the ungrounded conductors supplying those devices shall be provided at the point at which the branch circuits originate.

 

[mpoulton]

See 2014 NEC 210.7
Where two or more branch circuits supply devices or equipment on the same yoke, a means to simultaneously disconnect the ungrounded conductors supplying those devices shall be provided at the point at which the branch circuits originate.

Is there any reason this can't be satisfied with a handle tie on GFCI breakers? They don't need to be slash-rated in this application because the circuits can be completely separated.

 

[brric]

Is there any reason this can't be satisfied with a handle tie on GFCI breakers? They don't need to be slash-rated in this application because the circuits can be completely separated.

Perfectly fine if there are listed handle ties available.
In a specific case of GE, I don't believe handle ties are available for GFCI breakers as the handles are offset which is different than a normal breaker. Not sure of other brands.