I am looking to buy about 60 feet of wire to run my hot tub. The stuff I found to run a 50 amp 240v tub is about $3.29 a foot. Any ideas of where I could find this cheaper than Ace. Lowes or Home Depot?

Matt

I just ran 6 ga and it was $.94 a foot from Home Depot

That price seems great, that is 6 gauge, 3 wire? If I am running conduit above ground, what would I need?


Thank you,

Matt

That was for each individual wire. That equals $3.76 per foot plus the cost of conduit and connectors.

conduit above ground? Hopfully you mean attached to the underside of the joists on a deck. Simply running conduit on the ground is a BIG mistake. It's illegal. You have to either attach the conduit to the underside of something, to the side of something, or bury it 18" below ground.

The conduit will be above ground but attached to side of house. Should be safe and legal.

Thanks,

Matt

Copper is getting expensive- anyone buying some 8/3 w/g is bound to get some sticker shock!

haha realise nothings cheap anymore.... thats a fact of life now adays, it costs to have nice things.. Lowes has a 6/3 wire (2 hots, neutral and a ground for like 2.30 ft.

wayne

For a distance of 60 feet and to supply 50 amps I suggest 4 gauge, yes you should bury it in liquid tight plastic conduit to a disconnect and then the GFI breaker, I presume you may need 110 also so basically you should terminate yor cable run into say a 70 amp load center so you can tap both 110v and 220volts. If I had to do it I may just use triplex, (copper is better than aluminum) which is two hots and a neutral in say 1 1/2" pvc conduit and then I would sink an 8 foot copper clad ground rod close to where your load center is to provide a ground. What I suggest may not be within the codes you have where you are but I am in rural Alaska and we just do what it takes to get it done.

ddramz, This may seem like I'm bashing ya, but that isn't the intent. There are some things that need clarification on. Such as:

6 ga copper (THHW type for example) is more than enough for up to 100' for that anticipated load. You can run one size smaller for a ground wire, such as 8ga.

Never suggest using aluminum wire for spas! Use ONLY copper at all times! Aluminum is a very bad idea regarding anything that could potentially come in contact with moisture. Many spa manufacturers will void their warranty if you use Aluminum.

70A load centers... It would be easier finding a 60A or 100A load center instead. The 60A would be perfect for 6ga CU wire.


Hippy (Matt), you may want to check with your local electrical contractors as they may be able to get you a much better price, as they buy it in quantity.