Powering a hot tub off a 13A socket..

[tkm16]

Hi,

I have recently been given a hot tub which is powered from a standard 13A plug. The manual says to connect it to a 13A IP66 socket which I currently don't have. I have been told I could just run a spur off the downstairs ring main to a IP66 socket outside, is this correct? I mean i'm no electrician but I thought will all the kitchen appliances etc wouldnt adding a hot tub overload the ring main?

Thanks!

 

[telectrix]

what's the rating of the hot tub? generalyl, if it'comes with a fitted plug, your plan seems fine. don'tforget that the heater in the tub is only intermittent, due to thermostat.

 

[tkm16]

I'm not entirely sure to be honest, I was just assuming it was 3KW i.e worst case scenario...

 

[buzzlightyear]

a separate feed for that I think . for the hot tub should not be taken off the ring circuit.
3 kw is like have a emer heater in back yard.

 

[tkm16]

I called a local electrical lad who has done work for me before and he suggested a spur...for some reason it just sent alarm bells ringing! Is there any calculations I could do to calculate the current load on the ring main? I may just call someone else if the power works out to be too much.

 

[westward10]

It is a 13A plug, spur or plug it is 13A.

 

[buzzlightyear]

3kw/230=13 amps which works out .I would put it on own circuit you say ring main down stairs
does this include the kitchen on it or is this separated.

 

[tkm16]

Yes I'm sure all the kitchen appliances are on it, apart from the cooker.

 

[buzzlightyear]

then separate feed then . is it possible to get a new feed to it .

 

[tkm16]

It is possible, but it will be tricky. We have a few spare mcb's in the CU but running the cable will be the hardest part as it goes under a wooden floor.

 

[buzzlightyear]

you say possible but tricky is the floor tiled or wooden .

 

[tkm16]

The CU us under the stairs and the hallway has been done in a hardwood style laminate floor so the routing of the cable will be hard. I will look at lifting floor boards in the living room tomorrow to see how hard it will be.

 

[buzzlightyear]

you say under the stairs does you kitchen back on to the stairs new house or old.

 

[tkm16]

Yes the kitchen backs into the stairs. The house was built around 1975.

 

[westward10]

Temporarily run it from an extension lead from the ring final you intend to spur from and see what happens.

 

[buzzlightyear]

pic would be nice ,of you kitchen to under stairs. floor in kitchen wood or stone or tiled .

 

[telectrix]

just plug the bugger in. FFS it's fitted with a 13A fuse.

 

[PEG]

Google the confounded human slow-cooker,it may be a lot less onerous,in terms of power requirements,than you suspect. I repaired one for a pal,and it was only pulling a few hundred watts,took 3 full days to get water up to temp,which then thermostatically switches on/off,with a constant 50 watts for circulation pump.

 

[telectrix]

agree with PEG .most hot tubs that come with a fitted plug only pull 8 -9A when heating.

 

[Pat H]

I've got a hot tub (uses more than 13A!)
Note that the heater isn't the only current draw. When the heaters on the pump runs and they can be juicy as well.
Mine tended to trip when it started up as there was a peak draw. Ok on a fuse but on a breaker near its limit you may get tripping.