Spa shock issue and competence to install

[uksparks]

To the OP- Are you absolutely certain the 'tingle' wasn't the cut on your finger reacting to the chemicals in the water ?

I did wonder that, I know my finger would have tingled.

 

[uksparks]

Why don't you call the installer of the circuit back and get him to retest the circuit and compare the results with the certificate he gave you?

Thats not a bad idea, I know if someone called me to say that about my install I'd be round there like a shot as I would hate for something bad to happen and get the blame!

 

[TrevorM]

Hi
The electrician is customer of mine and did the work for me one weekend so I do not have a certificate.
I am going to call him for a chat but only got the answer phone tonight.

Yes, I am absolutely sure it is a shock, the cut provides a lower resistance to the rest of the skin.
I even popped my Fluke probes in the water and onto my skin and get a 2-3 VAC depending on pump speed.
And it doesn't happen with shoes on.

It might be interesting to try the same thing with bare feet and the metal kitchen sink.

 

[TrevorM]

So you wouldn't expect the spa fitter to have a Fluke or Kewtech to make certain everything was OK before making the connections?

regards
Trevor

 

[Darkwood]

Lee, what's your preference when it comes to hot tubs? I have connected a few, not many, and I normally connect it back to the supply earth as it's going to be better than any rod, however these were all sitting on decking limiting the risk. I know sticking rods in would be nice and cut off the supply earth but it's never going to compete.

however, I suppose you could always put a rod in local to the tub and connect it back to the met, gives you redundancy in the event of fault.

Have you ever considered extending the equipotential zone as well as rodding, this would give the best of both worlds, excellent low earth resistance with local equalised true earth to provided earth.

 

[Octopus]

Thats not a bad idea, I know if someone called me to say that about my install I'd be round there like a shot as I would hate for something bad to happen and get the blame!

Precisely my point & exactly what I would do

 

[Leesparkykent]

Lee, what's your preference when it comes to hot tubs? I have connected a few, not many, and I normally connect it back to the supply earth as it's going to be better than any rod, however these were all sitting on decking limiting the risk. I know sticking rods in would be nice and cut off the supply earth but it's never going to compete.

however, I suppose you could always put a rod in local to the tub and connect it back to the met, gives you redundancy in the event of fault.

It depends really..using the suppliers earth or making the hot tub TT both have there pros and cons Imo. When using the suppliers earth pme/tncs you could have a healthy installation but experience "tingles" like the OP suggests but this isn't going to do wonders for the relationship between you and the customer so to speak. When Making the hot tub TT 99/100 you are going to be relying on an RCD for earth fault protection. In an ideal world I suppose you would use the suppliers earth with a rod/s connected to the MET with a very low Ra and have the hot tub either sat on or have wooden/composite decking built around it where you are likely to be in contact with the tub and ground at the same time

 

[sparksburnout]

Hi
The electrician is customer of mine and did the work for me one weekend so I do not have a certificate.
I am going to call him for a chat but only got the answer phone tonight.

Yes, I am absolutely sure it is a shock, the cut provides a lower resistance to the rest of the skin.
I even popped my Fluke probes in the water and onto my skin and get a 2-3 VAC depending on pump speed.
And it doesn't happen with shoes on.

It might be interesting to try the same thing with bare feet and the metal kitchen sink.

Is weekend work exempt from certification then?

 

[BES]

Is weekend work exempt from certification then?

After the pub opens , yeh

 

[Midwest]

Op not sure if you've have the search facility on this forum. If you have, you'll find a lot of posts on this subject. No expert myself in this area, but the advice you've been given by Lee appears spot on from what I've researched. Putting on shoes increases your resistance, thus prevents you receiving a 'shock', in your described scenario. In addition to what Lee suggested (if it proves to be the case), I would also consider putting down some materials, to prevent you stepping on bare earth or ground, when getting in and out of your tub. Stuff I've read about outside spa baths etc, I wouldn't be using one as you have installed (the tub, not necessary the electrical installation). Composite decking might be an idea?