One home air tub manufacturer , in their instructions section on providing electrical power to the tub — says the following (power to their tub should be thru a GFCI)
– the electrical service to the GFCI must not be interrupted by any control device.
– the elect service from the GFCI to the bath control should be direct and not interrupted by a switch
whats the technical reason for this?? – seems a switch that would interrupt the hot side could only be good.
I live in an area with electrical storms and would like to have a simple switch to kill the power thereby protecting/stopping surges to the air bath electronics. whats the difference between a switch and a 110 v circuit breaker in the breaker box
Replies
Can't explain the exact reason they are specing this. Probably high resistance from a poorly wired or inferior quality switch.
>>...an area with electrical storms and would like to have a simple switch to kill the power thereby protecting/stopping surges to the air bath electronics.<<
If there is a GFCI in the circuit, you will have a switch in the form of the "test" button on either a breaker or a wall box mounted unit.
Nasty storm coming ? Hit the test button. Reset after storm passes.
>>.... whats the difference between a switch and a 110 v circuit breaker in the breaker box<<
Most probably resistance and the resultant voltage drop to the tub. Incidently, residential, single pole, breakers are 120v -- :^)
Jim
Its a real strange requirement to me.most switches do not add resistance.
Just a guess.
Have encountered other odd balls such as A/C units which call for #10 awg or larger cable --- but protected by a maximum 25A breaker, 20A recommended. This one was pretty obvious as a voltage drop issue.
Or, the engine driven 1" pump which called for a 1-1/2" or larger feed hose which was reduced to 1" at the suction side of the pump (raw water pump on Caterpillar 3208T marine engine).
I generally figure there is some reason, which I don't understand, the engineers spec things and follow their directions........usually keeps me out of trouble.
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
GFCI's these days will disconnect when power is interrupted, so any time a switch upstream from the GFCI were turned off, the GFCI would trip. You would then have to reset the GFCI every time you turned the switch back on.