ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Spa/pool ckt

The pool light switch has a 15a circuit run to it, I could tie it there. There no #12 bond wire at the switch. I believe the bond for the pool light is bonded at a different point. Probably the panel, or somewhere in the pool filter area, to a water pipe maybe?

The way you get around the unspliced grounding wire rule is to run a separate grounding wire for the receptacle. Kind of like running an isolated ground circuit.

A larger problem is the prohibition of fastened-in-place equipment drawing more than 50% of a circuit that contains lights or receptacles. Is this tub fastened in place? If so, it needs to draw less than 10 amps from a 20A circuit.

Sounds like this pool light installation has some very serious problems.

300.3 states that all the conductors of the same circuit are to stay together.
680.23 (F)(2) states that the equipment grounding conductor must be #12 and be insulated
In your statement the conductors supplying the pool light is #14 which in itself is a violation. Now you say there is no grounding conductor present at all.
The equipment grounding conductor for the pool light is required to be insulated and not smaller than a #12. The spa requires a copper equipment grounding conductor that is not smaller than a #12.
I can’t see where the equipment grounding conductor that is already existing complies as is and would not comply to the new spa.

There is an exception that allows the grounding conductor to be spliced on a busbar in the switch or transformer enclosure. When I wired my pool I took Mark's route tho. I ran an unspliced green wire to the J box and another (in the same pipe) that grounded the switch and the "within 10-20'" receptacle that was on the light circuit.

Gfretwell if it will not offend you I would like to make a statement about your post.

You posted:

This is not spliced it is terminated under a screw. Just make sure that the box is listed for the addition of the terminal bar.

I hope this doesn’t offend you nor make you mad nor angry or anything like that.

No offense taken. In fact I am not even sure what that exception means in the case of a switch, hence my extra EGC

The pool light is legal with a GFI controlling it. But can I tap that circuit to run to the indoor spa motor. I looked up the specs for the spa motor and it does call for a 15a separate circuit. What if I disconnected the pool light. Or could I leave it connected as long as the customer never used them at the same time. If she did, worse case, it might just trip the breaker.
Bottom line is it legal to use a properly sized 15a circuit to run to loads, (each 15a), as long as they aren't used at the same time.
Example: I've seen R/V outlets on the inside and out side of a garage on the same circuit. But never to be used at the same time.

Can't seem to find the answer.

Flip back in your code book a half inch of pages.

210.19 Conductors — Minimum Ampacity and Size.
(A) Branch Circuits Not More Than 600 Volts.
(1) General. Branch-circuit conductors shall have an ampacity not less than the maximum load to be served.

You said that you read the specs of the tub and it calls for a circuit of its own. You have answered your own question.
Read 110.3 (B) of the NEC and you will find that the tub CAN NOT be on the circuit with the pool light or anything else.