I have been searching the web for a couple of days now and I have not really seen a definitive answer to my question, it seems to be a mixed opinion, maybe someone here can help.

A little background; I just recently bought a home that already had the conduit and wiring in place for a 220V spa on the back. The spa did not exist but 3, 6 gauge wires that run to the house panel on a dedicated 50AMP breaker, are in place. I just purchased a 2004 model Sundance Marin spa, this spa runs on pure 220V, it has a 3 wire hookup, ground – hot – hot. The lights, pump and all parts of this spa require only 220V, so no neutral feed is necessary at the spa itself … now comes my question(s)


It’s apparent to me that the former spa was just hooked up directly, no GFCI box. I want a GFCI and a service disconnect in place obviously, so I purchased this model GFCI http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=123887-296-QOE250GFINM&lpage=none from Lowes

Now since I only have 3 wires coming from the conduit, my spa only requires the 3 leads also.. but it appears to me that the GFCI is asking for a neural feed from the main breaker box. Is that neutral feed required for the GFCI to function correctly or to pass code?

I have read that that neutral feed is only needed if your spa runs 110 & 220V, I have read that the neutral feed is required for the GFCI to trip and function correctly, and I have read that I don’t need it at all. I am completely confused and I really don’t want to spend a full day or more running an entire Neutral run to my GFCI unless I absolutely have to.

Attached are pic’s of the spa manual wiring DIO and here is a link to the GFCI instructions http://ecatalog.squared.com/pubs/Circuit%20Protection/Miniature%20Circuit%20Breakers/Homeline/HOM-GFI/48840-058-03.pdf



What confuses me even more is that the ground feed and the neutral feed both appear to come from the exact same place, so why need both?

Thanks for any input you can shed on this situation,

-Robert
Spa Connection Pic http://img186.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spaconft6.jpg

In order for it to work correctly and to dissolve any questions of error on the GFCI's end I would indeed use the neutral line that is how a GFCI works. If you do not have the neutral wire it will not work properly.

and you are correct in wanting a GFCI cause not using one can be fatal to you and your home.

I have a masters in electrical engineering for the past 15 years. If someone tells you a gfci does not need a neutral then they have no clue how a gfci works.

But you do what you feel you need to do, I would use it.