Your Next Steps After Purchasing Your Hot Tub

For a 32AMP hot tub, 6mm² 3-core SWA cable is needed and a 10mm² 3-core SWA cable is perfectly suitable for a 40AMP Hot Tub. An IP65 45AMP Rotary Isolator Switch is also recommended so that the hot tub can be isolated outdoors in an emergency or for service work. This is simply a rotary on/off switch but should be sited more than 2 metres away from the hot tub so that bathers cannot be in the hot tub whilst touching the switch. 

The electrician should fit a suitable weatherproof block connector to the end of the tail from the isolator, the hot tub supply can then be directly hard wired into the weatherproof block connector inside the hot tub. Waterproof gland packs should be used to prevent ingress of water on all electrical connections (2 at the isolation switch). Ensure that all earth cables are clearly colour coded with green/yellow insulating tape or earth sleeve.

The electrical installation must comply with BS:7671 – “Requirements for electrical Installations IET Wiring Regulations”, particularly concerning the following specifications:

The hot tub must be hard wired on its own fused spur back to your household consumer unit, not sharing a supply with any other appliances

The hot tub should be protected by a sufficiently rated MCB (mains circuit breaker) and should cover the maximum amperage pull of the Spa plus 25% to allow for brake torque (i.e. the extra rush of current when pumps are first started). Therefore, a hot tub that has a maximum current draw of 20 amps should be fitted with a 25AMP MCB. 

The hot tub should be protected against earth faults by an RCD (Residual Current Device). This is a trip switch which prevents the possibility of an electric shock from damaged or waterlogged cables and connections. A suitable rated 30mA RCD is recommended.

Outdoor cabling should be protected from damage by either laying protective ducting (pc pipe) below ground or by using Steel Wired Armoured (SWA) cable. Your electrician will calculate the size of cable required depending on the loading and the distance from the mains supply.

Once the hot tub is filled with water and the electrical supply is installed our installation team will commission the hot tub and check that everything is fully operational before handing over to you with a complete chemical training guide and hot tub features.

If you are in any doubt about the required electrical guidelines you should seek professional advice from a fully qualified electrician.

Please note: It is advised that your electrician leaves enough spare cable attached to the isolator to go to the furthest side of the hot tub, and then an additional 3-4 metres to allow our engineers enough length to connect it in to the Jacuzzi®. Our technicians are qualified to connect this cable to the inside of the Hot Tub.

Base requirements:
A hot tub or swim spa must be placed on a solid level surface, which is capable of supporting the weight of the hot tub or swim spa, the water in it and those who use it. We don’t recommend placing your hot tub or swim spa on grass or bare ground and suggest looking for a qualified contractor to help you create a suitable foundation for your hot tub or swim spa.

Concrete
A poured slab of concrete or concrete patio offers the most popular and low maintenance solution. One thing to consider is that concrete doesn’t offer the best drainage solution. We advise the following steps as a minimum concrete base for your hot tub:

• Excavate a 150mm/6inch deep area for your concrete base and use a Wacker plate to compact the area down
• Lay 50mm/2inches of MOT type 1 sub-base gravel to fill the area and repeat Wacker plating to compact this again
• Lay a minimum of 100mm/4inches of concrete to fill the area

Paving Stones/Slabs
Paving stones are a cost-effective solution for your hot tub base and with a huge variety of sizes, shapes and finishes available it’s easy to create a base that suits your taste and garden. We advise the following steps as a minimum paving stone/slab base:

• Excavate approximately a 130mm/5inch area for your base and use a Wacker plate to compact the area down
• Lay 50mm/2inches of MOT type 1 sub-base gravel to fill the area and repeat Wacker plating to compact this again
• Lay 25mm/1inch of dry mix/cement sand on to the MOT gravel and repeat Wacker plating to compact the area for a final time
• Bed chosen patio slabs/stones into the compacted cement sand

Decking 
Decking is a popular choice as a base for a hot tub and can be tailored to suit your garden. However, it is of utmost importance to consult with a qualified professional to ensure that your decking can support the weight of your hot tub so we therefore advise for decking to be built with reinforcement. We advise the following as a minimum decking base for your hot tub:

Water requirements
No special plumbing is needed for your Jacuzzi® Hot Tub, just a hose pipe long enough to reach where your hot tub will be positioned!