GFCI in panel vs spa panel
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Presuming the GFCI is upstream of anything else in the panel and the panel is wall mounted away from any water source, i.e. where you mount a spa panel, I don't see why not.
iijakii
Well-Known Member
Cost versus effort overall for me. Swapping a breaker is like 10 mins max. Doing the spa panel requires wiring, drilling holes for an outlet (or you can just do power cords on both ends). I'm lazy so the breaker is worth it. And when you add up the spa panel, outlet, cable, etc it's not too much of a difference really.
Agreed also. Upside of the spa panel might be that you can treat it like an appliance and take to with you if you move or brew off premise ...just a thought.
I agree, inside the panel for both effort and cleanliness of the install.
The reason people use spa panels is the part cost of a spa panel at the box stores is less than the cost a separate GFCI breaker(or it was last time I checked). Total cost, aesthetics, and convenience is what you want to look at - what works best for you.
Weezy
Well-Known Member
And you can pull off 120V from the spa panel as well with just the 240V home run line to the panel.
JONNYROTTEN
Well-Known Member
I would think it depends on your particular situation. Permanent brew area vs mobile. Basement vs ground floor etc.
For me a plugging spa panel into my dryer in the basement and running a 30 amp extension cord to my kitchen on brew day was by far the best/easiest route. The alternative would have been running a homerun from the panel and adding a 30 amp outlet in my kitchen wall which would look like crap and way more work.
For me a plugging spa panel into my dryer in the basement and running a 30 amp extension cord to my kitchen on brew day was by far the best/easiest route. The alternative would have been running a homerun from the panel and adding a 30 amp outlet in my kitchen wall which would look like crap and way more work.
BrewingChemist
Well-Known Member
so can you pull the breaker out of the spa panel and stick it in your main breaker? is there a reason to or not to do that? just curious....
jeffmeh
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Only if the spa panel breaker is compatible with the main panel, as there are different styles. Perfectly reasonable to do. Reasons not to include: if you want a portable GFCI, if you do not want to change the permanent wiring, or if you would prefer the GFCI to be closer than your main panel to your brewing space.
BrewingChemist
Well-Known Member
what does the wiring to this look like then? sorry if that is a dumb question. I keep trying to wrap my head around why you need both a regular breaker and a gfci breaker. Why you cant just do a gfci breaker?
You can just use a GFCI breaker. But the spa panel is 60a and most people want 30a protection. A 60a GFCI spa panel is cheaper than a 30a GFCI in most situations. You shouldn't use JUST a 60a GFCI if you have the system designed for 30a max.
jeremy2027
Well-Known Member
If I had to do it over again I would have spent the extra 10 bucks and mounted the breaker in my main panel. Connecting #6 wire inside a spa panel and then to the receptical was a PITA.
exact same as spa panel, just moved the plate it was mounted on and attached that into my brew panel. Build is in sig if you want more details.
I added the breaker to my main service panel as well. It was stupid expensive for what it was (breaker), but it was very easy, and highly justified as I terminated it at a receptacle near the garage door (aka electric car charger when the day comes).
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