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Hi there,

I have been asked to install a 32a supply for a hot tub for a client. I haven’t installed a supply for a hot tub before and having done a bit of research I am getting mixed answers about doing this on a PME system. I have a DB under the stairs with plenty of spare ways so I would be planning to take a 6mm armour from here outside to a rotary isolator. what I am unsure about is the earthing scenario, I have seen a lot of people saying this will require an earth rod. There is also the possibility of taking tails directly of the Henley blocks into a small garage unit and feeding the hot tub of its own DB. Any help is greatly appreciated thanks in advance.
 
You will see quite a few opinions on the use of PME supplies for hot tubs and similar!

Some folk prefer to make it a TT supply but putting a dedicated RCD for the tub and putting separate earth rod for it. In that case simply feeding it from the main CU via a MCB is perfectly fine.

The argument for splitting the tails for a fused-switch feed is for selectivity with downstream MCBs, that makes sense for a garage with several circuits. But as the hot tub is the sole load you don't really care if it has to be reset in the house as you don't need further over-current protection at the tub.
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Also the closest thing in the reg is a swimming pool so 702.410.3.4.3 subsection (ii) offers the alternative of an earth rod/mat below 20 ohms, but that would also force the use of a CPC of 10mm copper equivalent.

So probably your original plan of house CU feeding cable, then rotary isolator, then RCD and local earth rod is a simple and reliable way.
 
You will see quite a few opinions on the use of PME supplies for hot tubs and similar!

Some folk prefer to make it a TT supply but putting a dedicated RCD for the tub and putting separate earth rod for it. In that case simply feeding it from the main CU via a MCB is perfectly fine.

The argument for splitting the tails for a fused-switch feed is for selectivity with downstream MCBs, that makes sense for a garage with several circuits. But as the hot tub is the sole load you don't really care if it has to be reset in the house as you don't need further over-current protection at the tub.
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Also the closest thing in the reg is a swimming pool so 702.410.3.4.3 subsection (ii) offers the alternative of an earth rod/mat below 20 ohms, but that would also force the use of a CPC of 10mm copper equivalent.

So probably your original plan of house CU feeding cable, then rotary isolator, then RCD and local earth rod is a simple and reliable way.

thanks for your help very much appreciated
 
Hi there,

I have been asked to install a 32a supply for a hot tub for a client. I haven’t installed a supply for a hot tub before and having done a bit of research I am getting mixed answers about doing this on a PME system. I have a DB under the stairs with plenty of spare ways so I would be planning to take a 6mm armour from here outside to a rotary isolator. what I am unsure about is the earthing scenario, I have seen a lot of people saying this will require an earth rod. There is also the possibility of taking tails directly of the Henley blocks into a small garage unit and feeding the hot tub of its own DB. Any help is greatly appreciated thanks in advance.
Not quite on topic I know but bear in mind you will need to reference section 7 as this is classed as a pool installation, there are strict regulations on the positioning of adjacent lighting and switchgear. I only point this out because more often than not it is overlooked and a non-compliant installation results.
 
What I don’t get is that if the hot tub comes with a plug, then people are happy to install a socket and plug it in, if it needs hard wiring and a dedicated supply however, then it needs an Earth electrode?
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Not quite on topic I know but bear in mind you will need to reference section 7 as this is classed as a pool installation, there are strict regulations on the positioning of adjacent lighting and switchgear. I only point this out because more often than not it is overlooked and a non-compliant installation results.
Is it classed as a swimming pool tho or perhaps other basins?
Gn7 suggests maybe you should take into account section 702 but the regulations do not as does gn7 specifically say, a hot tub shall comply with section 702.
Taken from the IET

Persons involved in the design of the electrical installation for a hot tub should consult the product standard BS EN 60335-2-60: Specification for safety of household and similar appliances: Particular requirements for whirlpool baths and whirlpool spas.
 
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What I don’t get is that if the hot tub comes with a plug, then people are happy to install a socket and plug it in, if it needs hard wiring and a dedicated supply however, then it needs an Earth electrode?

What I don't get is that although the regulations clearly suggest that an earth electrode connected to the equipotential bonding system may be appropriate, people always want to make the hot tub supply seperate and a TT system all on its own?
That is not in any way connecting an earth electrode to the equipotential bonding system of the installation.

As I have said many times before I am of the opinion that we are well behind the rest of the world on this one and should be installing an earth electrode connected to the MET of every PME fed installation as a matter of course.
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Not quite on topic I know but bear in mind you will need to reference section 7 as this is classed as a pool installation, there are strict regulations on the positioning of adjacent lighting and switchgear. I only point this out because more often than not it is overlooked and a non-compliant installation results.

That is a matter of opinion.

There is a suggestion that outdoor hottubs should be treated similar to pools and indoor hottubs similar to baths, but that is from a guidance note not the regulations.
 
What I don't get is that although the regulations clearly suggest that an earth electrode connected to the equipotential bonding system may be appropriate, people always want to make the hot tub supply seperate and a TT system all on its own?
That is not in any way connecting an earth electrode to the equipotential bonding system of the installation.

As I have said many times before I am of the opinion that we are well behind the rest of the world on this one and should be installing an earth electrode connected to the MET of every PME fed installation as a matter of course.
I’d imagine that the addition of an electrode to a PME supply will come into effect in the not to distant future Dave.
It’s perfectly feasible on new builds ( domestic and commercial buildings ) which have a big metal mesh in the ground, a perfect electrode.
 
I’d imagine that the addition of an electrode to a PME supply will come into effect in the not to distant future Dave.
It’s perfectly feasible on new builds ( domestic and commercial buildings ) which have a big metal mesh in the ground, a perfect electrode.

Yes, new builds and extensions would be easy, but I think it would need a requirement in the building regs to be put in place to ensure that all builders get the message that an earth connection to the reinforcing needs to be made.

A lot of the time we don't get to see the job until after the foundations have been poured and even if we do the builders are unlikely to listen/understand when we tell them we need to connect to the reinforcing mesh.
 
Which regulation would you use to support this statement?
Being brutely honest, I have no clue, whichever references exporting PME.

A quick Google search brings up;


The single-phase units from matt:e provide a simple single connection point that allows for the connection of 1 x,32amp single phase charge point to the existing PME earthing facility.

In line with BS 7671: 2018: Amendment 1: 2020 Regulation 722.411.4.1

(iv) Protection against electric shock in a single phase installation is provided by a device which electrically disconnects the vehicle from the live conductors of the supply and from protective earth in accordance with regulation 543.3.3.101 (ii) within 5 s in the event of the utilisation voltage at the charging point, between the line and neutral conductors, being greater than 253V rms or less than 207V rms. The device shall provide isolation and be selected in accordance with Table 537.4. Equivalent means of functionality could be included within the charging equipment. Closing or resetting of the device shall be possible only if the voltage between line and neutral conductors is in the range 207 to 253V rms.

Please note, these units are for use on buildings with a single-phase electricity supply only.

BS 7671 does not permit a protective device as described in indent (iv) of Regulation

722.411.4.1 to be used to protect single-phase charging equipment in three-phase installations.

Equally, BS 7671 does not permit charging equipment containing equivalent functionality to that described in indent (iv) of Regulation 722.411.4.1 to be installed in installations with three-phase supplies.
 
Being brutely honest, I have no clue, whichever references exporting PME.

A quick Google search brings up;


There is no regulation which references exporting PME because there is no such thing as exporting PME.

You won't find a regulation to support your statement because none exists.

As per your link those units are intended to protect EV charging points and the regulations do specifically allow such protection to be used for EV charging points.

Nothing in the regulations allows these devices to be used in any other situation where PME is not permitted to be used.
 
There is no regulation which references exporting PME because there is no such thing as exporting PME.

You won't find a regulation to support your statement because none exists.

As per your link those units are intended to protect EV charging points and the regulations do specifically allow such protection to be used for EV charging points.

Nothing in the regulations allows these devices to be used in any other situation where PME is not permitted to be used.
Rightly or wrongly I've seen a few YT sparks use the matt-e for hot tub installs a opposed to EV chargers, my impression was they were using them to avoid putting in an earth rod and making use of the existing PME arrangement, in a fashion, I base my loose and likely faulty understanding on that
 
Rightly or wrongly I've seen a few YT sparks use the matt-e for hot tub installs a opposed to EV chargers, my impression was they were using them to avoid putting in an earth rod and making use of the existing PME arrangement, in a fashion, I base my loose and likely faulty understanding on that

I suspect they are using them due to a lack of knowledge, or due to the manufacturers of the device paying them to use them.
It could also be down to one of them doing it for these reasons and the rest just following like sheep.

Remember there is nothing regulating the technical accuracy of the content on YouTube,
There was recently a video published somewhere online where an American demonstrated making 'English tea' that used a microwave and came out looking like a mug of dishwater, it's on the Internet but that doesn't make it right!

You would do far better to get your information from trusted, provably reliable sources.

This subject kind of puts me in mind of D.W. Cockburn's book on earthing and bonding, it was published by a major publisher but completely and utterly wrong/dangerous
 
Rightly or wrongly I've seen a few YT sparks use the matt-e for hot tub installs a opposed to EV chargers, my impression was they were using them to avoid putting in an earth rod and making use of the existing PME arrangement, in a fashion, I base my loose and likely faulty understanding on that

In my opinion using the Matt-e single phase verison for a hot tub gives you a false sense of security, as it only protects against some PEN conductor faults but not all, it is likely you can have a open PEN conductor and still have a voltage between 207v-253v between L - N depending how the phases are balanced and where the break is, Matt-e themselves even demonstrate this on there 3 phase o-pen video

Although this does mitigate do a degree and perhaps the likelihood of a PEN fault is small. The effects of a fault can be fatal

e.g. PME supply with plastic supply pipes and therefore no extraneous conductive parts water heating element bonded to CPC and in contact with the hot tub water, if the hot tub is placed on grass/soil and you step out and simultaneously in contact with true earth and the water (effectively connected to the PME earth during a fault) then there could be a dangerous voltage between the water and true earth (and you are also wet)

I don't know how using a matt-e would fit within the regs, but as others have suggested swimming pools is the closest/same thing
 
I suspect they are using them due to a lack of knowledge, or due to the manufacturers of the device paying them to use them.
It could also be down to one of them doing it for these reasons and the rest just following like sheep.

Remember there is nothing regulating the technical accuracy of the content on YouTube,
There was recently a video published somewhere online where an American demonstrated making 'English tea' that used a microwave and came out looking like a mug of dishwater, it's on the Internet but that doesn't make it right!

You would do far better to get your information from trusted, provably reliable sources.

This subject kind of puts me in mind of D.W. Cockburn's book on earthing and bonding, it was published by a major publisher but completely and utterly wrong/dangerous
I'm not replying on them solely but every day is a school day
 

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