Sauna Heater Help! - What Cable

[Weezy]

As short as possible.
My customer has brought a sauna heater that’s made in the USA the manual is VERY poor, it states that the cable to the heater should be ‘REVE or equivalent’
I took the manual to Edmundsons Electircal wholesalers and they had no clue what that was...

Ed’s said they would look into it, not heard back from them.

I emailed the manufacture in USA, not heard back from them.

Iv done some research and i believe sauna heaters normally range from 75 degree’s to 98 degree’s.

Ordinary pvc t&e cannot be used Swa cannot be used.
Iv read that you can buy H07rn-f cable but this is only rated to 85degrees. So surely this won’t do?

I also read some electricians use HTF cable? i also asked Ed’s for any of this which he also had no idea on...

I did think of using Butyl cable but i’m not 100% sure what it’s current rating is? ideally i need 6mm but it seems almost impossible to buy, they do sell 4mm but is 4mm butyl rated at 32amps like normal T&E pvc/pvc 4mm?

So i’m totally at a lost end, part of me is thinking will the temps ever reach 98 degrees, what do i do?

p.s I really don’t want to use pyro...

 

[Megawatt]

The manual for my heater states "wire from controller to heater needs to be UL62 approved to 105C". I found SJEEOW wire on McMaster Carr. Can buy a 10-foot piece for $22.

My question is: Does NEC allow SJEEOW to be placed in studs in wall (similar to Romex)?

The answer is no, you need to buy 6/3 with ground that’s approved for outdoor use. The insulation for SJEEOW and it’s not good for 60 amps.

 

[Eric Krantz]

The answer is no, you need to buy 6/3 with ground that’s approved for outdoor use. The insulation for SJEEOW and it’s not good for 60 amps.

I didn't specify... my heater is 6.5 kW (240VAC), so about ~27 amps.

 

[Megawatt]

I didn't specify... my heater is 6.5 kW (240VAC), so about ~27 amps.

All your wire needs to be # 6. Your manual actually states 60 amps. Do not use short cuts on cheap wire. Especially any kind of SO cable

 

[Eric Krantz]

All your wire needs to be # 6. Your manual actually states 60 amps. Do not use short cuts on cheap wire. Especially any kind of SO cable

No short cuts here. My manual states 10 Ga wire rated to 105C. The wire I bought is 10 Ga and rated to 105C.

My question is: Can I run SJEEOW in the wall? An electrician I called (before I got the SJEEOW), said "Only Romex in wall, has to be insulated".

 

[Megawatt]

No short cuts here. My manual states 10 Ga wire rated to 105C. The wire I bought is 10 Ga and rated to 105C.

My question is: Can I run SJEEOW in the wall? An electrician I called (before I got the SJEEOW), said "Only Romex in wall, has to be insulated".

Article 400.12 states it is not permitted to run through holes in walls. It will handle 30 amps and it’s not approved for wet locations

 

[Eric Krantz]

Great. Then I run it in metal conduit inside the wall? Not a wet location so I'm good there.

Can you explain why you were insistent on 6 GA?

 

[Megawatt]

Great. Then I run it in metal conduit inside the wall? Not a wet location so I'm good there.

Can you explain why you were insistent on 6 GA?

Every hot tub or SPA I’ve wired called for a 50 or 60 amp GFCI breaker and I usually go with #6 which I keep in stock in my truck

 

[Eric Krantz]

Every hot tub or SPA I’ve wired called for a 50 or 60 amp GFCI breaker and I usually go with #6 which I keep in stock in my truck

Thanks, that makes sense for that current load.

What about running SJEEOW in metal conduit through the studs? Will the inspector freak out?

 

[Megawatt]

Thanks, that makes sense for that current load.

What about running SJEEOW in metal conduit through the studs? Will the inspector freak out?

No he won’t flip out but why metal and not PVC conduit

 

[Eric Krantz]

No he won’t flip out but why metal and not PVC conduit

That's a good question... I bought flexible metal already! Can probably return that and go with cheaper PVC.... in fact I probably have a 3 foot chunk in the office that I can use. Looking for a deep feedthrough to go through the 5/8" cedar, will probably have to put a metal plate there?

 

[Megawatt]

That's a good question... I bought flexible metal already! Can probably return that and go with cheaper PVC.... in fact I probably have a 3 foot chunk in the office that I can use. Looking for a deep feedthrough to go through the 5/8" cedar, will probably have to put a metal plate there?

Yes every stud you drill through you have to install a nail plate which you can purchase at Home Depot and Lowe’s or your local electrical parts house. Good luck