Will my outdoor 240 V sauna stove work with a 200 ft 8/3 wire?

[eselick]

Hi
I'd like to install a 240 volt single phase sauna stove at a distance of about 200 ft from my main panel. The main panel has a 40 amp GFI breaker and an 8/3 exterior wire that goes into a sub panel in my workshop. The 8/3 is inside of a black 1" pvc 50 ft long flexible water pipe. I'd like to put another 40 amp breaker in the sub panel and extend the 8/3 wire to the location of the sauna which will be built about 150 ft from the workshop on a structure that will be built over a pond.
Another consideration is that the sauna stove, according to the installation manual, will not function correctly with the GFI breaker which would need to be swapped out in the main house panel. Nothing would be running in the workshop when the stove was on.
My question is whether the sauna stove will not function or be damaged by the voltage drop at that distance. Is a reasonable project to undertake?

Thanks
Elliot

 

[Megawatt]

Hi
I'd like to install a 240 volt single phase sauna stove at a distance of about 200 ft from my main panel. The main panel has a 40 amp GFI breaker and an 8/3 exterior wire that goes into a sub panel in my workshop. The 8/3 is inside of a black 1" pvc 50 ft long flexible water pipe. I'd like to put another 40 amp breaker in the sub panel and extend the 8/3 wire to the location of the sauna which will be built about 150 ft from the workshop on a structure that will be built over a pond.
Another consideration is that the sauna stove, according to the installation manual, will not function correctly with the GFI breaker which would need to be swapped out in the main house panel. Nothing would be running in the workshop when the stove was on.
My question is whether the sauna stove will not function or be damaged by the voltage drop at that distance. Is a reasonable project to undertake?

Thanks
Elliot

Eselike first off the wire in the flexible water pipe is a code violation and the 8/3 romex because of the insulation type is only good for 40 amps. My suggestion to would be that your sauna requires a GFCI breaker and you need too go to # 6 wire. Since you are going to feed it from your subpanel that’s where the double pole GFCI breaker needs to go. Please install it in PVC conduit or use approved for direct burial wire. The sauna is designed for a GFCI breaker and you shouldn’t have any problems if you up the wire size to # 6 that should take care of any voltage drop issue. It will not damage the sauna.

 

[eselick]

Megawatt - thanks for the help.
I agree about using #6 wire also as a solution for the voltage drop and I will follow your suggestion to bury the wire in PVC conduit.

Regarding the GFI breaker, the following is a quote from the top of page 11 in the Harvia sauna stove installation manual which warns against using a GFI:

NOTE! A ground fault interrupter (GFI) should not be
installed in and does not belong in a Sauna. If used,
the breaker will trip, and damage could result.

I think the reason is that the stove is designed to sprayed with water which would constantly trigger a GFI breaker.

Here's the link to the manual in case you like to have a look.
https://www.sauna.ca/pdf/KIP_EN_North America_Griffin_Sauna Specialist.pdf
So I don't think I have a choice about the GFI :-(

The manual also says that wire should be approved up to 90 degrees celsius which makes sense. The only 6/3 that I can buy by the meter ($8.53/meter) is only good up to 60 degrees. So two questions. Can I just put in a junction box and add a short run of 90 degree 8/2 for the last bit and? Do you think a local electrician could sell me some?

Thanks again.

 

[Megawatt]

Megawatt - thanks for the help.
I agree about using #6 wire also as a solution for the voltage drop and I will follow your suggestion to bury the wire in PVC conduit.

Regarding the GFI breaker, the following is a quote from the top of page 11 in the Harvia sauna stove installation manual which warns against using a GFI:


I think the reason is that the stove is designed to sprayed with water which would constantly trigger a GFI breaker.

Here's the link to the manual in case you like to have a look.
https://www.sauna.ca/pdf/KIP_EN_North America_Griffin_Sauna Specialist.pdf
So I don't think I have a choice about the GFI :-(

The manual also says that wire should be approved up to 90 degrees celsius which makes sense. The only 6/3 that I can buy by the meter ($8.53/meter) is only good up to 60 degrees. So two questions. Can I just put in a junction box and add a short run of 90 degree 8/2 for the last bit and? Do you think a local electrician could sell me some?

Thanks again.

I doubt that an electrician will give you any wire but try it with # 8 but the instructions say don’t install the GFCI in the sauna. That statement was odd. Good luck my friend and keep in touch