Hot Tub and Swimming Pool Electrical Safety including Extension Leads
This advice applies to inflatable hot tubs and accessories for above ground swimming pools fitted with a 13A plug.
Whilst hot tubs and swimming pools can provide a fantastic safe leisure activity, it is vitally important that the electrical risks are properly understood.
How can I keep electricity costs down?
With the increase in electricity prices, there are a number of steps which can be taken to reduce the power consumed by inflatable hot tubs. The Lay-Z-Spa Running Costs Guide is an excellent resource.
Which lead do I need?
We supply a range of extension leads for higher current applications. Use the table below to identify which lead is compatible with your plug.
Hot tubs in the UK normally have a maximum power of 10A (2,300W), as this is the safe limit for prolonged use. UK 13A plugs/sockets can supply 13A, but only for short periods of time, such as boiling a kettle. For prolonged power draw, such as with hot tubs and swimming pools, exceeding 10A will lead to the plug or socket becoming warm and potentially damaged.
When using an extension lead with swimming pool accessories, ensure that you calculate the maximum load of everything that will be connected. Note that the stated power rating of heat pumps will be the heat output, not the power consumed by the unit which will be confirmed in the manual or unit label.
Can I use an extension lead?
Many inflatable hot tub manufacturers recommend against using an extension lead. This is likely to be for a number of reasons:
- Most DIY store extension leads use cable which is not sufficiently large in diameter (normally 1mmsq or 1.25mmsq) to handle the relatively high sustained current required.
- Most are rather long. Think of a cable like a water pipe. If you want high pressure at the end of your 10m garden, you’re not going to achieve it if you use a hosepipe the size of a drinking straw! The longer the distance, the larger diameter host you need to sustain the same flow. This same principle applies to cable.
- DIY store leads are generally made from PVC or blue ‘arctic’ flex. Despite frequent claims that artic cable is ‘heavy duty’, it is far from it. It is prone to mechanical and UV damage and is not recommended for prolonged use outdoors or below 5°C.
- The lead may not be protected by an RCD. Even though the hot tub is fitted with an RCD, this only provides protection for the hot tub lead and unit itself – any supply socket must also be protected by an RCD.
- The socket may not be weatherproof.
Just like the pressure is reduced at the of a long hose pipe, voltage is reduced at the end of any cable. The longer the cable, the greater the reduction in voltage at the end. The smaller the diameter of the cable, the more the voltage reduces with each metre. Using an extension lead with cable which is too small in diameter, or is too long, results in the voltage at the socket end being reduced below an acceptable limit. Known as voltage drop, this is a big issue.
Why? Because as the voltage drops, the hot tub will draw more current to compensate. If this exceeds a certain level, the 13A plug may start to overheat and in extreme cases the plug/fuse holder may start to melt. 13A fuses are unlikely to blow when the current only slightly exceeds a safe level, even over prolonged periods of time. In addition to voltage drop, citing a hot tub further away from the house installation may lead to earthing issues (which are too complicated to go into here!).
If whilst awaiting the installation of a permanent outside socket you do decide to use an extension lead, ensure that it is:
- Constructed from 1.5mmsq rubber cable (known as H07RN-F) for outside use.
- Is fitted with an RCD at the plug end.
- Has a weatherproof socket that remains weatherproof when a plug is inserted, with a minimum IP55 rating.
- The socket can be fixed shut to prevent others from plugging in anything else (teenagers can sniff out a socket for a USB phone charger from miles away!).
- Place the extension socket as far away as the hot tub lead allows, but in any case more than 2m.
- Is the minimum length possible and not longer than 15m.
Weatherproof Sockets
Given the increased risk of mixing electricity and water, it is vital that a hot tub is supplied by a socket which has been tested to ensure that it is wired correctly and is protected by an RCD. If you do not already have a suitably placed outside socket, the safest approach is to ask a Registered Electrician to install one. The cost will depend on a range of factors and the only way to determine this is to ask an Electrician for a quote.
When citing a hot tub, it is important to consider the requirements of the IET Wiring Regulations, which include:
- Even when protected by an RCD, any 13A socket must be cited at least 2m from any swimming pool, hot tub or pond/fountain (Regulation 702.32).
- The socket must be at least 30cm from the ground (Regulation 702.53).
- Any socket must be fit for the purpose. As a general guide, for use near a hot tub, a socket with a minimum IP rating of IP55 (defined as protected against water jets from any direction - hose pipe) would be recommended.
Whilst cheaper outside sockets may save £10-15 at the start, they are prone to UV damage and often less than robust (the small grey clips on one type are prone to breaking). Our Hamilton IP66 outdoor socket is a particularly high quality unit and is one of the few available which closes shut even with the larger 2.5mmsq flex found on some hot tub cables.
Why is an RCD so important?
A residual current device (RCD), is a life-saving unit which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock. It constantly monitors the electric current flowing through the live and neutral wire. If a fault occurs and the live and neutral current become unbalanced (e.g. someone has come into contact with a live wire), the current will flow to earth and the RCD will detect this fault and cut the power immediately.
Within the UK, most domestic RCDs have a rating of 30mA, which may prevent a fatal shock, but also avoids constant nuisance tripping. In higher risk applications, a more sensitive 10mA RCD increases the level of protection provided, which is why most hot tubs are fitted with such a unit. If your hot tub RCD needs replacing, whilst they look identical, never use a 30mA RCD (all RCDs in DIY stores and most online are 30mA), as it was designed for a 10mA unit. We are the only company in the UK to stock in-line 10mA RCDs.
RCDs are often confused with Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs) or fuses. Circuit breakers protect property, RCDs protect people. MCBs trip and cut off the power if too much current flows through a circuit or there is a short circuit. Unlike RCDs they do not protect against the risk of electrocution, as the current required for them to trip would not be generated in such a situation. The fuse in a 13A plug operates in the similar manner, providing protection from an overload or short circuit.
People often write on Facebook that their hot tub lead is safe from over-heating as they have an RCD. RCDs do not protect against overload or short circuit and therefore do nothing to stop anything over heating. It is therefore important that any circuit supplying a hot tub is protected by an appropriate MCB and RCD (or an RCBO which in simple terms in a MCB and RCD combined into one unit).
The RCD plug doesn't fit in my outside socket?
Some hot tubs are helpfully supplied with an RCD built into the plug. Unfortunately, this means that the lid on the outside socket won't close to keep the connection dry.
You can either use our adaptor to replace the RCD plug with an in-line RCD, or fit one of our extra large sockets which accommodates the RCD.
The hot tub has a 2 pin European plug, what can I do?
Due to the demand for hot tubs, some are now being supplied with a European plugs. To comply with the UK Plugs and Socket Regulations, these are supplied with an adaptor. The issue is that the adaptor then means that the plug won't allow the lid on the outside socket to close. Also, the adaptors are often not designed for use with an appliance that requires as much electricity as a hot tub, and are prone to over-heating. You can simply plug in our European socket to UK plug adaptor to resolve the issue. Travel or shaver adaptors must never be used with a hot tub.
How do I know the electricity supply is safe?
As inflatable hot tubs draw a relatively high current over a prolonged period, it is important that you consider how safe the supply may be:
- Domestic electrical installations can deteriorate with use and age. It is therefore important that a periodic inspection is carried out every 10 years for an owner-occupied home and every five years for rented properties or HMOs.
- As sockets age the contacts can loosen, meaning that the contact between the socket and plug pins is not as firm as it should be, which may increase the risk of over heating. We would always recommend using a relatively new branded socket.
- Carefully check the socket for signs of damage, such as brown marks around the receptacles or cracks.
- Only use either a single socket, or a double socket which has nothing else connected to it.
What if the plug or socket become hot or damaged?
If you are at all concerned that the hot tub plug or socket are becoming warm/hot or damaged in any way, stop using it immediately.
Over time due to the current drawn, the clips holding the fuse inside the hot tub cable's plug can become slightly loose. The loose connection generates heat, the heat increases the resistance of the connection, which in turn generates even more heat, until it rises to the point that the plug starts to melt. The picture below is from a hot tub, and shows the classic signs of a loose fuse; the fuse holder itself is melted, and there is a brown mark and/or cracks appearing on the socket due to the heat, mirroring the position of the fuse in the plug.
Following the simple steps within our guide Why does my plug get warm? can help reduce the chance of an issue occurring.
Why do I need to fully uncoil an extension lead?
Extension leads are designed for the cable to be completely unreeled before use. Using a lead which is still coiled, can lead to the build up of heat, with catastrophic results.
What is an electric shock?
During an electric shock, electricity flows through the skin and into the body. The effect of the shock depends on the amount of current and the length of time for which it flows, not merely on the voltage. Current of 1mA will create a tiny tingle, but with an increase to 20mA muscles contract and a person cannot let go of an object. Above 20mA may lead to breathing stopping.
The main risk is electricity flowing through the heart. When current of around 50mA or greater flows through the heart, it stops beating effectively. The heart muscle cells start contracting in a random uncoordinated manor, stopping it from pumping. A shock from a defibrillator is required to stun the heart, in the hope that the special cells which normally cause it to beat in an organised way start to work again.
In addition to stopping the heart beating effectively, an electric shock can also cause:
- Burns to the skin.
- Breathing to stop, either through its effect on the part of the brain that controls it, or causing the diaphragm to spasm.
- Damage to nerves and internal organs.
- Fractures to bones caused by violent contractions.
Why does water make electricity much more hazardous?
The resistance of someone’s skin is one of the most important factors affecting the impact of an electric shock. Dry skin generally has a resistance of between 40,000 - 100,000 ohms. This high resistance limits conduction of potentially life-threatening current to deeper, crucial organs like the heart. Skin resistance is significantly reduced to as low as only 1,000 ohms when wet. As electricity can flow much more easily through wet skin, what might otherwise be a minor tissue injury may turn into a life-threatening shock.
This information is provided as a general guide only; if in any doubt, consult a Registered Electrician. Please note that Tough Leads cannot recommend the use of an extension lead outside of an inflatable hot tub manufacturer’s guidance. It is the responsibility of the user to consider the IET Wiring Regulations, manufacturer's guidance, the safety of the supply and any other relevant risks, before deciding whether to use an extension lead for any given application. This is of particular importance in circumstances where there is an increased risk of electric shock.