A 240 V, 4-wire circuit — two hots, a neutral, and the equipment ground
Four wires, three jobs: L1+L2 carry the 240 V load, the neutral serves any 120 V accessories, and the ground clears faults. Spas and EV chargers use dedicated 4-wire (or 3-wire, no-neutral) circuits.
What this diagram shows
Diagram of a 240-volt, 4-wire branch circuit from a double-pole breaker in the main panel to the load. Two hot conductors (L1 and L2) deliver 240 volts between them, the white neutral enables 120-volt accessories such as controls and lights, and the green or bare equipment grounding conductor provides the fault-clearing path. Modern hot tubs and many large appliances require all four wires on a dedicated circuit.
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Hot Tub Wiring Calculator
What size wire and breaker for a hot tub? Free NEC Article 680 calculator — GFCI circuit, wire gauge, the 5-ft disconnect rule, bonding, and burial depth.
