The details of 120v & 240v Spas 

A spa is the perfect place to relax, recover, and spend time with family and friends. When shopping for a hot tub, you’re faced with dozens of decisions, and one of the largest purchase decisions is whether to buy a 120V spa or a 240V spa. In this weeks post we will talk about the differences between a 120V converting a 120v to a 240v and a 240V Spa. First of all a plug-and-play spa plugs into a standard household 120V 15amp outlet — no special wiring needed! If you want a larger tub that 5 or 6 people can enjoy at the same time, look at a 240V hot tub it must be hardwired to the power supply by an electrical contractor and approved by a local building/electrical inspector.

Benefits of a 120V Spa

One of the nicest things about 120v or “plug and play” hot tubs is that once it’s sitting in your backyard, all you have to do to enjoy it is fill it up and plug it in. You don’t need to hire an electrician and hard wire anything. Because it only draws 11 amps, it can be plugged into a regular outdoor outlet. If you are in a really cold climate, the 120-volt hot tub may also find it hard to keep the temperature up, especially if you have the cover off.

Additional benefits of 120v Spa:

• Simple, fast set up. All you have to do is plug it in.
• You can finally own a hot tub even if you’re renting your home, since you don’t have to alter any electrical wiring.
• Because they can be plugged in anywhere, can easily rearrange your backyard or take your spa with you if you move.

Converting a 120V spa to 240V

Now let’s talk about converting a plug-n-play spa to 240 volts. A misconception that we hear all the time is that converting a spa to 240 volts will increase the jet power. That is completely false. Converting a hot tub from 120v to 240v has absolutely no effect whatsoever on jet performance. You will however see a difference in the time it takes to heat the water on the initial fill. When the hot tub is converted to 240v, the heater gets more power. With American spas, the heater goes from 1kw to 4kw when converted to 240v.

• Because of the added power of the heater, the spa is able to heat the water faster. This is really only a benefit when you are heating the water for the first time. Both 120v and 240v spas will keep the water hot around the clock.
• 240v spas can heat the water while the jets are on high or low. 120v spas can only heat the water while the jets are on low.

All American Spa 120v plug-n-play hot tub, but can easily be converted to 240 volts by a licensed electrician. And regardless of your chosen voltage, all of our Spas come fully insulated for maximum heat retention so your spa is always hot and ready, whenever you are.

Benefits of a 240V Spa

The Upside to a 240v Spa is that it will heat twice as fast as a 120v reducing the time you wait to jump in and enjoy it. A 240-volt hot tub will heat the water much faster and it will keep the water at your desired temperature, up to 104 degrees, even in the winter months.

Additional Benefits for 240V Spa:

• Allows for a faster initial heating of the water and maintains water temperature, regardless of the pump speed that you are using.
• 240-volt tubs allow you to choose from a larger selection of tubs, which can include larger pumps, more seats and more jets.
• A larger body of water, with a larger filter is easier to keep clean than a smaller hot tub.
• 240V spas can have 4 or 5 horsepower pumps, and can power pumps, heater, lights, stereo and more, all at the same time.

Ultimately, the 120 volt Spa will cost less, have less jets, be a mid-size unit, not require an electrician for installation and is portable. The 240-volt Spa will have a more powerful heater and more jets and a larger amount of water/room and requires a certified electrician. Whether the spa operates at 120v or 240v, some things remain the same. The construction of the spa is made of the same materials the power of the jets is also the same. Keep in mind that although the added expense of running and maintaining a hot tub may be a concern, at the end of the day your costs of owning and operating a hot tub come in less than what you may be paying each month for the chiropractor, masseuse, or club membership. American Spas offers a diverse line up of spas for every lifestyle and price point, visit our showroom to learn more about specific models and pricing contact us with specific questions.  We are here to help you find the spa for your needs. 

 

 

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