Where to Put the Outlet: Seat-Side Placement, Cord Reach, the 20 Amp Receptacle, GFCI Under the Tub, and the Three Foot Rule

Ella walk-in tubs are plug-in, never hardwired. Every pump and heater runs on ordinary 120 volt household power, and each labeled line plugs into its own dedicated, GFCI-protected 20 amp outlet. The best place for that outlet is inside or directly behind the equipment compartment under the seat, so every factory cord reaches without an extension, and many installers put the GFCI at that outlet so it can be reset without pulling the tub apart. Keep other appliances at least 3 feet away and leave the compartment uninsulated.

Plug-In, 120 Volts, Dedicated 20 Amp Circuits

There is no 240 volt wiring and nothing to hardwire. Each electrical line on the tub ends in a standard three-prong plug, and the number of lines depends on the jetting package: a hydro-only or single air-plus-hydro tub uses one line, packages that add independent foot massage or microbubbles use two, and the largest digital packages use three. The exact count for your tub is listed under the jetting packages tab on the website and on your model's spec sheet, and it is tabulated model by model in electrical requirements by model. Two exceptions are worth a look before rough-in: the Flow is specified for a 15 amp outlet, and a soaking tub whose only electrical item is the heated seat and backrest needs a 15 amp, 120 volt line because it has no pumps. Both are covered in electrical common questions.

Each line must be dedicated. The tub cannot share a circuit with any other appliance, and every line must be GFCI protected.

This video is the one to send your electrician. It explains that the electrical lines are labeled at the factory for easy identification, that dedicated GFCI-protected outlets are required, and where to find the outlet and line count for each tub. In practice the steps are: Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Proper Electrical Installation For Your Walk-In Tub with chapters and a full transcript.

1. Read the jetting package tab or your model's spec sheet for the number of outlets your tub needs.
2. Note the labels on the cords. They read line 1 20 amp, line 2 20 amp, and so on, or simply one line 20 amp on single-line tubs.
3. Confirm GFCI protection on each dedicated line, either at the receptacle or at the breaker.

Where the Outlet Goes

All of the pumps, the in-line heater and the blue control box live in the equipment compartment under and behind the seat and backrest, and the cords exit there. Put the outlet inside that compartment or on the wall directly behind it, and every cord will reach. Which end of the tub that is depends on the door and drain configuration you ordered, so have your electrician check the drawing for your model and configuration before rough-in, and ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 if you are unsure which end the equipment sits on.

Because the outlet ends up behind a panel, plan for it. The front apron and end panels are removable so you can reach plumbing and electrical later, so leave that access clear. Do not insulate around the compartment, because pumps and electronics need airflow to stay cool.

The Receptacle, the Wire and the GFCI

Some control boxes carry a standard three-prong plug, while others carry a true 20 amp plug that you can recognize by its one horizontal blade. That plug needs a 20 amp receptacle with the matching horizontal slot; a standard 15 amp receptacle will not accept it. Have your electrician run wire sized for a 20 amp circuit, which is usually 12 AWG, and confirm against your local code.

GFCI protection can be at the panel with a GFCI breaker or at the outlet with a GFCI receptacle. We favor the GFCI at the outlet under the tub, because when it trips you can reset it by removing the access panel instead of walking to the basement. Either way, every line needs it. If a GFCI fails its test button, or keeps tripping, stop using the tub and read breaker or GFCI keeps tripping before calling an electrician.

Which Cord Goes Where

The cords are labeled at the factory. On a hydro-only tub, or a single-seat air plus hydro tub, the pumps, ozone generator, in-line heater and any heated seat run from the blue control box on one labeled line. On packages with independent foot massage, the second hydro pump is powered together with the in-line heater on its own labeled line, so there is a second plug. The sticker on each cord tells your electrician which line it belongs to, and a tub with two labeled lines needs two dedicated outlets. If you find a cord you cannot identify after the install, which cord plugs where identifies every one.

The 3 Foot Rule and the Water Test

No other appliance should be within 3 feet of the tub. Before the walls are finished, run the required pre-installation water test: fill the tub 3 inches above the highest jet, let it stand for 30 minutes, then run every electrical component on its own outlet for another 30 minutes while you watch the unions. Never run the pumps before water covers all the jets, because dry running damages them permanently. The full procedure is in the pre-installation water test.

Related Guides

• What to Do When a Tub Power Cord Is Too Short to Reach the Receptacle
• Installing a Walk-In Tub in a Wet Room: Keeping the Electrical Compartment Dry
• T-Shaped Plug Does Not Fit the Outlet: The 20 Amp Plug on Your Walk-In Tub Cord
• Why Does the Ella Flow Use a 15 Amp GFCI Outlet, Not 20?

Common Questions

If your electrician has a question about your specific package, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model and the labels on your cords, or call (800) 480-6850, and the team will confirm the line count with you.