The Ella ShaK with all four therapies, air massage, seat hydro massage, independent foot and calf hydro massage and the optional microbubble system, needs three dedicated 20 amp, 120 volt GFCI protected circuits, each serving the tub and nothing else. That count comes from the schematic Ella publishes for the ShaK and Big4One, the only single-seat diagram in the family that shows three wall outlets. How Many GFCI Circuits Does My Walk-In Tub Need? gives the rule for the whole line, and this page walks through the ShaK's equipment, the line count for each package and what your licensed electrician needs before rough-in.
What the ShaK Runs on
The ShaK is never sold as a soaker. It ships with the digital-controller Air + dual Hydro package, and the microbubble system is the fourth therapy, added as an option. The current spec sheet lists the equipment under the seat as:
- Seat hydro massage: a 9A 900W pump driving 15 upper seat jets, with an intensity dial air control, run from the digital controller.
- Foot and calf hydro massage: a separate 7A 900W pump driving 4 foot and 2 calf jets, with its own intensity dial and an on/off push control. The 6A 650W in-line water heater and the 0.04A ozone sterilization are listed with this system.
- Air massage: a 4.5A 500W three-speed pump feeding 12 seat jets and 4 foot jets, with Auto Purge that activates 20 minutes after the pump is turned off, run from the digital controller.
- LED chromatherapy: a multicolor 0.5A LED bulb with a transformer, controlled from the digital control pad.
- Optional microbubble therapy: a 1 HP 7.3A pump with a pressure vessel, an agitator valve and an on/off push control.
- Optional heated seat and backrest.
The spec sheet states that this equipment is 115V 60Hz and connects to a dedicated GFCI protected outlet or a GFCI protected circuit breaker. It also carries a printed disclaimer that the amp value for each pump may change based on availability, so the figures above are the published ones and the team can confirm them for your order. The launch announcement counts 37 jets on the ShaK, including 3 bidet jets, on two hydro motors. The Ella ShaK 36x72: The Largest Single-Seat Walk-In Tub profile has the rest of the model detail.
How Many Circuits for Each ShaK Package
Ella's published line counts follow the therapy package, not the model name. Every cord on the tub carries its own label, and each labeled cord needs its own dedicated 20 amp, 120 volt GFCI protected circuit.
- Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot, the package the ShaK ships with: the published list places Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot at two dedicated lines.
- Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Microbubble, all four therapies: three dedicated lines. This is the package the three-outlet schematic covers, and the ShaK and Big4One are the only single-seat tubs on the three-line list, alongside the two-seat tubs with the full package.
Confirm the count against the cords on your tub or the package sheet packed with it, and ask the team to email the electrical diagram for your exact package so the electrician has the outlet count and location before the walls close. What Is a Dedicated Circuit for a Walk-In Tub? explains what dedicated means and lists the counts for the whole line.
What the Three-Outlet Schematic Shows
The diagram is titled Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Microbubble Therapy with Digital Controller and prints two model names, Shak and Big4One, because both tubs share the same therapy architecture. The revision date printed on it is 01-08-26. It shows three wall outlets labeled #1, #2 and #3, and each carries the same printed requirement: wall outlet, GFCI protected, dedicated line, 20 AMP, 120 Volts. The legend numbers eight components: the air massage system with its variable speed pump and auto purge, the seat hydro system, the foot hydro system, the optional microbubble system with its pump and pressure vessel, the in-line water heater control box, the electronic component controller drawn as the Master Box, the ozone generator and the LED light.
The reason for the third line is the size of the equipment stack. Two hydro pumps, an air pump, an in-line heater, an ozone generator, an LED light and a microbubble pump all draw current while a bather is in the water, and spreading them over three dedicated circuits keeps each line within its 20 amp rating. Share the PDF with your electrician before the tub arrives. What the Shak and Big4One Digital Schematic Shows: Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Microbubble on Three Dedicated Lines goes through the diagram component by component.
Planning the Rough-In with Your Electrician
- Count the labeled cords on the tub or read the package sheet. The stickers read Line 1 20 Amp, Line 2 20 Amp and so on, and each cord equals one dedicated 20 amp GFCI circuit.
- Use 20 amp circuits. A 15 amp line can work on some lighter packages, but 20 amps is the published standard, and the ShaK's packages are among the heaviest single-seat loads in the line.
- Put one GFCI on each line, at the breaker or at the receptacle. One or the other is sufficient, and doubling up is not needed.
- Place the outlets under the seat area, inside or directly behind the equipment compartment, so every pump and heater cord reaches without an extension cord. Extension cords are never used.
- Check the plug type. Some master control boxes carry a 20 amp plug with one blade turned sideways, which needs a 20 amp receptacle.
- Keep other appliances at least 3 feet from the tub, and leave the equipment compartment uninsulated and reachable so the outlets and the blue control box can be serviced.
Every Ella tub is plug-in, never hardwired, and every component ends in a standard three-prong plug that goes into its own outlet. All models run on 115/120V, 60 Hz household power, and a 240V version is not a published option. All Ella pumps and heaters are ETL certified.
Why the ShaK Needs More Than a 52 Inch Tub
Ella installs a separate pump and motor for every massage system rather than a diverter, so everything runs at the same time at full pressure. The trade-off is space under the tub, which is why a 52 inch frame is limited to two systems on most models while the 72 inch ShaK carries all four. Can One Walk-In Tub Have Air, Hydro, Microbubble and Foot Massage Together? lists the models that fit four pumps. Because the wiring is done locally, have your licensed electrician confirm the extra lines can be run before you place the order. Ella supplies the diagram and the parts under the warranty, and a local licensed electrician does the work. When you contact the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850, have your package name, the number of cords, the labels on them, a photo of the outlets and your model and serial number ready.