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What Is a Dedicated Circuit for a Walk-In Tub?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary5
  1. How It Works
  2. Which Ella Models Have It
  3. What to Know as an Owner
  4. Related Guides
  5. Common Questions

A dedicated circuit is an electrical line that serves only the walk-in tub and is shared with no other appliance, light or outlet. Electricians also call it a dedicated line. Every Ella tub with pumps runs on one or more dedicated GFCI-protected 20A/120V circuits, and the number of lines follows the therapy package on your order rather than the model name.

How It Works

Each pump, heater and control module on the tub carries its own labeled cord ending in a standard three-prong plug. Ella tubs are plug-in, never hardwired, and the lines are labeled so the electrician can match each cord to its own outlet. Every Ella model runs on 115/120V, 60 Hz household power; a 240V version is not a published option. Because the pumps and in-line heater draw real current while a bather is in the water, each line gets its own breaker and GFCI protection.

The published line counts are:

  • 1 line: hydro only; air only (LayDown); microbubble only (LayDown); single-seat Air + Hydro.
  • 2 lines: Hydro + Microbubble; Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot; and single-seat variants that add microbubble or a heated seat.
  • 3 lines: the Shak and Big4One digital Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Micro package, and the two-seat full package.
Rear view of a NuWhirl walk-in tub control module with its standard three-prong plug marked for a GFCI-protected outlet
Every tub component ends in a standard plug that goes into its own dedicated, GFCI-protected outlet.

Which Ella Models Have It

Every Ella tub with a pump requires at least one dedicated circuit, from the hydro-only Standard, Zen and Flow through the two-seat family. The Flow is the one model specified at 15A rather than 20A, and a soaking tub whose only electrical item is the heated seat needs a 15A/120V line. Your exact count depends on your package and is tabulated in electrical requirements by model. If you are still choosing a package, therapy combinations by model shows what each tub can carry.

What to Know as an Owner

Never use an extension cord, and keep other appliances at least 3 feet from the tub. All Ella pumps and heaters are ETL certified, and the certifications article explains what the marks mean. Leave the equipment compartment uninsulated and reachable so the outlets and the blue control box can be serviced. The outlet placement guide shows where the receptacles belong so every cord reaches without strain.

If the tub loses power or a breaker trips, start with the tripping breaker article. When you open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850, have your therapy package name, the number of cords on the tub and the labels printed on them, a photo of the outlets, and your model and serial number ready.

Common Questions

Does a walk-in tub need a dedicated circuit?
Yes, every Ella tub with pumps requires at least one dedicated GFCI-protected 20A/120V circuit, installed by a licensed electrician. A dedicated circuit is an electrical line that serves only the walk-in tub and is shared with no other appliance, light, or outlet. The number of dedicated lines needed depends on the therapy package ordered, not the model name, and can be one, two, or three lines.
How many circuits does my Ella tub need?
It depends on the therapy package: one line for hydro only or single-seat Air + Hydro, two lines for packages that add independent foot massage or microbubbles, and three lines for the Shak and Big4One digital full package and the two-seat full package. The electrical requirements article prints the full table.
Is an Ella walk-in tub hardwired or plug-in?
Ella walk-in tubs are always plug-in, never hardwired. Each pump, heater, and control module on the tub has its own labeled cord ending in a standard three-prong plug. These plugs go into their own dedicated, GFCI-protected outlets, which the electrician matches to the labeled cords.
Can I run the tub on an extension cord?
No, extension cords are not permitted for any Ella tub. To ensure every factory cord reaches without strain, the electrician should place the dedicated GFCI outlets according to the outlet placement guide. Additionally, keep other appliances at least 3 feet from the tub.
Is there a 240 volt version of the tub?
No. Every Ella model runs on 115/120V, 60 Hz household power, and a 240V version is not a published option. If the bathroom already has a 240V line, the electrician will need to provide 120V dedicated circuits for the tub.

About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.

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