Like the other parts of your home, swimming pools require electricity to function. You may need some hardware to attach lugs as they do not come with any. According to InterNACHI's Home Inspection. When wiring a single speed pool pump motor of either voltage, 3 wires bring power from the breaker, timer or switch, and connect to the terminal board of the motor. If you have a metal deck consider adding another 20 feet to touch it in two to three spots. How to Wire an Above-ground Pool Pump. Don't risk your life – electricity can kill! The electrical equipment for swimming pools must be grounded and connected by wiring methods in accordance with the NFPA 70 National Electric Code®. Hayward and your local pool professional are committed to providing you with a safe, enjoyable poolside experience. Safety Guidlines for Home Pools. That's the old method, now you start at the electrical service with #8 bare copper wire and do a continuous loop around the pool 12-18 inches from the wall touching it in 4 spots, touching the water bonding plate, and touching the pump. In the majority of cases, an electrician will ground your pool equipment by attaching a ground wire to the electrical panel that supplies power to your pool systems. There are two "timer dogs" on the dial. It's because the power does not pass through the bird, and this is why we bond above ground swimming pools, to prevent getting electrocuted.
Resources: All of the tools and materials used can be found at local home centers or electrical supply centers. When inspecting the pool or spa, check for unfinished or poor workmanship, particularly with the electrical components, wiring and installation. The goal of grounding is to direct and dissipate any harmful electrical current to the ground and away from pool equipment, people and pets. If they are turning, check that the dial is not bent, which would prevent the trippers from contacting the switch as they come around. But bonding and grounding are actually two totally different processes. How do bonding and grounding work together in a pool? In this article I will first explain why, and then how to bond an above ground swimming pool. Above ground pool grounding diagrammes. Wiring two-speed pumps is a little different – there are 4 wires instead of 3. Bonding is necessary because, even when grounded, electrical equipment can still accumulate charge over time. How Do You Bond Pool Equipment? This is referred to as equipotential bonding.
Equipment Pad Wiring: Most modern pools will have a sub-panel at the equipment pad that houses the breakers for the electrical equipment; such as the filter pump, air blower, underwater lights, electrical outlet (GFCI), time clocks, electronic heater, automatic cover, control systems, etc.. Connections of bonded parts must be made in accordance with the NEC® (refer to Section 250. To convert to a dual speed pump, you'll need to add the fourth wire, and switch out the time clock to a two speed clock, or the PE153 digital time clock, which can accept the fourth wire. Wear rubber-soled shoes and rubber gloves. Inspecting Grounding and Bonding at Residential Swimming Pools - InterNACHI®. Any handrails or other exposed metal near your pool. Connecting a salt system to the pool pump timeclock is the preferred method, so that the salt cell is not powered up while the pool pump is off. They also should be listed for direct burial.
I commonly advise pool owners to operate the filter system during the day, so that processes are active while the sun is beating down and the pool is most likely to be in use. FREE Standard Shipping On All Orders! Attach bonding lugs to pool. If the clock is close to shutting off, the tripper may prevent you from manually turning it off by flipping the tab switch. If your timeclock or sub-panel is infested, a can of Raid™ should do the trick. Above ground pool grounding. Wet-niche luminaires supplied by a flexible cord must have all exposed non-current-carrying metal parts grounded. Take InterNACHI's free, online How to Inspect Pools and Spas Course now. The pool water itself, which you can achieve by adding a pool ladder to your pool and bonding it to your bonding grid. Wire the twist-lock receptacle. Fish two 12-2 nonmetallic cables through the hole into the basement, then attach them to a plastic electrical box. If conducting a visual-only inspection, stick to using your eyes only and not your hands.
Salt Chlorinators can be purchased with an attached plug – powered by a GFCI outlet that is properly grounded. The fourth wire is the low-speed wire. The skimmer bonding plate and the pump come with bonding lugs so you may only need four more to connect to the pool frame or wall. Home inspectors should advise homeowners to consult or hire an electrician instead of doing any electrical work themselves. In a standard electric wire, one wire is charged (or "hot") and the other is neutral. Loose wiring and cover plates, broken conduit and connections can be hazardous. The Role of Electrical Bonding and Grounding in Pool Safety. However, for many people, this is one of the most puzzling aspects of pool construction. After answering some frequently asked questions about pool bonding, I will then break down the steps and help you figure out what supplies you need.
An electrician bonds pool equipment by connecting it all together with conductive wire also known as a bonding wire when it comes to pools. 14, finally add 25 feet to that. It is important to remember that water and electricity don't mix. Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters. It doesn't matter which wire goes to which terminal. One turns the timer switch on, allowing power to go to the filter pump, and the other turns the switch off, stopping power from going past the timer to the filter pump. Above ground swimming pool grounding. Be aware of your surroundings when performing an inspection, especially when there are electrical components and water in close proximity to each other. If there is an electrical problem with the pool equipment, a fault could occur and charge the entire pool or spa, making it fatally hazardous. The same goes for other pool equipment. First off, don't mess around with the wires while the power is on – shut off ALL of the breakers, and the time clock. The video below teaches you how to install a skimmer bonding plate and explains a lot of what is also on this page. But they are just one element of an overall bonded and grounded pool electrical system. The pump that moves pool water and keeps it clean could not operate without electricity. Failure to wire the pump correctly can cause electrical shock or can damage your pump motor and void your warranty.
If the bird could reach a different potential, like a ground wire or a wire with a different current/potential, then current would flow through the bird, and it would fry like a piece of chicken at Kentucky Fried Chicken, maybe Popeyes for you Southerners. But this is a bad idea for a few reasons. In some ways, this is the same basic concept as a static shock from touching a doorknob. Follow the instructions on the inside of the heater or consult the owner's manual for instructions specific to your heater model. Older, simpler pools may simply have a switch to turn the filter pump on, and perhaps a switch for the underwater light. Let's dive into bonding and grounding the pool's electrical system, a largely misunderstood concept of pool safety. If an inspector finds out you did your own work you could be hit with code violations and be forced to re-do everything according to local and national electrical code. Without proper bonding and grounding, you and other pool users run the risk of electric shock when using your pool or equipment. When electricity is properly connected, your pool is up and running!
If not, you'll need to hire a local electrician to do a 'heavy up' to the equipment pad, to bring more power from the main breaker box. But, as you can imagine, electrical safety is very important whenever water is involved. They want you to use a bolt and nut to attach lug to frame or pool wall. 220V is slightly more efficient and a better choice for either pump, and hard wiring it directly from a breaker and timeclock is the preferred method. Don't stand in water when working with or inspecting electrical equipment. Run conduit from the box into the trench. Your pool professional's licensed electrician is familiar with pools. I don't like putting holes in the pool wall, so I'll usually connect to the bottom wall track or any other metal framing. Maybe the local pool store has a list of installers in your area who are familiar with what to dolinadu said:I felt it one day last week and also today. This is because the electric current is seeking the path of least resistance toward a positive charge. In the case of pool equipment, though, the charge can also jump through the water or even through people as it seeks the ground.