GFCI Breakers And Swimming Pool Equipment – What We Know And Our Recommendations. The National Electric Code requires that all swimming pool pumps be connected to a GFCI breaker.
GFCI protection is now essentially required for all receptacles that supply power above the low-voltage contact limit to equipment that handles pool water. This requirement is in addition to the GFCI protection required for 120V through 240V, single-phase pool pump motors.
Pool pump motors require GFCI protection. At permanently installed swimming pools at dwelling units, 680.22(A)(3) requires at least one 125-volt, 15- or 20-ampere receptacle to be installed within a 1.83 m (6 ft) to 6.0 m (20 ft) distance from the inside wall of the pool.
GFCI protection is required for ALL receptacles that supply power to the pool equipment, such as water heaters and pump motors.
1. What Is Needed GFCI Breaker For A Pool Pump? On average any water source that you come in contact to that has electricity will need to have GFCI protection. This GFCI protection or ground fault circuit protection will detect anything over 5 mA of leakage to ground to trip the breaker if anything were to happen.
So, if the wire in the extension cord is too thin then the cord can eventually burn up or overheat causing the pump not to run. Also, because the pump uses a lot of power, the outlet that you plug the extension cord into should be on what is called a “dedicated circuit”.
A typical above ground pool pump will require a 20-amp breaker and use #12 gauge wire to deliver the electricity.
(1) Install a 20 amp GFCI at the main breaker panel for the dedicated 240 line for the pool pump. Neutral wire from GFCI attaches to ground/neutral bus which is the same at the main. (2) Add 240 Disconnect by pool pump. (3) Add Intermatic PS3000 surge protector by connecting it to disconnect.
Insulated ground wire is required for grounding pumps. Making a mistake grounding and bonding a swimming pool pump can be deadly. Grounding enables faster circuit breaker action, and bonding ties conductive metal parts together so they have the same electrical potential. Together, both reduce the risk of fatal shock.
Plug in the pool pump and cover it with a weatherproof cover. With the main service off to the house, wire in GFCI circuit breakers to the electrical panel. Connect an 8-gauge wire to the metal posts of the pool, the pump, and the metal plate on the skimmer and then wire that to the pump to bond the entire pool.
Running your pump with an extension cord voids the warranty in most cases. Running the pool pump motor with an extension cord that is not adequately paired for the filter's power will damage the motor. At times, pool owners, however, use extension cords in lieu of a costly job to bury a power line beneath the ground.
A common question that comes up a lot with new owners is, “Do above ground pools need electricity?” Well, if your pool has a water pump, you're definitely going to need access to electricity.
You can not use an extension cord ... it is not safe. You either need to run conduit and install a new GFCI protected outlet near the pump or move the pump over to the existing outlet and extend the plumbing.
Electrical Outlet Receptacles
Outlet receptacles for general use can be no closer than 20 feet from a pool or in-ground spa if they are not GFCI-protected, and no closer than 6 feet away if they are GFCI protected.
Assuming a standard-sized pool, you can expect to pay $150 to $250 to run electricity out towards the pool. If you have a larger pool and your breaker panel cannot handle the additional load, you'll require a sub-panel separate from your main breaker panel.
Yes, the cord can get wet. When I do unplug the filter, I would cover the plug.
Depending on the size of your pool and your pool pump, the extension cord must be rated to provide the right amount of power needed. Larger pool pumps can really use a lot of power and need a very heavy-duty extension cord. You need to find the amperage that your pump uses to run.
Above-ground swimming pools are available in four basic depths: 42 inches, 48 inches, 52 inches and 54 inches.
Why do you have to bond an above ground swimming pool? Bonding your pool is a safety measure to prevent accidentally getting electrocuted or seriously injured. You need to create a field around your swimming pool by attaching the bonding wire to the metal deck, pool equipment, metal pool wall, and even the water.
This normally takes the electrical provider three to six weeks to install and can cost from $750–$1500. Well, there you have it: a cost guide for wiring an inground pool.
680.21(C) GFCI Protection.
Outlets supplying all pool motors on branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground and 60 amperes or less, single- or 3-phase, shall be provided with Class A ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.
The pool light must be installed on a GFCI circuit. That means that the wires coming to the pool light J-box must come from a GFCI breaker. These are often easy to spot by the yellow Test button, and are usually 20 amp breakers.
Receptacles that provide power for water-pump motors or other loads directly related to the circulation and sanitation system shall be of the grounding type, located not less than 6 feet from the inside walls of pools and outdoor spas and hot tubs, and ground-fault circuit-interrupter protected.
If you do not bond your pool equipment there is the risk that the equipment itself will become the anode in a galvanic couple with other metal components in or around your pool. If this happens, the anode metals will deteriorate at an advanced rate, a phenomenon called galvanic corrosion.
All above-ground pools must have a water filtering system, which uses a pump powered by an electric motor to remove contaminants from the water. All electrical outlets around an above-ground pool must be properly grounded to prevent any current from reaching the water.