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We recently had the pump on our pool replaced. It is an 1.5 HP Hayward PowerFlo LX pump. According to the manual, the motor should be grounded to a ground strap. However, it also states the following:
Bond motor to pool structure. Use a solid copper conductor, size or larger. Run wire from external bonding lug to reinforcing rod or mesh. Connect a No. 8 AWG (8.4 mm²) solid copper bonding wire to the pressure wire connector provided on the motor housing and to all metal parts of swimming pool, spa, or hot tub, and to all electrical equipment, metal piping or conduit within 5 ft. (1.5 m) of inside walls of swimming pool, spa, or hot tub. (In Canada use No. 6 AWG
bonding wire.)
We understand the need to ground the pump motor. However, we have never heard of the need to ground the metal parts of the swimming pool itself. The motor and the pool are connected with plastic hoses. What is the reason to ground the pool structure?
In addition, can anyone tell me how many amps a 1.5 HP pump motor would pull?
Answer
Article 680 of the National Electrical Code states the requirements for swimming pools. It's quite elaborate, so let me give a summary and paraphrase in the process. I base this on the 2002 NEC. There is a newer version in effect.
In the definitions section (680.2), it defines permanently-installed pools and storable pools. Any pool that is in-ground, partially in-ground, or can hold water more than 42 inches deep without spilling is considered to be permanently-installed pool, as is any indoor pool regardless of water depth. Outdoor pools that are above ground and aren't deeper than 42 inch water depth, or have completely non-metallic walls, are considered to be storable pools. Caveat: Your local Authority Having Jusidiction (AHJ) may have a different interpretation.
The NEC makes a distinction between grounding and bonding.
In either type of pool, electrical equipment has to have an electrical grounding conductor (a.k.a. be grounded).
Permanently-installed pools have to have bonded together all (fixed) metal parts in the pool or outside the pool within 5 feet horizontally or overhead within various heights. This includes any metal structure, and the rebar or mesh in the pool walls (except for epoxy-coated rebar). There are a few limited exceptions.
Storable pools don't have the bonding requirement, but all electrical circuits have to be GFCI protected. They do have the grounding requirement, so your pump has to be grounded.
What the code doesn't say is this. Usually above-ground pools have portable filter pumps that are connected via flexible hose and via a power cord. The GFCI requirement and lack of bonding requirement make sense from the standpoint that budget-conscious above-ground pool owners are more likely to provide this level of protection than they are to go the bonding route. Permanent pools usually have buried piping and permanent electrical circuits that often are more extensive, so the opportunities for electrical shock increase, hence the bonding requirement.
And as an aside, long runs of wiring will tend to nuisance-trip a GFCI breaker, especially with underground circuits that are constantly in a wet environment. So applying GFCI protection can be more difficult in permanent installations.
The Hayward instructions appear to assume a permanent pool installation.
In your case, decide which type of installation you have and go from there. It doesn't hurt to have both bonding and GFCI protection. But it would be a mistake to have neither.
=====
Regarding motor amps, the NEC Article 430 requires usage of the following values for design purposes, for a typical 1.5HP single phase motor (Table 430.148):
115V: 20A
230V: 10A
200V: 11.5A
If you operate the motor on 208V single phase, use the 200V value (11.5A).
In terms of actual amps drawn, the value will be somewhat lower as the NEC values have an allowance to cover things such as tolerances, control circuit current, and inefficient motors.
I looked at the nameplate of a 1.5 HP Hayward PowerFlo LX pump. It stated 12.0A at 115V single phase. 12A is significantly less than 20A. The 20A governs for circuit calulcations, but the lower number is more appropriate for energy calculations.
That said, the actual amps drawn can be even less if the mechanical load on the motor presented by the pump is less than 1.5 HP.
Article 680 of the National Electrical Code states the requirements for swimming pools. It's quite elaborate, so let me give a summary and paraphrase in the process. I base this on the 2002 NEC. There is a newer version in effect.
In the definitions section (680.2), it defines permanently-installed pools and storable pools. Any pool that is in-ground, partially in-ground, or can hold water more than 42 inches deep without spilling is considered to be permanently-installed pool, as is any indoor pool regardless of water depth. Outdoor pools that are above ground and aren't deeper than 42 inch water depth, or have completely non-metallic walls, are considered to be storable pools. Caveat: Your local Authority Having Jusidiction (AHJ) may have a different interpretation.
The NEC makes a distinction between grounding and bonding.
In either type of pool, electrical equipment has to have an electrical grounding conductor (a.k.a. be grounded).
Permanently-installed pools have to have bonded together all (fixed) metal parts in the pool or outside the pool within 5 feet horizontally or overhead within various heights. This includes any metal structure, and the rebar or mesh in the pool walls (except for epoxy-coated rebar). There are a few limited exceptions.
Storable pools don't have the bonding requirement, but all electrical circuits have to be GFCI protected. They do have the grounding requirement, so your pump has to be grounded.
What the code doesn't say is this. Usually above-ground pools have portable filter pumps that are connected via flexible hose and via a power cord. The GFCI requirement and lack of bonding requirement make sense from the standpoint that budget-conscious above-ground pool owners are more likely to provide this level of protection than they are to go the bonding route. Permanent pools usually have buried piping and permanent electrical circuits that often are more extensive, so the opportunities for electrical shock increase, hence the bonding requirement.
And as an aside, long runs of wiring will tend to nuisance-trip a GFCI breaker, especially with underground circuits that are constantly in a wet environment. So applying GFCI protection can be more difficult in permanent installations.
The Hayward instructions appear to assume a permanent pool installation.
In your case, decide which type of installation you have and go from there. It doesn't hurt to have both bonding and GFCI protection. But it would be a mistake to have neither.
=====
Regarding motor amps, the NEC Article 430 requires usage of the following values for design purposes, for a typical 1.5HP single phase motor (Table 430.148):
115V: 20A
230V: 10A
200V: 11.5A
If you operate the motor on 208V single phase, use the 200V value (11.5A).
In terms of actual amps drawn, the value will be somewhat lower as the NEC values have an allowance to cover things such as tolerances, control circuit current, and inefficient motors.
I looked at the nameplate of a 1.5 HP Hayward PowerFlo LX pump. It stated 12.0A at 115V single phase. 12A is significantly less than 20A. The 20A governs for circuit calulcations, but the lower number is more appropriate for energy calculations.
That said, the actual amps drawn can be even less if the mechanical load on the motor presented by the pump is less than 1.5 HP.
Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin dells? surfing?
Jme
On the comercial there has been that surf boarding thinggg! and it looks wayyyy fun.. and i was wondering if its outside or inside...for the water parks
Answer
Ive been to the Wilderness several times and Im almost positive there isnt a surfing area. The Kalahari does have surfing though.
However, to answer your question about indoor/outdoors, there are both.
"Wild West" is an indoor waterpark with a small wavepool, a kid play structure, indoor/outdoor hot tub, a few body slides/raft slides, a large family size raft slide, and the "Cannonbowl" which is the "toilet bowl" raft ride. This is open year round.
"Klondike Cavern" is also indoors, with a kid play structure, indoor/outdoor hot tub, body slides and raft slides, and the "Hurricane", a raft ride where you go down a steep drop and into a funnel. Also open year round.
Connected to Klondike Cavern by a walkway, there is the Wild Waterdome which has a glass roof that lets you tan in the winter. It has a giant wave pool and a few raft rides, and a small kid area.
Of course, in the winter, the outdoor areas are closed, but here are the descriptions if you are going in the summer.
"Lake Wilderness" is located outside of "Wild West". It has a basketball/lap pool, body slides and tube slides, climbing structure, kids area, large hot tub, and a pool with an island in the middle to sit on.
"New Frontier" is located outside of "Klondike Kavern" with a kids play structure, lazy river, basketball pool, hot tub, and tube and body slides.
"Lost World" is located behind the Glacier Canyon Lodge, another resort connected to the Wilderness by skywalk (no charge to use their waterpark). It has a large two level lazy river, kids area, and hot tub. It also has "Halleys Comet Racers", a series of slides in which riders lay on mats on their stomachs and race each other down.
Also, the Wilderness has an indoor arcade and foam play structure, with an indoor/outdoor hot tub right by that opens into "Lake Wilderness"
http://wildernessresort.com/
If you are going to the Wilderness, I suggest eating at Moosejaw, a tradition for us. Its down the road.
Ive been to the Wilderness several times and Im almost positive there isnt a surfing area. The Kalahari does have surfing though.
However, to answer your question about indoor/outdoors, there are both.
"Wild West" is an indoor waterpark with a small wavepool, a kid play structure, indoor/outdoor hot tub, a few body slides/raft slides, a large family size raft slide, and the "Cannonbowl" which is the "toilet bowl" raft ride. This is open year round.
"Klondike Cavern" is also indoors, with a kid play structure, indoor/outdoor hot tub, body slides and raft slides, and the "Hurricane", a raft ride where you go down a steep drop and into a funnel. Also open year round.
Connected to Klondike Cavern by a walkway, there is the Wild Waterdome which has a glass roof that lets you tan in the winter. It has a giant wave pool and a few raft rides, and a small kid area.
Of course, in the winter, the outdoor areas are closed, but here are the descriptions if you are going in the summer.
"Lake Wilderness" is located outside of "Wild West". It has a basketball/lap pool, body slides and tube slides, climbing structure, kids area, large hot tub, and a pool with an island in the middle to sit on.
"New Frontier" is located outside of "Klondike Kavern" with a kids play structure, lazy river, basketball pool, hot tub, and tube and body slides.
"Lost World" is located behind the Glacier Canyon Lodge, another resort connected to the Wilderness by skywalk (no charge to use their waterpark). It has a large two level lazy river, kids area, and hot tub. It also has "Halleys Comet Racers", a series of slides in which riders lay on mats on their stomachs and race each other down.
Also, the Wilderness has an indoor arcade and foam play structure, with an indoor/outdoor hot tub right by that opens into "Lake Wilderness"
http://wildernessresort.com/
If you are going to the Wilderness, I suggest eating at Moosejaw, a tradition for us. Its down the road.
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Title Post: Is it necessary to ground the steel structure of an above ground pool?
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