Last updated on August 14th, 2022 at 01:28 pm
In colder climates, a pool heat pump comes up as complementary and mandatory equipment for swimming pools.
However, since connections to the pool are sometimes underground and sometimes neglected even above ground, how can you ensure safety with this device and the current it carries? Do you need a GFCI for your pool heat pump?
A pool heat pump needs a Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter (GFCI) for safety. This is now an NEC requirement for all electrical installations associated with or simply close to a swimming pool, including a pool heat pump. The GFCI helps to shut off the current supply instantly when ground faults are detected or in the event of a sudden power surge. GFCI protection for a pool heat pump not only protects devices but also saves lives by preventing electrocution.
Can You Use Pool Heat Pumps Without GFCI?
You can use a pool heat pump without a GFCI; however, this is against current NEC regulations. It is also very unsafe for pool users, and your pool pump motor as well.
Before revising the NEC regulation of 2007, it was not a requirement for pool heat pumps to use GFCI protection. During this period, pool pump motors ran without GFCI protection, and they did just fine.
Notwithstanding, considering the dangers, a ground leakage could pose, this requirement is included in the NEC regulation to enhance the safety of lives and properties.
Therefore, even if a pool heat pump runs just fine without GFCI protection, you should stick to the current NEC regulations regarding pool pump motor installation and replacement. Doing so will guarantee your safety in and around the pool as well as the safety of your devices!
Does 240V Pool Pump Need GFCI?
All single-phase pool pump motors require GFCI protection upon installation. This requirement is also in line with the NEC regulations. Thus, a GFCI is required to ensure safety when employing a 240V pool pump.
Under normal conditions, as little as 110 volts current alternating above 20MA is enough to cause serious harm to humans.
Given this, a 240 volts current passing through a pool pump motor, if leaked and conducted by water, can cause even more devastating consequences and for good reasons.
GFCI connected to pool pump motors act as automatic circuit breakers. They detect ground faults such as leakage in current and automatically disconnect the conducting wires from the circuit. This action is referred to as ‘tripping’.
An interesting feature of the GFCI is its resettable ability. A GFCI is capable of resetting itself when a minor fault is cleared in a circuit.
Meaning that if a minor issue such as fluctuations is experienced, the GFCI protects your device by shutting out the power supply and restoring activity once the current flow is stabilized.
The protective ability of GFCI, even when used with a 240V pool pump, is enhanced with its response time. A GFCI can respond within split seconds, precisely in one-thirtieth (1/30th) of a second!
When A Pool Pump Motor is Replaced, What Does the NEC Require Regarding GFCI Protection?
As of 2020, a new section of the NEC, section 680.21(D), now requires the integration of GFCI protection when replacing pool pump motors. This directive is also applicable if GFCI protection was not a requirement at the time of the original installation.
Pool pump motors require replacement only at the point of failure, which could take a long time. Over the years, pool pump motors have been installed and operated when GFCI protection was not a requirement.
However, to replace these motor pumps, GFCI protection is now a standing NEC requirement that applies to them.
An extra effort has to be made to fit in GFCI protection when replacing a pool pump motor to align with regulations and for the user to ensure protection for the future even though the previous motor-operated all these years safely.
Remember, the connection is aging, and so the chances of developing ground fault increase!
And, of course, installing GFCI protection when replacing a pool pump motor does not necessarily require rewiring the circuit. All you need to do is connect your supplying circuit to a GFCI before plugging in your pool pump motor.
It would be a lot more helpful if you used a dedicated circuit for your pool pump motor. In this case, you could readily add a ‘disconnect’ to your GFCI. Doing this will maximize safety not just for the pool users but for your device as well.
What Kind of Outlet Do I Need for a Pool Pump?
To ensure the safety and durability of your pool pump connection, you are required to use a 20 amps breaker for the supply outlets. Additionally, it would help if you used a 12mm gauge wire to supply current to the outlet.
You do not need professional electrical knowledge to know that compatibility is of primary consideration for electrical connections.
As you know, faults could easily develop if electrical devices are not compatible with the connecting wires, receptacle, or outlets to which they are connected. This reason is precisely why a pool pump motor, even a 240V pump, should be connected to a 20amp breaker and nothing more!
A pool motor pump is a heavy equipment and, as such, requires a lot of electrical power. For this reason, the wire used in its connection is usually thick and the supply outlet specific.
I would recommend the use of a dedicated circuit in the connection of your pool pump motor. In a dedicated circuit, the pool pump motor will receive sufficient power without competition from other devices.
It will also protect the pump should the other circuit become faulty. Other devices, too, are protected if the dedicated circuit for the pool pump motors also becomes faulty.
How Do You Wire a GFCI Breaker for a Pool Pump?
It is usually best to have your GFCI breaker wire and installed by a professional electrician. However, if you have little electrical knowledge, you can safely wire your GFCI for the pool pump with guidance from this article.
GFCIs are produced with a built-in wire which is usually white, and this is where to start. You should connect this built-in wire to the incoming supply neutral bar in the main distribution board of the house.
Afterward, connect the pool pump line to the GFCI input and connect the outlet line to the GFCI output. Finally, connect the ground terminal of the outlet to the ground bar located in the main distribution board.
When wiring your pool pump, the procedures ensure workability and safety; the materials used are also important. You should make sure to use a thick wire (at least 12mm) in this connection, as mentioned earlier.
Also, it would be best if you used the recommended outlet as stated in the preceding subheading, i.e., a 20amp breaker as the receptacle from the GFCI.
Conclusion
Pool heat pumps need GFCI to ensure the safety of the users and the device itself. The use of GFCI protection for a pool pump motor is currently an NEC regulation.
The NEC also requires that it is mandatory to install GFCI protection when replacing pool pump motors, even if the previous motor had no GFCI protection.
A standard 20 amps outlet is required for a pool pump, and it is wise to use a very thick wire for the connection.
Wiring a GFCI breaker for a pool pump could be a DIY project even with limited electrical knowledge. This article has outlined the guidelines to make such a project a success!