Why is there no GFCI requirement on hard wired pool equipment?

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Sierrasparky

Senior Member
Location
USA
Occupation
Electrician ,contractor
here in CA it's been required. We have code section and I believe it is in the 2011 NEC

680.21 (C),
GFCI protection. Outlets supplying pool pump motors connected to single-phase, 120 volts through 240 volt branch circuits. rated 15 or 20 amperes, whether by receptacle or by direct connection. shall be provided with ground-fault
circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

 

Dennis Alwon

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Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
Why do receptacles near the pool need GFCI protection but pool pumps/heaters not need GFCI protection?

Who says pool pumps do not need gfci protection. They sure do but at one time they did not. Now all single phase pool pumps need gfci protection

Pool heaters do not require the gfci but I do not know why
 

user 100

Senior Member
Location
texas
Who says pool pumps do not need gfci protection. They sure do but at one time they did not. Now all single phase pool pumps need gfci protection

I keep thinking that they kept exempting hard wired pumps for a long time and that only cord and plug connected needed it- never made sense why they did that.
 

GoldDigger

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Placerville, CA, USA
Occupation
Retired PV System Designer
Possibly because hard wired pool equipment is hard bonded to the equipotential grid while random devices plugged into receptacles are not?
 

user 100

Senior Member
Location
texas
Possibly because hard wired pool equipment is hard bonded to the equipotential grid while random devices plugged
into receptacles are not?

For sure. Just seemed strange b/c they go crazy about gfci and try to cover every possible angle around a pool, yet a lot of faith was put into the hardwired joints and the continued maintenance (which likely never occurs regularly) of a lot of pools- just an observation.:)
 
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