Any electricians?--Inground Pool wiring questions

sparkkky · Jun 2, 2006

( Sparkkky just curious to know why self tapper's are not allowed )

Threads are too course and on thin steel it might not keep a good connection.

12-2 has been as high as $114.00 a roll for a $30.00 roll all wire went up over 400%

sparkkky · Jun 2, 2006

( Sparkkky just curious to know why self tapper's are not allowed )

Threads are too course and on thin steel it might not keep a good connection.

12-2 has been as high as $114.00 a roll for a $30.00 roll all wire went up over 400%

RalphVa · Jun 2, 2006

I don't understand what you mean by panels. My 2 pools only had the circulator pump, which was/is 220v, and pool lights, which where 110v through a GFI breaker.

I ran the 220v wiring to the pool in NJ through a switch near the pump. I just made sure that it was all grounded well back to the panel in the house, and its feed came off a timer in the house.

The pump here gets its feed off a timer (highly recommended; you normally only need to run them 12 hours/day), which feeds off a couple (110v each) circuit breakers in a box in the pool equipment area. The pump motor has its own ground wire connected to it that runs to a ground into the concrete somewhere. My house ground is nearby and has some huge lightning arrester cables connected to it. I'd probably have connected to that if I was doing it myself.

The timer here has an on/off switch that is used to start and stop the pump manually. I would not have wired it that way, as I don't like reaching into that timer box and working that bare metal switch. I'd have ran it through a weather-protected switch outside the timer box. This is the way I had the pump in NJ rigged up.

For a new feed to a 100 amp breaker box, you're probably into a big multiple wire feed line. I'd think you could get the info on what size you need from Lowes or Home Depot. For a 50 amp breaker to my carriage house, I used 10 gauge 4 wire. That's about as big as I'd want to work with. That stuff is very stiff and difficult to bend back into junction boxes. The multi-wire line will be easier to work with, but you won't be bending it anywhere either.

Ralph

RalphVa · Jun 2, 2006

I don't understand what you mean by panels. My 2 pools only had the circulator pump, which was/is 220v, and pool lights, which where 110v through a GFI breaker.

I ran the 220v wiring to the pool in NJ through a switch near the pump. I just made sure that it was all grounded well back to the panel in the house, and its feed came off a timer in the house.

The pump here gets its feed off a timer (highly recommended; you normally only need to run them 12 hours/day), which feeds off a couple (110v each) circuit breakers in a box in the pool equipment area. The pump motor has its own ground wire connected to it that runs to a ground into the concrete somewhere. My house ground is nearby and has some huge lightning arrester cables connected to it. I'd probably have connected to that if I was doing it myself.

The timer here has an on/off switch that is used to start and stop the pump manually. I would not have wired it that way, as I don't like reaching into that timer box and working that bare metal switch. I'd have ran it through a weather-protected switch outside the timer box. This is the way I had the pump in NJ rigged up.

For a new feed to a 100 amp breaker box, you're probably into a big multiple wire feed line. I'd think you could get the info on what size you need from Lowes or Home Depot. For a 50 amp breaker to my carriage house, I used 10 gauge 4 wire. That's about as big as I'd want to work with. That stuff is very stiff and difficult to bend back into junction boxes. The multi-wire line will be easier to work with, but you won't be bending it anywhere either.

Ralph

RoPie · Jun 2, 2006

I misspoke, I meant the panels needed to be bonded, along with any metal (ladder, hand rail, etc)to the outside lug on the pump motor. This is done with a #8 bare copper wire. It is independant from the grounding system.
I've done enough wiring to feel confidant doing it myself, and I need to have an inspection done before backfilling the pool anyway, so any mistakes I make will be corrected before anyone can use the pool

RoPie · Jun 2, 2006

I misspoke, I meant the panels needed to be bonded, along with any metal (ladder, hand rail, etc)to the outside lug on the pump motor. This is done with a #8 bare copper wire. It is independant from the grounding system.
I've done enough wiring to feel confidant doing it myself, and I need to have an inspection done before backfilling the pool anyway, so any mistakes I make will be corrected before anyone can use the pool

gotrocks · Jun 2, 2006

I'm not an electrician but have done some wiring. Did my hot tub a few year ago.
If you are going to attempt this job yourself PLEASE take note I have not seen any mention of "ground fault protection". To me that would be a MUST.

What's that old song with the line "where were you when the lights went out?" /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Maybe I'm thinking about "When the lights went out in Georgia" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

gotrocks · Jun 2, 2006

I'm not an electrician but have done some wiring. Did my hot tub a few year ago.
If you are going to attempt this job yourself PLEASE take note I have not seen any mention of "ground fault protection". To me that would be a MUST.

What's that old song with the line "where were you when the lights went out?" /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Maybe I'm thinking about "When the lights went out in Georgia" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

leeinmemphis · Jun 2, 2006

I'm an electrical contractor and would never give advice on line to anyone trying to wire a pool themselves. There is simply too much liability in it and almost every local municipality has their local regulations (either additions or subtractions) that they require on top of the National Electric Code.

In other words: Get a couple of other prices but I would STRONGLY suggest a licensed professional. You could save some money by doing any trenching yourself. It always amazes me that people want to pay our electricians $80+/hr to dig a hole. You could try to buy the materials yourself but the price increases are just rediculous. Wire is up ~250% from where it was the first of the year. The majority of that quote you have is for the 100amp feeder wire cost: $640 is my cost not including sales tax for 300' of the size wire that you would need.(I'm not indicating size because I'm not suggesting sizes to anyone doing it themselves). Not to mention that pvc has doubled and almost trippled plus the circuitry/wiring/breakers/fittings needed to complete the entire project.

To be honest I don't think your price is that bad. A year ago the wire would have cost somewhere in the $250 range. Personally I wouldn't take the liability of wiring a pool for any less with the feeder and all of the necessary bonding needed for a pool. I don't think your contractor is trying to take advantage of you.

leeinmemphis · Jun 2, 2006

I'm an electrical contractor and would never give advice on line to anyone trying to wire a pool themselves. There is simply too much liability in it and almost every local municipality has their local regulations (either additions or subtractions) that they require on top of the National Electric Code.

In other words: Get a couple of other prices but I would STRONGLY suggest a licensed professional. You could save some money by doing any trenching yourself. It always amazes me that people want to pay our electricians $80+/hr to dig a hole. You could try to buy the materials yourself but the price increases are just rediculous. Wire is up ~250% from where it was the first of the year. The majority of that quote you have is for the 100amp feeder wire cost: $640 is my cost not including sales tax for 300' of the size wire that you would need.(I'm not indicating size because I'm not suggesting sizes to anyone doing it themselves). Not to mention that pvc has doubled and almost trippled plus the circuitry/wiring/breakers/fittings needed to complete the entire project.

To be honest I don't think your price is that bad. A year ago the wire would have cost somewhere in the $250 range. Personally I wouldn't take the liability of wiring a pool for any less with the feeder and all of the necessary bonding needed for a pool. I don't think your contractor is trying to take advantage of you.