Paul Allen
Electrical Contractor
- Location
- Middleburg Florida
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Recently I was called to a service call for a customer who was recieving a shock getting in and out of his recently built inground swimming pool. A Check of the system showed all of the grounding connections in place, neutrals and grounds proper, and the best i can tell, the pool grounding was installed properly. When the customer gets in and out of the pool, he feels a tingle. I checked the voltage between the pool deck and the water and get about .7VAC. The kicker to this, and where I think the problem is coming from is a High voltage power line on the opposite side of his next door neighbors house. (approx. 100' away.) Voltage measurements from the water to the ground under the power lines are 2-3 VAC., and they lessen the closer to the pool you get. I really think that is the source. I put my clamp on ground tester on the #8 bonding jumper and was reading 70 MA of current flowing on the wire.
My estimation of this problem is that the stray voltage is coming from the high voltage lines thru the pool grid and is going thru the customers equipment ground on the pool motor.It is going thru his service panel and going back to the source thru his utility transformer connection. I removed the #8 bonding jumper from the metallic motor housing and timer housing and the current flow went to 1-2ma and the customer says he is not recieving a shock. (I realize that leaving the bonding jumper off the motor equipment is a violation of the NEC, but the equipment is not in close proximity to the pool). I am wondering if anyone has any other suggestions, something i can try to remedy this situation, or something I havent thought of. Thanks in advance for your response.
Paul Allen
Florida Master Electrician
My estimation of this problem is that the stray voltage is coming from the high voltage lines thru the pool grid and is going thru the customers equipment ground on the pool motor.It is going thru his service panel and going back to the source thru his utility transformer connection. I removed the #8 bonding jumper from the metallic motor housing and timer housing and the current flow went to 1-2ma and the customer says he is not recieving a shock. (I realize that leaving the bonding jumper off the motor equipment is a violation of the NEC, but the equipment is not in close proximity to the pool). I am wondering if anyone has any other suggestions, something i can try to remedy this situation, or something I havent thought of. Thanks in advance for your response.
Paul Allen
Florida Master Electrician