Testing for voltage

[nizak]

What is the best procedure for testing to see if there is voltage on an in ground pool?

Not sure what reference to check to. One probe in the water, the other ???

Thank you.

 

[ATSman]

The other a good ground.

 

[nizak]

Such as a test lead back to the equipment ground in the sub panel?

 

[ptonsparky]

A probe to the earth will work. I would want to know touch or step potential around the pool.

Check several points. Check from the slab to earth as well.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

You need to test from the electrical system grounding electrode to "remote earth", often defined as being at least 50' from any grounding electrode or metallic object that is connected to the electrical grounding system. This will typically show a small voltage. Then test the pool equipment and water to the same remote earth point. The voltages from both sets of tests should be the same. Note that loading in the building and on the system may change based on changing load conditions.

 

[synchro]

Even though meters have a high input impedance, I'm wondering if there should be a some larger electrode than just a small probe tip to measure the voltage of the water. The water to probe tip electrode interface would probably add a high source impedance to the measurement because of its small contact area with the water. And so it could be suseptible to having some of the voltage bleeding off in a wet environment. I'm thinking something with a little more surface area would be a better electrode for this situation. Perhaps a length of bare #6 could be tossed in that's clamped with a lug to another length of say THWN on which you would measure the voltage?

But if using just the meter probe tip gets consistent and reproducable measurements then perhaps it's OK.

 

[oldsparky52]

Maybe this will help?

https://www.mikeholt.com/files/PDF/Swimming_Pool_Safety_by_Mike_Holt_rev.pdf