Is it safe to backfeed GFCI breakers when used as a main in a panel for a swimming pool? Will it even work properly? A local "electrician"?? wires panels for pool pumps and heaters this way. He then uses standard breakers to feed the pump and heater. A separate standard breaker in the main house panel feeds the pool light. No GFCI on this circuit.
Backfeed breakers
- Thread starter clemenzo
- Start date
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LawnGuyLandSparky
Senior Member
Re: Backfeed breakers
Right now I'm holding a 20a GE bolt-in GFCI breaker which also states on it's side "DO NOT REVERSE FEED."
Having just gone throught the pool panel bit, I can tell you both 220v GFCI breakers I used stated specificially DO NOT REVERSE FEED.
Right now I'm holding a 20a GE bolt-in GFCI breaker which also states on it's side "DO NOT REVERSE FEED."
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: Backfeed breakers
I agree with Land sparky, GFCIs must be used in the 'normal' direction.
I agree with Land sparky, GFCIs must be used in the 'normal' direction.
LawnGuyLandSparky
Senior Member
Re: Backfeed breakers
Am I missing something here? What is the reason this electrician feeds the pool light directly from the house panel when he's installing a local outdoor pool sub panel as a matter of policy?
Am I missing something here? What is the reason this electrician feeds the pool light directly from the house panel when he's installing a local outdoor pool sub panel as a matter of policy?
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: Backfeed breakers
I really don't understand this situation.
OK. You have a pool. You have a panel to provide power to pool stuff. That panel has a main breaker. That main breaker is of the GFCI variety. And instead of running power through the main breaker from IN to OUT, you run it the other way. Why on earth would you do that? I mean, aside from what the breaker itself might say about not reverse feeding it, what is the point of reverse feeding it?
I really don't understand this situation.
OK. You have a pool. You have a panel to provide power to pool stuff. That panel has a main breaker. That main breaker is of the GFCI variety. And instead of running power through the main breaker from IN to OUT, you run it the other way. Why on earth would you do that? I mean, aside from what the breaker itself might say about not reverse feeding it, what is the point of reverse feeding it?
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: Backfeed breakers
Charlie you do not understand it only because you do not have the mind of a cheap contractor.
This is my guess.
This contractor does not want to buy two expensive 2 GFCI breakers. So they buy one GFCI breaker and plug it in to a panel in a branch circuit position. Now they think they have a GFCI protected panel. I do not believe the GFCI will function backward.
Charlie you do not understand it only because you do not have the mind of a cheap contractor.
This is my guess.
This contractor does not want to buy two expensive 2 GFCI breakers. So they buy one GFCI breaker and plug it in to a panel in a branch circuit position. Now they think they have a GFCI protected panel. I do not believe the GFCI will function backward.
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: Backfeed breakers
Lets see.... $2,000 and up for a pool, and they do not want to spend a few dollars more on a breaker.... oh yeah, because I want new lawn chairs with the pool.
I wonder if this is even being inspected?????
I have been saying for a long time, that us electricians need to stop letting other people telling us what can and cannot be installed, when it is required to be installed.
Lets see.... $2,000 and up for a pool, and they do not want to spend a few dollars more on a breaker.... oh yeah, because I want new lawn chairs with the pool.
I wonder if this is even being inspected?????
I have been saying for a long time, that us electricians need to stop letting other people telling us what can and cannot be installed, when it is required to be installed.
Re: Backfeed breakers
I totally second the notion pierre. I was recently called to a job where the owner was so worried about the cost that the previous contractors work almost caused a fire. I was able to fix the problem but there were other things that needed to be done for safety reasons but the owner just did not care enough to clean up the place so I could do the work that was needed. I don't think the point sinks in with people they leverage money savings over basic safety an specifically this person could possibly come in one day and find that the business is burnt to the ground. But then its to late.
I totally second the notion pierre. I was recently called to a job where the owner was so worried about the cost that the previous contractors work almost caused a fire. I was able to fix the problem but there were other things that needed to be done for safety reasons but the owner just did not care enough to clean up the place so I could do the work that was needed. I don't think the point sinks in with people they leverage money savings over basic safety an specifically this person could possibly come in one day and find that the business is burnt to the ground. But then its to late.
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