Is there any harm in the EGC of a circuit(pool light for instance) being connected to the bonding grid? There is no way to keep one isolated from the other since the terminations in the light junction box are connected together physically in the design of the box. The bonding lug on the rear of the wet niche fixture(#8 solid connection) is once again physically joined to the lug on the inside of the housing that accepts the #8 insulated running back through the PVC to the J box. The pool heater is another example where there is an external lug for the #8 solid on the sheet metal housing and also an EGC termination in the wiring compartment. I've asked a few inspectors and seem to get a different answer each time. I know the intent of the bonding grid is to eliminate voltage gradients, but does the EGC being tied in adversley affect it in any way? Thanks.
Equipotential bond/equipment ground?
- Thread starter nizak
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- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
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- Retired Electrical Contractor
Not at all. In fact the epb must be connected to the egc of the pump if it is a double insulated pump.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
with pools the idea is to bond everything possible, sometimes even beyond imagination, even bonding to the water, to prevent any voltage gradients anywhere that users may be.
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
It has to be done this way. If the utilities neutral has a voltage drop, then you must impose this voltage on the pool EBG, this eliminates any voltage potentials, yes, we are actually energizing the pool water by doing this, but we are also making everything around the pool water the same voltage, so when you step out of the pool, you are not in danger of being at a different voltage potential.
You have to really realize what it is we are doing with bonding, we are not trying to eliminate voltage, but make everything the SAME voltage.... this is why there is so much redundant bonding in pool areas, and it is not unrealistic to assume most voltages around a pool area are caused by the utilities neutral conductor, which is bonded to our grounds via main bonding jumper, which goes to are pool motor via EGC, which is then bonded to the pools EBG..... This is all done on purpose, because its more realistic to 'mask' a voltage than try to remove it.
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