Hello my name is Chris and i have a pool problem .I purchased a fixer upper and it has a pool .I got this place under construction The pool deck ,diving board,and pool equipment were already removed when i got the place .My question is ,or problem is 1 I can not locate the equipment bonding wire at the old location where the pump was .Is there a place i should look for re bar around the pool to attach to the steel shell in the pool Should i try to pull a new ground from the wet niche light or behind the light and bring it back up through the brass conduit for the light into the equipment area .I am flat busted and am a electrician but have limited experience with pools I understand what needs to be done What i need is some guidance on how to safely and properly ground/bond my pool so my daughter can safely swim in it What do i need to do to make sure i have covered all necessary steps to ground this darned thing as of now i cant locate the equipment bonding wire that should be present What should i do to do it right besides hire a local guy ( if i had the money i would i"m just tapped out from the purchase of the house So any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED Thank you very much for the time and any for any advice thats offered
Wow Chris. Sounds like some of the old pools I've worked on in 30 years.
Properly bonding a pool is super important. Locate rebar on the main structure and attach the proper direct burial lug. Run a continuous, unbroken #8 solid copper wire to each metallic component within 5' of the water. That includes the diving board base, light niche, ladder/rail escutcheons, slide legs, etc..
The wire must run back to the equipment location and attach to each motor and a heater if equipped. I would also suggest purchasing a water bonding kit to bring the pool up to current code requirements. We use a type that goes directly into the plumbing/circulation system. Also, make certain your pool lights are GFCI protected. Code requires your motors to be GFCI protected as well.
Not sure of the patio around the pool but if it's concrete and has wire mesh or rebar, include that in your grid.
The inside of the pool light wet niche must be bonded and a have a potting compound applied to prevent corrosion. If this is not the case, you will have to drain the pool to make the necessary repair. The backside also has a lug attachment. Be certain that is secured. Brass conduit, that's an old one. I would attach a bond lug to that as well before it goes into the deck box.
After all this work is performed, I would hire a contractor who is certified to test your pool for bonding. In New Jersey where I'm based, commercial facilities must have a bond test and written certification every 3 years. Residential pools are a one shot deal on new construction or reno projects and don't require testing or certification afterwards.
If the funds allow, I would change your pool lights to 12V over standard 110V. They must be GFCI protected in both cases. I prefer low voltage.
In fact we have not installed a standard wet niche lights in over 8 years. The 12V LED nicheless lights we use now do not require grounding or bonding.
Proper bonding of your pool is
paramount. There have been many deaths in the last few years related to improper bonding or none at all.
Good luck. Hope this helps.
