Gfci protected panel for pool motor?

[ritelec]

Does it matter where the gfci for the pool motor circuit is located?

I’m piggy backing off A post of an old exterior federal pacific panel feeding a pool motor.
When I briefly looked at it a couple of days ago it looks like it is fed from a buried 3/4” emt
There is another 3/4” emt leaving the bottom of the panel that looks like it has the pool bond wire in. That 3/4 “ is completely rotted away where it enters the earth which leads me to be leave that the feeder EMT is rotted also ( which reminded me of a post from this past Monday, coincidence ?)

Does it matter where the location of the gfci protection is placed?
Can the feeder circuit breaker be gfci and the whole pool panel be gfci protected?

I know it’s tough to know without seeing the wire type. But it not the newer thhn/thwn that I’d available today.
What might The effect of the soil be on these more than likely now direct buried conductors and what could be the potential danger around a pool?

Although he may have tripping in that main gfci breaker at least this should better protection for people at the pool and also provide the required gfci protection for the motor, correct?

I don’t know what it is about this business but I rarely find a situation to be cut and dry. To just go in and do something. It always seems that something else becomes an issue. Smh.

I’m going out today to better look at the work and maybe suggest a new trench and panel set up. Just wanted to ask about the potential gfci panel if he doesn’t go for it.

Thank you.

 

[SSDriver]

No issue with GFCI protecting the whole panel other than you may get nuisance trips depending on the equipment. If there are multiple pumps, a heater, multiple lights, air blower the total leakage may be more than 4-6 ma total. Individual equipment would be less and should not trip if on their own GFCI circuit.

On commercial pools we can't put more than 4 or 5 LED pool lights on one circuit or the power supplies will trip the GFCI randomly. We can get 8 LED lights on a single circuit and be below the limit without issue based off of amperage if GFCI wasn't required. Score boards need 4-6 GFCI circuits to not trip or 1-2 regular circuits. Leakage is also high on inverter controlled pumps or newer heaters.

 

[Little Bill]

In addition to the very likely nuisance trips of the whole panel at the pool, fed from a GFCI breaker, you also need to consider that the further away a GFCI device is from the load, the greater chance of leakage and again, nuisance trips. It is better to have the GFCI protection as close to the load as possible. I have replaced GFCI breakers feeding pool equipment a distance away with a GFCI receptacle close to the load and stopped the tripping. Most likely nothing wrong with the breaker, just accumulated leakage along the way.

 

[curt swartz]

If you feel the feeder is in poor condition don't touch the panel without replacing the feeder. Once you touch the panel your name will be attached to the pool if anything happens in the future.

 

[ritelec]

My thoughts exactly.

Would you think my name will be attached to it if I only add a time clock for the existing pump circuit at that panel?
Thank you.