GFCI Requirements for Swimming Pools Section 680

[longbody]

I am seeking clarification about CA Electrical Code requirements for GFCI breakers on pools.

Article 680 is pretty clear about GFCI requirements on pump motors, various luminaries, receptacles, covers, etc.

The items below are not mentioned in 680. Can anyone tell me with 100% certainty whether they are covered in a different section? If so, would you provide the Section #?

It just seemed to me that if electricity is in proximity to the pool water like it is in pumps (e.g., heaters), then it would make sense to put them on those items, too.

Specifically, these are as follows:

• Heaters
• Transformers onboard EasyTouch panels or the like (supplied by 1 pole 15A breaker)
• Salt Water Chlorine Generators
• Air Blowers
• Other Devices not listed in Section 680

Thanks

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I am seeking clarification about CA Electrical Code requirements for GFCI breakers on pools.

Article 680 is pretty clear about GFCI requirements on pump motors, various luminaries, receptacles, covers, etc.

The items below are not mentioned in 680. Can anyone tell me with 100% certainty whether they are covered in a different section? If so, would you provide the Section #?

It just seemed to me that if electricity is in proximity to the pool water like it is in pumps (e.g., heaters), then it would make sense to put them on those items, too.

Specifically, these are as follows:

• Heaters
• Transformers onboard EasyTouch panels or the like (supplied by 1 pole 15A breaker)
• Salt Water Chlorine Generators
• Air Blowers
• Other Devices not listed in Section 680

Thanks

Heaters are not required to be gfci protected, unless they are gas (2017) nor will anything else that isn't mentioned in art.680. The clorinators I have seen were always plug in so they had to be gfci protected. However they probably all need to be bonded

680.28 Gas-Fired Water Heater. Circuits serving gas-fired
swimming pool and spa water heaters operating at voltages
above the low-voltage contact limit shall be provided with
ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

 

[longbody]

Dennis,

Thanks for the info re: gas heaters in 680.28!

And, of course, I do bond everything.

The Pentair SWG's I use are hard wired to a breaker. The Power Center (or Easy Touch) is 110 VAC input and 24 VAC output to the cell. Do you think that since it's only low voltage in proximity to the water that GFCI is not required?

Air Blowers have a check valve and/or Hartford loop to prevent water from getting to the motor but it's not 100% foolproof. But you're saying code doesn't require GFCI?

Pentair Easy Touch panels are powered by a 1 pole 15 A breaker. The water isn't really close to the wiring but it shares the same cabinet with the devices that do require GFCI's.

But, other than gas heaters, none of the other items require protection according to code?

I put them on everything anyway (added cost is not that much) but my pool association has asked me to get clarification.