Heaters for swimming pools

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MrBreeze

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Does article 680 require GFCI protection on a 240v heat pump which is being used to heat the water of an in ground perm. pool. Most electricians state that they read "all associated pool equipment shall have GFCI protection". Article 680 is very specific when it comes to GFCI protection of each individual piece of equipment of a pool installation, except for the pool heaters. Would have thought 680.9 would have required GFCI protection.
 
I'm pretty sure the pumps are the only thing using 240V that requires GFCI protection.

That being said, I usually protect anything associated with the pool with GFCI.
 
Just how much isolation does one need to have to consider it not associated? By that I mean the heat pump heats pool water via a heat exchanger which is heated via the refrigeration circuit which is connected to a electrically powered compressor.

An electric heating element immersed directly into pool water makes more sense to protect with GFCI, than most any other method that is indirectly associated with any electrical equipment, besides a circulating pump.

I imagine a direct immersion electric element is not too common for a pool, but is common on hot tubs.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Pool Heaters do not require gfci. At one time I also thought the NEC would have made that a requirement
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dennis-do you think placing a heat pump on a GFCI will create possible nusance tripping? i am about to wire one-and purchased a GFCI breaker.
now that i read the code more closely it appears i did not have to gfci the heat pump-thats what happens when one assumes.
 
jflynn said:
dennis-do you think placing a heat pump on a GFCI will create possible nusance tripping? i am about to wire one-and purchased a GFCI breaker.
now that i read the code more closely it appears i did not have to gfci the heat pump-thats what happens when one assumes.
Click to expand...

It should work fine but I wouldn't do it. Eventually you may have issues with it.
 
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