Pool Bonding

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sparky1981

Sparky1981

PE
Location
Denver, CO
Occupation
Electrical/Lighting Engineer
Working on a project where there is a removable basketball hoop as a play feature at the pool. It is within 5' of the pools edge. The way I interpret 680.26 is that the bonding is only required for fixed and permanent structures. So in this case the metal sleeve that the basketball hoop slips into needs to be bonded. The pole itself does not. And really it will be in contact with the sleeve anyway so I dont see a need for anything more than bonding the sleeve. Does this sound correct?
 
Sparky1981 said:
Working on a project where there is a removable basketball hoop as a play feature at the pool. It is within 5' of the pools edge. The way I interpret 680.26 is that the bonding is only required for fixed and permanent structures. So in this case the metal sleeve that the basketball hoop slips into needs to be bonded. The pole itself does not. And really it will be in contact with the sleeve anyway so I dont see a need for anything more than bonding the sleeve. Does this sound correct?
Click to expand...

That would be an AHJ call. He/She might say the pole might not have good contact with the sleeve or cup that holds the pole.
Is the pole metal? If so, I would say a removable jumper might be in order between the pole and sleeve. The pole may be removable but there is no guarantee it would ever be moved or might stay for a period of time.
Regardless of how long it stays, if it's metal and within the bonding distance requirements I would say it needs bonding.
You would never know when a stray current might be present so why chance it?
 
I don't see this as being much different than a removeable metal pool ladder which is bonded by the cups that are inserted into the pool deck and bonded.
 
Little Bill said:
That would be an AHJ call. He/She might say the pole might not have good contact with the sleeve or cup that holds the pole.
Is the pole metal? If so, I would say a removable jumper might be in order between the pole and sleeve. The pole may be removable but there is no guarantee it would ever be moved or might stay for a period of time.
Regardless of how long it stays, if it's metal and within the bonding distance requirements I would say it needs bonding.
You would never know when a stray current might be present so why chance it?
Click to expand...

Do you have a picture or diagram of what a removable jumper looks like?
 
Little Bill said:
Do they just sit in the sockets or is there a set screw or other means of securing?
Click to expand...

The sockets are brass sleeves with a cast bronze wedge that is tightened with a stainless steel capscrew. Once installed, the connection is mechanically and electrically sound.

I see where you might be headed - a basketball accessory may not have such a robust mounting method!
 
Little Bill said:
That would be an AHJ call. He/She might say the pole might not have good contact with the sleeve or cup that holds the pole.
Is the pole metal? If so, I would say a removable jumper might be in order between the pole and sleeve. The pole may be removable but there is no guarantee it would ever be moved or might stay for a period of time.
Regardless of how long it stays, if it's metal and within the bonding distance requirements I would say it needs bonding.
You would never know when a stray current might be present so why chance it?
Click to expand...

You have to remember the reasons behind the equipotential bonding requirements, if the sleeve and all permanently installed conductive items in/around the pool are already bonded together so that they are at the same potential - what is going to bring a difference in potential to the metal pole, outside of somehow introducing a totally foreign object with a difference of potential on it?
 
kwired said:
You have to remember the reasons behind the equipotential bonding requirements, if the sleeve and all permanently installed conductive items in/around the pool are already bonded together so that they are at the same potential - what is going to bring a difference in potential to the metal pole, outside of somehow introducing a totally foreign object with a difference of potential on it?
Click to expand...

I know exactly what the purpose of the EBR are. My answers are based on what the NEC requires and from past experiences with inspectors around here.
My answers are not necessarily in agreement with the NEC (or inspectors) but just giving some thought to the OP of what an inspector might require.

Example: What is going to energize a metal gutter to make a potential difference between it and the surface around a pool? I read where a satellite installer was getting zapped off the gutter, turns out that was because it was bonded to the grid around the pool.

At least with a pole mounted/sitting on the surface, if you touch it and it is bonded there won't be a difference of potential. But with a gutter high off the surface bonded you're likely to be off the surface if you touch it and there could be a difference of potential if a stray voltage was present in/around the grid. That's because you would be introducing a voltage that wouldn't be there otherwise.
 
Sparky1981 said:
Do you have a picture or diagram of what a removable jumper looks like?
Click to expand...

Here is one example:

braid_1-lg.jpg


But you could make your own with approved lugs and solid wire. You wouldn't need to remove the mounting screws, just loosen the lug.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top