Pool heater on a gfci

[Zachary Harris]

I have a customer with a used pool heater they bought and after I
installed the heater it tripped the gfci breaker. It is a 50 amp gfci
breaker , 240v single phase system. The install manual said that a gfci
isn't required but I'm not sure that is correct. I have looked at article
680 and found where gas heaters take a gfci but not electric heaters. Could
you shed any light on this for me.

 

[Little Bill]

Don't have time at the moment to look up requirements. A 50A GFCI sounds kind of large for a pool heater unless it is a heat pump type heater. The ones I've hooked up were gas and I usually just put them on with the pump since they don't draw much and aren't supposed to be on unless the pump is running. This would all be run through a timer.

Welcome to the Forum!

ETA: Sounds like the heater is faulty causing the GFCI to trip. What kind of heater is it and what does the nameplate say for the current/amp draw?

 

[brantmacga]

I have looked at article
680 and found where gas heaters take a gfci but not electric heaters. Could
you shed any light on this for me.

That is correct.

Also I’m pretty sure the heaters have a flow meter that doesn’t allow it to operate without water running through it.

All of the pools I perform the electrical install on use Intellitouch panels, and the heater relay (fireman switch) is interlocked with the pump.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Little Bill]

That is correct.

Also I’m pretty sure the heaters have a flow meter that doesn’t allow it to operate without water running through it.

All of the pools I perform the electrical install on use Intellitouch panels, and the heater relay (fireman switch) is interlocked with the pump.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The "Fireman's Switches" that I installed were just on the timer. You get one made for the brand of timer such as Intermatic. It's just an micro switch mounted on the dial that hits 15 mins. before the pump is set to go off. It is a dry contact that goes to the control board. It is used to allow the heater to cool off before the pump shuts down.

 

[SSDriver]

Yes every brand of heater has either a flow switch or a pressure switch to sense if water is flowing through the pipe. The bad part is someone can still shut off the pump with the heater running. Sometimes it overheats and damages pipes, sometimes it will not. You definitely want to interlock the heater with the pump. Either digitally like a pentair intelitouch, jandy system, or with a manual firemans switch on a time clock.

On a standard pool heater for a residence it should not be tripping a gfci. If its the newer style heaters that are sealed, there could be an internal leak that is getting water on the hot surface ignitor. Otherwise it could be the pressure switch, flow sensor, or high limits that usually cause the GFCI's to trip when they start to leak/fail.

Commercial pool heaters generally do not like standard 5ma GFCIs due to the drives in them, but that's totally different.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[Zachary Harris]

It is a heat pump style heater. And the only thing I can find on it in the code is load requirements.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I don't believe the heater needs gfci protection if it is a heat pump. I haven't checked the 2020...

 

[GFCI GUY]

The states that adopted 2020 code (not sure about 2017) require GFCI protection for permanently mounted pool heaters. The reason your GFCI may be tripping could be due to starting current or possible surge.

Heaters supplied by branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground shall be provided with Class A GFCI.

 

[readydave8]

The reason your GFCI may be tripping could be due to starting current or possible surge.

does starting current or surge trip GFCI? sounds like you're saying too many amps? not sure I understand

 

[GFCI GUY]

yes, too many amps. its known GFCI may trip with motor start current

 

[Dennis Alwon]

The states that adopted 2020 code (not sure about 2017) require GFCI protection for permanently mounted pool heaters. The reason your GFCI may be tripping could be due to starting current or possible surge.

Heaters supplied by branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground shall be provided with Class A GFCI.

That is for storable pools afaik. I am not sure what the op has. I have not seen too many question in here about storable pools. I was not responding to that situation

Pools require gfci for gas fired heaters but I have not seen where an electric heat pump would need that.

 

[PFE]

I have a customer with a used pool heater they bought and after I
installed the heater it tripped the gfci breaker. It is a 50 amp gfci
breaker , 240v single phase system. The install manual said that a gfci
isn't required but I'm not sure that is correct. I have looked at article
680 and found where gas heaters take a gfci but not electric heaters. Could
you shed any light on this for me.

I went thru the same issue and called the manufacturer, they said NOT to use a GFCI breaker. Manufacture’s specs (in writing) supersedes our electrical code requirement.

 

[Little Bill]

I went thru the same issue and called the manufacturer, they said NOT to use a GFCI breaker. Manufacture’s specs (in writing) supersedes our electrical code requirement.

Not if what the mfg says goes against code. Not saying that for this case as code doesn't require it.

 

[infinity]

I went thru the same issue and called the manufacturer, they said NOT to use a GFCI breaker. Manufacture’s specs (in writing) supersedes our electrical code requirement.

You said it supersedes our electrical code requirement, where would that be?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Not if what the mfg says goes against code. Not saying that for this case as code doesn't require it.

The code probably does if they are on the 2020 code and this is a dwelling unit installation. It would be required by 210.8(F) in the 2020 code, but as you said, the instructions can NEVER delete a code requirement. They can only require additional things that the code does not require.

 

[kwired]

I don't believe the heater needs gfci protection if it is a heat pump. I haven't checked the 2020...

2020 if at a dwelling, all outside outlets (most lighting is an exception) require GFCI protection if 50 amp or less and 150 volts or less to ground.