Swimming Pools
- Thread starter mike5456
- Start date
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I would first measure the voltage where the homeowner feels it. Then I would start cutting off circuits to see if the voltage is affected by the service for the house. If not then there may be a power company issue leaking to ground.
You also need to check if everything is properly grounded.
You also need to check if everything is properly grounded.
Thank you for your reply, what would your recommended procedure be? Amp meter? Analog meter like a Tripplett? One lead to the water the other to the perimeter ground? Thank you again.
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
I looked for Uncle Mikes video on this subject. I think he may have taken it down. Perhaps it was to dangerous.
But their are good videos on this subject.
But their are good videos on this subject.
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
Make sure there is an equipotential bond for the pool. Use your meter on continuity, you may have to make a long lead for it, and check all equipment, metal objects, such as ladders, handrails, diving boards, etc. Check from each to the bond ring/grid. There is more you can do, but this will be a good start. Also, make sure there is a water bond. You said "tingling near the skimmer" so the bond may be missing to the water.
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
RAKocher
Senior Member
- Location
- SE Pennsylvania
Test the GFCI's,. Everything should be on a gfci, except possibly a heater, if one.
Dsg319
Senior Member
- Location
- West Virginia
- Occupation
- Wv Master “lectrician”
Measuring Neutral to Earth voltage at different locations of the pool will verify the lack of equal potential bonding. Mike has a good video on YouTube how to do this. At least he did…..
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Honestly if you haven't done this before then I suggest you find someone who has and work with them to see how it is done. Pools are not something to play with..
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
Stray voltage won't trip a GFCI.
Mystic Pools
Senior Member
- Location
- Park Ridge, NJ
- Occupation
- Swimming Pool Contractor
I would not let anyone near that pool until this is resolved.
RAKocher
Senior Member
- Location
- SE Pennsylvania
No, but it's a process of elimination.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
One item not bonded to the equipotential bonding system or that has a compromised bond, is all it takes to have a hole in the EBS, that can expose a pool user to voltage difference between the service grounded conductor and true earth ground or at least a portion of any difference there.
Know the difference between grounding and bonding, they are not the same thing.
Know the difference between grounding and bonding, they are not the same thing.
FionaZuppa
Senior Member
- Location
- AZ
- Occupation
- Part Time Electrician (semi retired, old) - EE retired.
digi volt meter I would assume.
probe between various points.
probe various points in water to EBC.
everything being bonded at the pool, does not eliminate stray voltage potential, if such bonding has resistance between points.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
What? Everything is bonded at the pool to effectively eliminate resistance between points.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
yes. also please include your credit card number.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
Why would testing the GFCIs help to find where the stray voltage is coming from?
The pool user knows where the stray voltage is at because he felt it. Measure it there. Then turn off the main power to the house. If the stray voltage is gone you know it is coming from the house. If it is still there, it is probably coming from the utility or a neighbor, and you will probably need to get the utility involved to fix it.
RAKocher
Senior Member
- Location
- SE Pennsylvania
I was probably 15 the first and last time I replaced a switch only to find out the bulb was burned out.
Until a stray voltage in the pool water can be observed/measured without taking a dip, allowing other troubleshooting methods to occur, in the meantime I would check, test the integrity of the pool equipment and devices.
Until a stray voltage in the pool water can be observed/measured without taking a dip, allowing other troubleshooting methods to occur, in the meantime I would check, test the integrity of the pool equipment and devices.
FionaZuppa
Senior Member
- Location
- AZ
- Occupation
- Part Time Electrician (semi retired, old) - EE retired.
And when one bonding wire/connection comes loose, corrodes, breaks off, [add a reason here], then bonding becomes not 100%, which can then cause the volt meter to have a reading.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Well technically it is no longer bonded if the path is opened or gains resistance.And when one bonding wire/connection comes loose, corrodes, breaks off, [add a reason here], then bonding becomes not 100%, which can then cause the volt meter to have a reading.