Upgrading the bonding of an existing inground vinyl lined pool

[JasonA]

I recently purchased a house with a pool and as winter may finally be ending I have been poking around the existing installation. The extent of the existing bonding appears to be limited to a #12 bare copper conductor connected to the brass conduit for the lumenier and to one (only one) of the cups for the ladder. There are no connections to the pool equipment or anything else for that manner. The pool is a vinyl lined (non-conductive shell) with a steel support frame. The walkway around the pool is a wood deck.

The corrective work is planned as follows:

1. Replace the #12 conductors with #8.
2. Bond both ladder cups
3. Bond the pump and pool heater
4. Bond the handrail (does not sit in the water but is within 5' of the water

My questions are these:

1. Can I or should I use the steel support structures of the pool as a "equipotential grid" and run my bonding jumpers back to to and install lugs on the bolted connections?
2. Should I worry about the wood deck?

Sorry for another pool bonding question but this seems like one topic that can go on and on....

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I am closing this thread, in accordance with the Forum rules. This Forum is intended to assist professional electricians, inspectors, engineers, and other members of the electrical industry in the performance of their job-related tasks. However, if you are not an electrician or an electrical contractor, then we are not permitted to help you perform your own electrical installation work.


If I have misjudged the situation, if for example this project is related to your work, then send me a Private Message. If you can show me that I am wrong, and that you are a licensed electrician (or at least a licensed apprentice), then I will reopen your post, and offer an apology for the delay and inconvenience.

A reminder to all members, if you see a questionable post, feel free to report it by clicking the

button at the bottom left corner of the post.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I might add that pools are very difficult and to do it without the knowledge is very dangerous. Please get an electrician who has done pools to help out.