Easy Touch Bonding Lugs Corroding

[locameo]

the bonding lugs at the bottom of my ET are building some sort of corrosion. What is it and how can I prevent it? I'm a newbie and not an expert on pool wiring. This was done by the pool installer and it's about 6 months old. everything seems to be working jsut fine, just wondering about this buildup. there is a tiny bit of moisture that builds up on it regularly. thanks for your help!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

I see a bare copper wire and two green wires. Where do these wires go to at their other ends?

It looks like the bonding lug the bare copper wire connects to is clean and the lug the green wires two have the corrosion. Is that correct?

 

[Jimrahbe]

L,

You would not normally connect any green ground wires to the "Bonding" lugs.

I too would like to know where the green wires go?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[locameo]

L,

You would not normally connect any green ground wires to the "Bonding" lugs.

I too would like to know where the green wires go?

Thanks,

Jim R.

thanks for everyone's help (also @ajw22 ). to the best of my knowledge, the green wires go to the spa/pool lights (ground?).
not sure where the copper wire goes. and yes, the copper wire is clean, no issues. it's the other one that seems to be corroding.

on a side note, I was naively storing my salt in the same room (not in a container). could that also be the culprit? regardless, I am now storing my salt in another, cool, dry room.

 

[HermanTX]

hanks for everyone's help. to the best of my knowledge, the green wires go to the spa/pool lights (ground?).
not sure where the copper wire goes. and yes, the copper wire is clean, no issues. it's the other one that seems to be corroding.

The bare copper wire is the BONDING wire. Only that should be connected to the bonding lug. The green wires are most likely the ground wires as you stated and should be connected to the ground bar in the panel.

 

[ajw22]

thanks for everyone's help. to the best of my knowledge, the green wires go to the spa/pool lights (ground?).
not sure where the copper wire goes. and yes, the copper wire is clean, no issues. it's the other one that seems to be corroding.

Bonding is not the same as grounding. Ground wires should not be connected to bonding lugs.

You need to find out exactly where the green wires go to.

What model pool and spa lights do you have?

on a side note, I was naively storing my salt in the same room (not in a container). could that also be the culprit? regardless, I am now storing my salt in another, cool, dry room.

Where you store the salt is not your problem.

Chemical Storage and Safety - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Jimrahbe]

L,

The problem is your pool builder is an idiot...

Ground wires go to the ground bus inside your EasyTouch, not to the bonding lug on the outside of your EasyTouch.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[ajw22]

The green wires are most likely the ground wires as you stated and should be connected to the ground bar in the panel.

I would not make that statement until it is confirmed what those wires are.

 

[locameo]

Bonding is not the same as grounding. Ground wires should not be connected to bonding lugs.

You need to find out exactly where the green wires go to.

What model pool and spa lights do you have?




Where you store the salt is not your problem.

Chemical Storage and Safety - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

thanks for the help. I have itellebrite color changing lights. One in the pool and one in the spa

 

[locameo]

L,

The problem is your pool builder is an idiot...

Ground wires go to the ground bus inside your EasyTouch, not to the bonding lug on the outside of your EasyTouch.

Thanks,

Jim R.

thanks for the tip. appreciate it

 

[Jimrahbe]

L,

Show us some pics of where the green wires are going...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[ajw22]

thanks for the help. I have itellebrite color changing lights. One in the pool and one in the spa

Are your IntelliBrite lights 12V or 120V?

 

[locameo]

I would not make that statement until it is confirmed what those wires are.

okay...this might be clearly out of my league since I'm a total newbie and probably making assumptions that aren't right.
1. attached is an pic of the inside of the panel wiring
2. also a pic of some tubing. the green wires go directly into those tubes which go towards the pool. I made the assumption it was for pool/spa lights but clearly might not know what i'm talking about
3. i can see that the connection continues to produce a tiny amount of moisture regularly

 

[ajw22]

I am lost. Where do those tubes run into? That is not the bottom of your EasyTouch panel.

What other wires come out of the conduit and where do they go?

 

[locameo]

I am lost. Where do those tubes run into? That is not the bottom of your EasyTouch panel.

What other wires come out of the conduit and where do they go?

attached are a couple pics. there are 4 tubes that go to the pool. One is side spa remote, one is pool cover. the green wires go into the two remaining tubes to the pool.

 

[1poolman1]

okay...this might be clearly out of my league since I'm a total newbie and probably making assumptions that aren't right.
1. attached is an pic of the inside of the panel wiring
2. also a pic of some tubing. the green wires go directly into those tubes which go towards the pool. I made the assumption it was for pool/spa lights but clearly might not know what i'm talking about
3. i can see that the connection continues to produce a tiny amount of moisture regularly

Many times, though it is not correct any longer, a builder will use 8ga stranded green wire in the bonding loop. Most of the time an inspector will pass that (if they even look). That is what those wires appear to be. If the pool cover was added after the pool was built, the installer may have added those wires and bonding lug. I don't remember ever seeing an aluminum bond clamp on newer equipment straight from the factory. The easy fix is to go to Home Depot/Lowe's, etc. and get a copper bonding lug and replace the corroded aluminum one.

 

[ajw22]

You need to call your Pool Installer back and have him explain to you what those green wires connect to. He buried your wiring behind the plywood such that it can't be followed.

The green wires could be light grounding wires which would be a wrong connection.

Or it could be bonding wires to some pool equipment and you should know what they connect to.

He should also clean up that connection when he comes out and explains stuff to you.

 

[locameo]

Many times, though it is not correct any longer, a builder will use 8ga stranded green wire in the bonding loop. Most of the time an inspector will pass that (if they even look). That is what those wires appear to be. If the pool cover was added after the pool was built, the installer may have added those wires and bonding lug. I don't remember ever seeing an aluminum bond clamp on newer equipment straight from the factory. The easy fix is to go to Home Depot/Lowe's, etc. and get a copper bonding lug and replace the corroded aluminum one.

genuinely appreciate your response and solution tip. thank you so much

 

[locameo]

You need to call your Pool Installer back and have him explain to you what those green wires connect to. He buried your wiring behind the plywood such that it can't be followed.

The green wires could be light grounding wires which would be a wrong connection.

Or it could be bonding wires to some pool equipment and you should know what they connect to.

He should also clean up that connection when he comes out and explains stuff to you.

thank you for your help. really appreciate it. I know those wires go to pool and spa lights. but clearly don't know anything beyond that. If the green wires are indeed bonding wires to the pool lights, where should those bonding wires connect to? also, any idea why it would keep producing tiny moisture on the connection? just educating myself before I get the pool guy out. you've been so helpful

 

[JamesW]

680.26 Equipotential Bonding.

(A) Performance. The equipotential bonding required by this section shall be installed to reduce voltage gradients in the pool area.

(B) Bonded Parts. The parts specified in 680.26(B)(1) through (B)(7) shall be bonded together using solid copper conductors, insulated covered, or bare, not smaller than 8 AWG or with rigid metal conduit of brass or other identified corrosion-resistant metal.

Connections to bonded parts shall be made in accordance with 250.8.

An 8 AWG or larger solid copper bonding conductor provided to reduce voltage gradients in the pool area shall not be required to be extended or attached to remote panelboards, service equipment, or electrodes.