Electrical / Break Box Help

[OffRoad322]

Hi All,
Let me first say that I will be having a licensed electrician do all of the work here, but I want to know what to ask for...

Please check out the picture of my electrical box for my pool

1) Should the outlet coming from the breaker box be GFCI?

2) I want to simplify the breaker box / electrical now that I have a variable speed pump with timer and settings built in...pictures of yours or suggestions would be great
Just looking to have control for light and waterfall pump...too complicated and I have to open breaker box for waterfall right now.


Thank you!

 

[kimkats]

No real idea but wondering how old that system is. You might have to start all over to get it to do what you want it to do. Maybe someone will see this with a bump and be able to guide you. Good luck!

 

[Bama Rambler]

I apologize, I looked at this post yesterday and didn't have time to read and understand what was going on. Let me try to answer a couple of things.


1) Yes, unless the main breaker or circuit breaker feeding this receptacle is GFCI.

2) I think your best bet is to replace the power panel with a simpler panel.

The picture isn't very clear, but It appears that the main pump and waterfall pump are both 240 volt units.

I can't tell if the breaker handles are mechanically tied together (they should be), but it looks like the center two are, and the two outside ones aren't.
That breaker is Double Pole Tandem Breaker with two single pole breakers on the outsides. If that's the case, and the waterfall pump is 240 volt, then that installation is not to code.

I would much rather see two standard double pole breakers, one for each pump.

So in conclusion, I'd have the electrician remove the existing panel and replace it with an 8 or 12 circuit sub panel wired correctly.
I'd also add the proper switches for the light and waterfall pump. (While it's legal to use a single pole switch on a 240 volt circuit, I like seeing a double pole single throw switch rated for motor loads used and switch both hot legs.)
I'd also use a GFCI receptacle.

 

[niteshift38]

I TOTALLY agree with Bama Rambler about replacing the entire box !!! A NEW "Sub Panel" is in order with "Double Pole" breakers for all. AND the breaker feeding this new sub panel should be GFCI to protect ALL exterior components (including the sub panel). Also, an external "On/Off" switch for the waterfall should be a double pole single throw switch as he said (just switching one leg means there is STILL power out there). An Electrician should be able to set you up right and SAFE! Good Luck

 

[jblizzle]

If the subpanel is fed by a gfci breaker, then everything in the subpanel must be 240v. If any circuit is 120v, then the gfci will constantly trip due to unbalanced loads between the 2 hot legs.

 

[niteshift38]

jblizzle ... GOOD CALL ... never thought about that scenario (guilty here of "assuming" everything he was feeding was 220v). That's why this site rocks ... so much input always available !!!

 

[OffRoad322]

Wow I love this site so glad I found it. Thanks for all the help. New pool and first pool for me so I am just figuring everything out. Sorry for the bad picture too much sun.

Sub panel is not being fed by GFCI breakers on my main panel...sounds like another thing to fix!

Can anyone show me some pictures of their panel so I can see how your setup is...I know it will be different then mine, but I'm a visual person. Mostly looking for what the external on/off switches (Double Pole / Single Throw) on your setups look like.

Thank you!