How to repair a broken Bonding wire

[ramsfan]

Hello, it appears my bonding wire broke. The good news, the break occurred in an area that is easily accessible. My question is how do I repair it? I twisted it together for a temporary half baked fix, but is there is good permanent solution?

Thanks!

 

[kadavis]

Split Bolt | Copper #10 - #6GA | S6 | ElecDirect, you can use one of these

 

[JamesW]

The bond wire is a thick solid wire. How did it break?

 

[ramsfan]

kadavis - thanks!!!

JamesW - not sure how it broke, it was a clean break, all I can guess is maybe when something was being installed it got cut or snapped.

 

[Steve_in_C]

I don't like underground connections. I'd put in a new piece of #8 solid copper in between lugs. Your pool should be bonded in at least 4 places. If you can access the ground over the bonding wire, it would be easy to dig a shallow trench over the broken wire to remove and replace with a new one (only in between 2 bonding lugs - not the whole pool). If your splices are all above ground, you can check them once in a while for corrosion. Underground splices may be heavily corroded and you will never know..

 

[ramsfan]

Steve, I can see the bonding wire coming out from the ground of a retaining wall, and the break is between that spot, and the first place it is attached to my pool equipment.

I wouldn't be able to dig up the wire that is in the ground, so hoping I can just do this repair, which I have access to both end of the broken bonding wire.

 

[ramsfan]

I just posted this video of my bonding wire, and hopefully showing where one connection is not in place, and the broken wire. Here is the video: YouTube

I certainly appreciate advice on how to properly repair it.

 

[Steve_in_C]

"This video is unavailable"

 

[Ted527]

Split Bolt | Copper #10 - #6GA | S6 | ElecDirect, you can use one of these

This is the way to fix it, copper split bolt with copper wires will not have dissimilar metals to cause corrosion.

 

[Steve_in_C]

The best 2 connections are the same metal (copper wire / copper split bolt) as you have said. But when an electrolyte is present and the pH is off, you can have corrosion. Consider the lead battery terminal attached to the lead post of a car battery. 2 similar metals with a lot of corrosion potential. Acid you say? Well my soil pH is 5.5. Maybe the corrosion is not as fast as the auto battery terminal analogy, but it will still corrode in my environment.

Now consider the lead battery terminal / lead post connection AWAY from the electrolyte and acidity. It will make a fine connection under those circumstances. That's why an above ground connection is best.