Will Your Pool Pass An Inspection?

The 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) allows electrical inspectors to periodically inspect swimming pools and similar equipment, after installation!

If the safety of your family is important, you owe it to them to make sure the electrical circuit to your pool is installed and inspected by a licensed electrician.
Pool

Is your Pool Safe From Electrical Shock?

Have your Pool Professionally Inspected and Tested by Wesco Per the NEC Article 680 Electrical Codes

Ensure that the following items are Bonded:
  • Perimeter Surface Bonding
  • Equipment and Metal Parts Bonding
  • Pool Water Bonding
  • Pool Grid Shell Bonding
Ensure the following items are in accordance with the NEC:
  • Service Disconnect - Sub Panels - GFCI Breakers
  • Pool Equipment Like Time Clocks, Pool Lights & Transformers, Pool light junction boxes, Switch boxes, Pool motors, Heat pumps, Salt generators, Gas Pool Heaters, Etc.

What is grounding and bonding?

Swimming Pools - Hot Tubs - Spas
The average swimmer probably doesn’t really think too much about the electrical components that make a swimming pool work. But the fact is that without the water pump, filtration system, heater, etc. Swimming wouldn’t be very pleasant. But with all these electrical components combined with the conductive metal parts of the swimming pool, Also comes the potential for great danger. Swimming pools Must be properly Grounded and Bonded to prevent this danger.

 

What is Grounding ?
Grounding is a way to direct the flow of electrical current towards the earth rather than through the pool users. This is accomplished through proper equipment ground wiring and GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) breakers. The correct ground wiring is a low impedance path for the breaker to detect a fault in the electrical current, then it can shut down the electrical equipment exhibiting the fault and help ensure no one receives a shock. A fault is defined as an abnormal electrical current. In the case of a swimming pool, an abnormal electrical current can create a dangerous situation for swimmers. Grounding a swimming pool will help protect swimmers from being shocked or electrocuted, If a fault occurs in the electrical system.
What is Bonding?
Bonding is another process which reduces the possibility of electrical shock by connecting the pool and all of the conductive elements in a swimming pool to a single network. This includes the pool water, pool walls, post and rails, the water pump, heater, the deck area around the pool and any other metal parts like ladders, slides or handrails, etc. By connecting all these these items together it creates what is know as a equipotential bonding. A equipotential bonding grid is Necessary to prevent the flow of electricity due to different voltage gradients. When there is a differential in voltage or stray voltage, and that electrical current is allowed to freely flow it can potentially cause a shock or electrocution. The bonding grid system equalizes the voltage gradients and helps reduce the potential for an electrical shock.
Grounding and Bonding are Totally Different, But Work Together
Grounding and Bonding work together to prevent electrical shocks or electrocution. Grounding your swimming pool can shut down the electrical equipment if there is a fault in the electrical system. Creating a bonding grid equalizes the voltage differential between the pool and various metal components of the swimming pool and thereby helps to prevent electrical shocks. BOTH of these are Absolutely Necessary to help ensure your swimming pool is Safe.
Why Hire a Pool and Hot Tub Electrical Specialist?
To Insure your swimming pool is Properly Wired, Grounded and Bonded per the 680 NEC Code. You should Never allow this job to be performed by anybody other than a Licensed Electrican that is an Expert on the 680 National Electrical Code for Swimming Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs. Even most good electricians don’t understand the difference in the way Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs are required to be wired, bonded and grounded differently than regular home wiring, Keep in mind, Just because it works doesn’t mean it was done right, If it doesn’t meet the 680 NEC Code, It could be putting your Family at Risk At Wesco we don’t take Pool and Hot Tub wiring lightly or skimp on the Installation process in any way. At Wesco We are Swimming Pool and Hot Tub Electrical Specialists, with over 30 years of Electrical Experience and Preform each and every job with Superior Quality and Always meet or exceed the 680 NEC Code for Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs. If Superior Quality and the peace of mind in knowing the job was done right the first time. Is important to you,
Give Wesco a call 865-603-4084

New Statistics say there are unsafe pools in US!

As stated in the Pool Safety pages above, We clarify the importance of proper electrical work and how grounding and bonding works together and how vital it is to Pool Safety.

Stray voltage is dangerous!

New Statistics say there are 10.7 million pools in the US and an Alarming percentage have either electrical or bonding issues or both and are Not safe in the event of stray voltage, contact voltage, or equipment failure that causes electrical current to go into the pool or the area around the pool, At Wesco we feel the the main purpose of our business, Is to promote Pool and Hot Tub Electrical Safety as job one, Thats why we are Predominantly a Pool and Hot Tub Electrical Company. Because we want to do everything possible to help lower the percentage of pools and hot tubs with these Issues.

Basic Bonding is NOT Adequate

One Single Perimeter Bond Wire is the MINIMAL Requirement Per the 2017 NEC Code we are under at this Present Time in our area, However Testing from NEETRAC, EPRI, ENERNEX And even our Local TVA has stated that a Single Bond Wire Does NOT Adequately Protect a Person Sitting or Standing on the Pool Deck from fatal electrical faults. The 2020 NEC Code has adopted a Copper Conductor Grid System like shown in these pictures, As a safer bonding alternative to create the Protective Equipotential Plane Needed around the pool. The 2023 NEC Code TIA Log #1661 has proposed to Eliminate the use of the Single Bond Wire and Only Allow the Grid Conductor System to be used.
Exception: 42’’ and taller above ground pools placed on top of the ground
With the substantial height difference of an above ground pool’s perimeter / deck area ( grass / ground area around the pool ) and the top of the pool ( water height ) it is unlike an in ground pool’s perimeter / deck area does not pose the same multiple risk factors that the in ground pool does and therefore the one wire system remains adequate for those type pools and still meets the local NEC code.

Tell Your Pool Contractor You Want Wesco!

We have been using a 2 Wire System, But because We Believe that Safety is more Important than cost, And even though the NEC 2017 Electrical code we are under in our area, At this Present Time Only Requires the One Bond Wire around the pool.
We will now Only use this Safer Custom made Copper Grid Conductor System for the Perimeter Bonding around the pool deck area. It’s Especially important to use when doing pavers, concrete or stone decking around your New Pool or when Redoing the area around your old pool. With the popularity of Pools and Hot Tubs lately, Many have gone into the Pool construction business Although most are creditable builders, They have to Solely Rely on sub contracting the Electrical out to someone else, That may or may not do the Electrical and Bonding Correctly, You may never know until there is a Serious or Fatal problem, You can have the most beautiful and expensive Pool in the neighborhood, But it could also be the Most Unsafe pool in the neighborhood, When it comes to having Electrical and Bonding potential safety issues. To Avoid having this problem.
Tell your Pool Contractor, That you want to Hire the Pool Electrician. Any reputable pool contractor will Not have a problem with this and most will be glad you are handling it rather than them having to get someone. When hiring Any Electrician, Make sure that he is an Expert in the NEC 680 Code Requirements for Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs. Make sure he can explain in detail how this code will be used to perform the Electrical and Bonding of your Pool. Ask him to Supply all the Required Electrical Inspections and Provide copies to you, If he can not do and explain all this in great detail, Don’t Hire him or let him work on your Pool. We also Suggest that if you are Concerned about your Families Safety, Then Only use the Copper Grid Conductor System. For a quote to do your Pool’s Electrical and Bonding.

Call NOW! 865-603-4084

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