How To Ground And Bond Hayward Pool Pumps

Making a mistake grounding and bonding a swimming pool pump can be deadly. Grounding enables faster circuit breaker action, and bonding ties conductive metal parts together so they have the same electrical potential. Together, both reduce the risk of fatal shock. Hayward Pool Products manufactures several different swimming pool pumps, but grounding and bonding requirements are the same across the product line. Following the Hayward Pool Products installation guidelines and the National Electrical Code for grounding and bonding will ensure a safer pool environment.

Step 1

Connect the insulated ground wire to the green ground screw near the terminal plate of the motor. Strip the insulation 3/4-inch and form the wire around the screw. Tighten the screw securely. The NEC requires swimming pool pump ground wires to be insulated in article 680.21 Do not connect power wires until the ground wire installation is completed.

Step 2

Verify the ground wire connection with a multimeter. Set the multimeter to test for continuity. Touch one lead to the ground wire near the green ground screw and the other to the motor frame across from the ground connection. The meter should indicate continuity.

Step 3

Connect the ground wire to the ground connection or to the circuit ground wire in the time clock or electrical panel. The ground wire must provide a path back to the main electrical panel to assist with circuit breaker function, according to Carl R. Nave, associate professor of physics at Georgia State University and webmaster of HyperPhysics. Do not substitute an "earth ground" from a grounding rod or bonding connection. The ground wire can be connected with wire nuts, terminal screws, crimp or other approved connectors. After the ground connection has been made, the power connections can be completed. Do not energize the motor until the bonding connection has been completed.

Step 1

Locate the external bonding lug on the pump motor. The bonding lug is a pressure wire connector with a screw to secure the bond wire.

Step 2

Connect the bond wire to the external bonding lug. The bond wire must be a bare, solid copper wire. The NEC requires at least No. 8 AWG wire (No. 6 AWG in Canada). It cannot be an insulated or stranded wire. Secure the bond wire with the screw on the external bonding lug. On replacement installations where the existing bonding wire is being transferred to the new pump, this step completes the bonding process.

Step 3

Complete the bonding of all electrical equipment on new installations. The NEC requires that all electrical equipment, except double-insulated equipment, be bonded together. In addition, all metal within 5 feet of the inside of the pool wall must be bonded with the equipment to form the equipotential bonding grid.