Bonding and grounding

[Enkil810]

This is a double question really. I didn't learn about bonding until after the pool install and deck was built around my pool. The pool installer never mentioned anything about it. My pool is mostly resin and is a salt water rated pool. My ladder is resin so I'm assuming I just need the #8 copper wire ran around my pool connected to 4 points on the legs then the water and pump? Second question. I am converting to salt water because chlorine is hard to get were I live. Can I just put Anodes on the ladder and the skimmer and it protect the pool and equipment from corrosion? Or do I need more than that?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I'm going to link a couple TFP articles for you, in case you hadn't seen them-

Electrical Bonding - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Bonding vs Grounding

Electricity and water don't mix. Learn a few basic tips how to keep your family safe when dealing with electricity around your pool.

www.troublefreepool.com

Maddie

 

[Enkil810]

I'm going to link a couple TFP articles for you, in case you hadn't seen them-

Electrical Bonding - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Bonding vs Grounding

Electricity and water don't mix. Learn a few basic tips how to keep your family safe when dealing with electricity around your pool.

www.troublefreepool.com

Maddie

Here is the problem. It states the bonding should be attached below the liner. My pool is a above ground pool but is buried half way. There is no way to get to the footers below the liner.

 

[magiteck]

Do you have to have the pool inspected, or are you doing the bonding solely for safety?

The reason I ask: The code is somewhat ambiguous around the “4 point” bonding when it comes to above ground pools. My inspector only required me to bond the pool shell in one place. And since it’s a continuous metal sheet, that really should be enough. BUT some inspectors interpret the code differently and require the 4 points, which is really meant for inground pools.

If you require an inspection, check with your inspector and see what they require. If no inspection is required, or if they say one point on the shell is adequate, then I’d only worry about bonding the wall in one spot.

In my case, I attached a bonding lug to one of the through-wall bolts where the pool wall bolts together, using something like this -

Amazon.com: Morris Products Direct Burial Lay-In Connectors – For Copper Conductors, Grounding Swimming Pools, Spa Equipment, Conduit Bushings – 4 AWG, .26” Bolt, 1.04”L x .47”W x .76”H, 1-Pack 90572 : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Buy Morris Products Direct Burial Lay-In Connectors – For Copper Conductors, Grounding Swimming Pools, Spa Equipment, Conduit Bushings – 4 AWG, .26” Bolt, 1.04”L x .47”W x .76”H, 1-Pack 90572: Pool & Spa Replacement Parts - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

smile.amazon.com

Then I tied that into the ring around the pool, along with the skimmer/water bonding plate, and the pump. That passed inspection for me.

I don’t believe you need any type of anode. The salinity of a SWG pool is about 10% that of the ocean, and consensus here is that a properly balanced SWG pool is no more corrosive than one without a SWG.

 

[magiteck]

I borrowed this image from the guide provided to me by our city inspector, but it illustrates how I bonded the wall-

 

[Enkil810]

I live in a rural area. No inspection required. Which is the reason the installers probably never mentioned anything about bonding or grounding.

 

[Enkil810]

So...can you bond up higher on the wall or legs? Or do I have to dig the pool back out to accomplish this?

 

[magiteck]

So...can you bond up higher on the wall or legs? Or do I have to dig the pool back out to accomplish this?

Higher on the wall should be fine. I'm not sure about the uprights, as I'm not sure if they'd have a solid enough connection to the pool shell. If your pool is a resin/hybrid pool, you'd also want to make sure the uprights are metal if you choose to use them. There shouldn't be any reason to dig out the pool in any case.

The loop around the pool should be 4-6 inches deep and 18-24 inches out from the wall, so you will need to trench a little around the pool for that.

 

[Enkil810]

Higher on the wall should be fine. I'm not sure about the uprights, as I'm not sure if they'd have a solid enough connection to the pool shell. If your pool is a resin/hybrid pool, you'd also want to make sure the uprights are metal if you choose to use them. There shouldn't be any reason to dig out the pool in any case.

The loop around the pool should be 4-6 inches deep and 18-24 inches out from the wall, so you will need to trench a little around the pool for that.

That's what I'm thinking. I'm just trying to decide if I need 4 bonding points or find the wall connection and just go with one on the pool and go to the pump and SWG.

 

[magiteck]

That's what I'm thinking. I'm just trying to decide if I need 4 bonding points or find the wall connection and just go with one on the pool and go to the pump and SWG.

If you don’t have an inspector requiring otherwise, I would personally just do the one point at the wall connection.

The below post explains the actual requirements well-

Post in thread 'Bonding Issues for Above Ground Pool'
Bonding Issues for Above Ground Pool

 

[Enkil810]

If you don’t have an inspector requiring otherwise, I would personally just do the one point at the wall connection.

The below post explains the actual requirements well-

Post in thread 'Bonding Issues for Above Ground Pool'
Bonding Issues for Above Ground Pool

If you just have to bond at one point on the wall do you still have to lay wire all the way around the pool? Or can you just go from the wall, pump, SWG, water?

 

[magiteck]

If you just have to bond at one point on the wall do you still have to lay wire all the way around the pool? Or can you just go from the wall, pump, SWG, water?

You still need the buried ring around the pool. You’re equalizing potential between the ground around the pool, the pool wall, and the equipment. This reduces the risk of shock for a person standing outside of the pool who touches the pool or the water. Without the ring, you still have that risk.