above ground pump electrical

[flyboy_fish]

I have read through numerous threads and I am still somewhat at a loss for my situation.
Pump: Blue wave tidal wave roaring river 2 speed 1hp max. 10A/3.2A high/low speed.
My pump came from the factory with a 6 foot cord. Some threads say this is impossible because a cord can't be longer than 3ft per code.
Pump says to PERMANENTLY ground the pump. I ran an additional grounding rod near the pump and was going to ground to that with a 12AWG ground wire. However, the plug is already grounded through the 6 foot three prong cord and one thread here suggested that having two grounds could create a current between the two grounds so I removed the second grounding wire (I don't think I will get my 8ft grounding stake out... Ha!). Is two grounds to the pump really a problem?

Not sure what to do since "permanently grounded" keeps sticking in my head. When I unplug the motor, it is no longer grounded. While I previously would have said it doesn't matter because it isn't plugged in, again some of the threads suggested that stray electrical current in the area, not necessarily coming from the pump, could be an issue and that is one of the reasons for bonding.
Yes, the system is bonded: pump motor, pool wall, water from the skimmer, and a loop of 8AWG all around the pool. Yet when the pump is unplugged, there is nothing in the system connected to a good ground. Is that a problem?

 

[ajw22]

Is two grounds to the pump really a problem?

Yes.

Yet when the pump is unplugged, there is nothing in the system connected to a good ground. Is that a problem?

No that is not a problem, you do not understand the difference between bonding and grounding.

Please follow the NEC and wire the pump to electrical codes. Consult with a competent electrician.

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

Electrical Bonding - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[phonedave]

A ground is part of your electrical system. It runs from your main panel (where it is tied to earth via a ground rod) to the various electrical appliances (such as your pump) via the grounded conductor in the electrical system.

Bonding is what you do to tie all the metal parts in and around your pool together, so that they are at the same electrical potential. You motor housing, water, pool wall, ground around the pool, and anything else conductive (like a metal ladder) all get tied together with copper wire.

 

[flyboy_fish]

Thanks for the reply. I have read on bonding and grounding, including those linked articles, and I generally understand that bonding brings the equipment and area to the same electrical potential and grounding allows a path back to the earth in case of fault. The only point I don't understand between bonding and grounding is that the bonding system is directly tied into the grounding system - the ground screw (inside case) is about 2 inches from the bonding lug (outside case) on the same piece of metal in the motor. Electrically, I don't see how that makes a difference.

So I think I can agree and confirm, there is something I am missing!

 

[ajw22]

The pump is permanently grounded through the green ground wire and the houses electrical system.

You do not add additional ground points to a house electrical system.

We can discuss house electrical systems and grounding or we can discuss equipotential bonding.

Do not conflate the two different systems although they share some points of connection.

 

[1poolman1]

I have read through numerous threads and I am still somewhat at a loss for my situation.
Pump: Blue wave tidal wave roaring river 2 speed 1hp max. 10A/3.2A high/low speed.
My pump came from the factory with a 6 foot cord. Some threads say this is impossible because a cord can't be longer than 3ft per code.
Pump says to PERMANENTLY ground the pump. I ran an additional grounding rod near the pump and was going to ground to that with a 12AWG ground wire. However, the plug is already grounded through the 6 foot three prong cord and one thread here suggested that having two grounds could create a current between the two grounds so I removed the second grounding wire (I don't think I will get my 8ft grounding stake out... Ha!). Is two grounds to the pump really a problem?

Not sure what to do since "permanently grounded" keeps sticking in my head. When I unplug the motor, it is no longer grounded. While I previously would have said it doesn't matter because it isn't plugged in, again some of the threads suggested that stray electrical current in the area, not necessarily coming from the pump, could be an issue and that is one of the reasons for bonding.
Yes, the system is bonded: pump motor, pool wall, water from the skimmer, and a loop of 8AWG all around the pool. Yet when the pump is unplugged, there is nothing in the system connected to a good ground. Is that a problem?

You only need a ground connection to a piece of equipment that has power going to it. If it is unplugged it is just a boat anchor.

 

[phonedave]

Thanks for the reply. I have read on bonding and grounding, including those linked articles, and I generally understand that bonding brings the equipment and area to the same electrical potential and grounding allows a path back to the earth in case of fault. The only point I don't understand between bonding and grounding is that the bonding system is directly tied into the grounding system - the ground screw (inside case) is about 2 inches from the bonding lug (outside case) on the same piece of metal in the motor. Electrically, I don't see how that makes a difference.

So I think I can agree and confirm, there is something I am missing!

Very often (as you discovered) the bonding system is connected to the grounding system.

Technically they are two different systems, and serve two separate purposes.