Breaker pops when pump starts priming

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Y

yp93

Member
May 23, 2024
18
Austin, TX
Pool Size
6855
Surface
Fiberglass
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-3)
Hi All,

So we’ve got a cold few weeks in TX (27-32F at night) and I’ve been running a pump 24/7 to make sure nothing freezes. Everything was alright until today when in the morning I went to check things out and breaker was out.

Nothing is frozen / clogged and it is 48F now outdoor too. The breaker won’t stay on anymore though. The second pump tries to start priming - it goes out again.

Everything is not even a year old, so I am wondering what could it be because so far my only thought is faulty breaker.

New information: Test button on GFCI breaker doesn’t work. I guess this is breaker broken after all then?

Thank you!
 
Last edited:
What model pump are we discussing?

How do you turn the pump on and off?

Have you disconnected the hot wires and safed them with wire nuts before testing the breaker?

Post pictures of the breaker panel, pump, and equipment pad.
 
ajw22 said:
What model pump are we discussing?

How do you turn the pump on and off?

Have you disconnected the hot wires and safed them with wire nuts before testing the breaker?

Post pictures of the breaker panel, pump, and equipment pad.
Click to expand...
It is Hayward VS Tristar 950. It is connected to the panel and controlled with the buttons on the pump itself. So as soon as electricity goes to the pump - it will attempt to start.

The top breaker is light - it works fine. The one on picture is the one tripping. I don’t see water or moisture anywhere either (pump/SWG or whatever)
 

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If you turn the breaker completely off and then back on will the breaker stay on until the pump tries to start?

If you push the GFCI "Test" button, does the breaker trip?

Is the breaker light blinking?

1736624334256.png
 
JamesW said:
If you turn the breaker completely off and then back on will the breaker stay on until the pump tries to start?

If you push the GFCI "Test" button, does the breaker trip?

Is the breaker light blinking?

View attachment 624169
Click to expand...
Yeah, so I tried this. Few things:
- It will 50/50 stay on till pump starts but sometimes it just immediately trips. Max it was on was like 5 seconds +/-.
- When it is turned “on”, yellow light comes up for half a second and goes but TEST button does absolutely nothing. The other breaker in same panel that is connected to same ground rail works, TEST trips it. This is so far the primary reason why I think it is breaker and not pump.

So basically it will trip either immediately or within 5 seconds and TEST button does nothing. Is there any other reason to think this is not the breaker problem?
 
JamesW said:
Insert a 5/16" hex wrench into the hole in the back fan shroud and into the motor shaft to see if the shaft will turn.

View attachment 624171
Click to expand...
Yeah, it is not blocked. To be fair in those few tries when pump started and it didn’t trip immediately it would be even able to pump some water and you can see it coming from the jets. If it was pump - shouldn’t it be able to start altogether or would trip immediately every time?
 

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