Grounding my IntelliCenter

[pool512]

Good morning. My IntelliCenter installer connected one of the two bonding lugs to the main bonding wire, and told me that he typically connects the other directly to a ground rod. He explained that it is particularly helpful in case of a lightning strike, and told me about another customer who fried all of their equipment recently during a strike.

I assumed that as a subpanel, ground would be provided by the main panel, but don't want to risk my equipment over $20 worth of hardware. I spoke with my electrician, who adds a huge disclaimer that he doesn't work on pool electrical, and he said that there would be no harm in installing a ground rod, and also mentioned that using the main panel ground assumes it is properly grounded.

The posts I've found here mostly seem to suggest it's unnecessary, but it seems like cheap insurance and protection... hoping somebody with more experience can help point me in the right direction? Thanks!

Brian

 

[JoyfulNoise]

A grounding rod is not going to protect anything from a lightening strike. Also, you should NEVER have more than one ground on your property or else you risk creating ground loops that can pickup all sorts of stray voltages.

If you want to protect your IntelliCenter panel, then install a surge protector device on the high voltage supply side where the circuit breakers are. This is what I have installed on my EasyTouch (the Neanderthal cousin of the IntelliCenter ) -

Amazon.com: Square D by Schneider Electric HEPD80 Home Electronics Protective Device: Home Improvement

Amazon.com: Square D by Schneider Electric HEPD80 Home Electronics Protective Device: Home Improvement

www.amazon.com

 

[pool512]

A grounding rod is not going to protect anything from a lightening strike. Also, you should NEVER have more than one ground on your property or else you risk creating ground loops that can pickup all sorts of stray voltages.

If you want to protect your IntelliCenter panel, then install a surge protector device on the high voltage supply side where the circuit breakers are. This is what I have installed on my EasyTouch (the Neanderthal cousin of the IntelliCenter ) -

Amazon.com: Square D by Schneider Electric HEPD80 Home Electronics Protective Device: Home Improvement

Amazon.com: Square D by Schneider Electric HEPD80 Home Electronics Protective Device: Home Improvement

www.amazon.com

Thank you for the clarification and the recommendation. I've never seen one of those. If my main panel has 3 subpanels plus the Pentair load center (4 total subpanels), would it make more sense to install this on the main panel (IOW, does it protect everything downline from the main panel), or in the Pentair load center (where it would protect the pool system)?

Brian

 

[JoyfulNoise]

It’s always best to install SPD’s as close as you can to the thing you want to protect. Mine is installed on my ET load center and it’s the first set of CBs in there (you need two circuit breakers to wire it to in order to protect both legs of the panel). Your load center and pump are the most expensive things on the pool and the equipment most susceptible to surge damage. I would recommend installing it there. If you want to protect your home at the main panel, get an electrician to install one at that panel that is properly rated for the size of the home.

 

[ajw22]

First of all the NEC requires every structure to have one electrical ground point, or GES, Grounding Electrode System. All subpanels must be grounded to the main panel and not have their own grounds. Only when the subpanel is in another structure is it required to have its own GES. Electricians may get confused about the different grounding requirements for a sub-panel within a structure or in a detached structure.

If my main panel has 3 subpanels plus the Pentair load center (4 total subpanels), would it make more sense to install this on the main panel (IOW, does it protect everything downline from the main panel), or in the Pentair load center (where it would protect the pool system)?

You are assuming the surge will always enter your electrical wiring from the main electrical wires. Lightning can create EMP (Electrical Magnetic Pulses) that create high voltages around outdoor wiring without actually touching it. Your pool panel and equipment is susceptible to such surges. And that is why your surge suppressor to protect your pool equipment should be located in your pool sub-panel.

I use a Siemens FirstSurge FS140.

Electrical Surge Protection - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[pool512]

It’s always best to install SPD’s as close as you can to the thing you want to protect. Mine is installed on my ET load center and it’s the first set of CBs in there (you need two circuit breakers to wire it to in order to protect both legs of the panel). Your load center and pump are the most expensive things on the pool and the equipment most susceptible to surge damage. I would recommend installing it there. If you want to protect your home at the main panel, get an electrician to install one at that panel that is properly rated for the size of the home.

Thanks much! Will do.

 

[pool512]

First of all the NEC requires every structure to have one electrical ground point, or GES, Grounding Electrode System. All subpanels must be grounded to the main panel and not have their own grounds. Only when the subpanel is in another structure is it required to have its own GES. Electricians may get confused about the different grounding requirements for a sub-panel within a structure or in a detached structure.


You are assuming the surge will always enter your electrical wiring from the main electrical wires. Lightning can create EMP (Electrical Magnetic Pulses) that create high voltages around outdoor wiring without actually touching it. Your pool panel and equipment is susceptible to such surges. And that is why your surge suppressor to protect your pool equipment should be located in your pool sub-panel.

I use a Siemens FirstSurge FS140.

Electrical Surge Protection - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Thank you! Great info.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Since I was out of breaker spaces, I used a Schneider electric HEPD80 since it was a type 1 surge protector that could be installed directly to the bus.

HEPD80 - Surge protection device, HEPD, 80kA, 120/240V, 1 phase, 3 wire, SPD type 1 | Schneider Electric USA

Schneider Electric USA. HEPD80 - Surge protection device, HEPD, 80kA, 120/240V, 1 phase, 3 wire, SPD type 1.

www.se.com

--Jeff