Pool Subpanel for Mini Split AC

[travelfeedsthesoul]

If there's any electrician or anyone with such knowledge here, I'd really like your advice.

Our primary home electrical breaker box is on the opposite side of my pool equipment. So facing the front door entry, breaker box on left side and pool equipment on right side. My garage is also on the right side (more later on why this is mentioned).

When my pool electrical was ran, they dug everything under ground and set up a subpanel or breaker box for the pool equipment. I'm not sure how many amps or volts and all that is, but it's currently handling my pool pumps (2 VSPs), Aqualink, and heater and whatever else as part of my equipment.

So now in the middle of July, our garage gets really hot, and we have a garage gym built in part of our tandem 3 car garage. We're looking to add a 24k BTU mini split AC but to run the electrical line from the opposite side to this side, it can get difficult and expensive.

So the electrician came out today (who actually did my pool electrical) and long story kept short, he says my pool electrical subpanel will be able to handle the mini split. He said he can run a line off the pool panel, and I should be okay. I expressed some concerns and he said if it doesn't work, he can always run a bigger wire to the pool electrical box and then it should handle it. Of course the costs would be additional if that happens.

The mini split guy gave me these as the specs for the electrical setup he'll need before installing the mini split:

12/2
Disconnect box
20 amp circuit

Any advice?

Thanks,
Neil

 

[ajw22]

The devil is in the details and how many amps feed the pool subpanel has to be known to comment at all if the subpanel can support a 20 amp heat pump.

You have a licensed eletrcian who should look into all those details. If he says the subpanel can support the load then you should be good.

A pool panel does not know or care what devices it powers.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Agree with Allen.

We have a mini-split in our casita and we love it. It’s an old as dirt LG unit (maybe circa 1999) and I’ll keep it going as long as the compressor holds out and refrigerant doesn’t cost more that the price of gold. One thing I would say is this - have a plan for the condensate line … they can put out a lot of condensate water when running and that water can be useful for irrigation (I wouldn’t put it in the pool but it’s fine for non-edible plants). Also, make sure the units are installed in locations that are easily accessible. One thing you absolutely want to do is wash out the evaporator coil once per year and there are these special bags with a hose attachment to do just that. You take the plastic front off, put the bag around the unit and run the hose to a drain or large plastic bucket. Then you use a pressure sprayer or hose and wash out the coils. They collect TONS of dust and will get moldy if you don’t … and not the healthy kind of mold either. So make sure the installation is in an easily accessible and open location to make cleaning easy.

 

[travelfeedsthesoul]

The devil is in the details and how many amps feed the pool subpanel has to be known to comment at all if the subpanel can support a 20 amp heat pump.

You have a licensed eletrcian who should look into all those details. If he says the subpanel can support the load then you should be good.

A pool panel does not know or care what devices it powers.

I'll check with the electrician and see how many amps feed the pool panel.

How many amps does a typical VSP take?

 

[ajw22]

How many amps does a typical VSP take?

There is no typical pump.

It is listed on the data plate on the pump motor.

 

[travelfeedsthesoul]

So here's one of my twin VSPs.

It says 10.5/16 for the Amps. Why two numbers? Is it 16 at start-up and then drops down to 10.5 when running? Or is it 16 when running full RPM and 10.5 when running at lowest RPM?

Also, the Nat Gas heater would be probably 5 amps or so. Maybe the Aqualink box might add 5 amps?

Anything other pool equipment that would add to the amp usage?

Thanks

 

[ajw22]

Your pump is dual voltage.

If it is powered by 230 volts it uses a maximum of 10.5 amps.

If it is powered by 115 volts it uses a maximum of 16 amps.

What voltage is your pump connected to?

 

[ajw22]

Also, the Nat Gas heater would be probably 5 amps or so.

From the JXI manual....

Maybe the Aqualink box might add 5 amps?

Pool lights?

Spa blower?

 

[Newdude]

Trust the electrician. Mine asked me if I wanted any extra amperage for future use and I thanked them for leaving me some to spare. A couple of weeks later, I failed my electrical inspection for not having an accessory outlet by the pool and they promptly took the available amps for that.

Even if they had to pull a thicker gauge to the sub panel to handle it, that may be the easiest path.

Like said above, the panel doesn't care what you do with it. You affectionately call it your pool panel but it's just a sub panel.

 

[ajw22]

Trust the electrician. Mine asked me if I wanted any extra amperage for future use and I thanked them for leaving me some to spare. A couple of weeks later, I failed my electrical inspection for not having an accessory outlet by the pool and they promptly took the available amps for that.

Your electrician should study up on the NEC if he is going to be wiring pool panels. The requriement for an accessory outlet is in the NEC.

 

[Newdude]

Your electrician should study up on the NEC if he is going to be wiring pool panels. The requriement for an accessory outlet is in the NEC

He said the neighboring towns didn't follow it to the letter and would have been fine with the pre existing outlet, and the one he did install, both just outside the 6ft to 20ft radius from the pool code.