VS Pentair trouble and the run around.

[Destinypanda1]

Howdy all,

I bought my house with a pool about 4 months ago. I quickly read up on this site and learned to maintain my pool nicely.

Right away after moving in, I noticed my pump shuts down and trips the breaker randomly sometimes after running 30 minutes, sometimes after running 2-3 hours. Sometimes 3 days go by before it happens and other times I can’t go a single hour. The pump used to display code 000f which the Google machine says it’s a voltage problem.

Called the dreaded pool company and they came out said it’s a problem with my breaker panel. I called an electrician and he said there’s nothing wrong with the panel, it’s the pump haha.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced something similar or has any suggestions on how I could check which one it is. This feels like the alternator vs battery issue, there must be a way to find out?

 

[mknauss]

Pentair VS pumps should have a specific circuit breaker they are wired from. Can you show us a picture of the breaker?

 

[Destinypanda1]

From what the electrician said, that little panel next to the pump is bypassed. Unsure why, I’m guessing it was cheaper to bypass than uninstall for the previous homeowner. But when the pump shuts down, it trips the main breaker, nothing happens in that little box. As soon as I reset the breaker, everything goes back to normal.

 

[Bill1974]

Is the breaker in the main panel a GFCI? can you tell if it is tripping from current or from a GFCI fault?

 

[Destinypanda1]

I didn’t know breakers can be GFCI haha I thought it was just for outlets. How could I check?
It’s hard to know where it’s tripping from since it’s unpredictable when it happens. Initially I sat outside waiting to see it happen but after two hours I gave up. The electrician turned the pump at Max voltage for 45 mins he was here and it didn’t trip. He said it seems to be drawing the correct voltage.

 

[mknauss]

The breaker you show is tripped and is GFCI, but not the Pentair breaker needed for that pump. The other picture shows a timer.

 

[Destinypanda1]

Yes that’s the one that trips every time and I have to reset. Specific pentair breaker that’s great info and I feel like the pool company should have known to look for it. The electrician works closely with the pool company so perhaps he should’ve known too. I’ll try replacing that first and report back. Thanks!

 

[mknauss]

Pentair IntelliFlo Pumps - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Bill1974]

Is the external timer controlling the pump or is the pump itself doing all the schedules.

If the external timer is killing power to the pump that could be the reason, for the GFCI tripping. Also vfd's don't like it when power it cut and the pump is running. It causes spikes that damage some of the electronic components.

 

[ajw22]

Pentair IntelliFlo Pumps - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Electrical GFCI - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Harmonics from the variable frequency drive pumps can cause false GFCI trips. Pentair PA220GF is a 20A 240V GFCI breaker that GFCI trips at 6ma. The PA220GF is supposed to be less sensitive to false GCFI trips from VS pumps.

The PA220GF is a relabeled Siemens CB (QF220AP). Siemens added additional shielding to help resist false trips. Some say Pentair may have additional quality control and selects breakers less susceptible to false GFCI trips.

 

[Destinypanda1]

Is the external timer controlling the pump or is the pump itself doing all the schedules.

If the external timer is killing power to the pump that could be the reason, for the GFCI tripping. Also vfd's don't like it when power it cut and the pump is running. It causes spikes that damage some of the electronic components.

That timer is bypassed and I don’t use it at all. I think it was used for a previous pump in a past life and when they installed this new one they just figured easier to bypass than take it off. I still think it’s suspect tho

 

[Jimrahbe]

D,

If you install the correct GFCI breaker, your problem should go away..

Thanks,

Jim R.