Home Page link

ok to use breaker as switch for pool pump?

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 2 of 3       < 1 2 3 > last >> Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
ok to use breaker as switch for pool pump? KLE 04-30-2008
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by pipedown on April 30, 2008, 4:34 pm

> KLE wrote:
>> The regular switch for the pool pump is, well, out by the pool. Out
>> the back of the house, across a lawn, through a locked gate, etc. The
>> circuit panel is conveniently located in my central utility/laundry
>> room, and the pool is on its own circuit. Would it be appropriate or
>> safe to use the circuit as the switch on a daily basis, on then later
>> off once per day through the summer? I know some people put a timer on
>> the pool pump - is there something I can buy at the big box and hook
>> up simply, or is it something I need an electrician for?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Karen
>
> A breaker IS a switch. Lots of businesses shut breakers daily and they
> don't wear out even with years of use.
>
>
>
That's right, we use two particular breakers to turn off the lights in my
company every day for the last 10 years (and who knows how many before that
by the company who occupied our space before us, we inherited the sticker
that says "lights in warehouse" from them). If the breaker does break, then
you can hire an electrician to replace the breaker and wire a switch if you
haven't figured out how to do that yourself by then.

The breaker should be GFCI (unless the one by the pool is), you can turn it
off by the test button if you want. If nothing is GFCI, then maybe you
should have an electricial look at it.

A typical 30A GFCI breaker cost about $30 but an electrician will cost $150
plus the $30 part nominally.



Posted by KLE on April 30, 2008, 7:44 pm
The panel itself is pretty new, we had it upgraded when we moved in,
it was inspected, the pool breaker was labeled as such in the old
panel, so everything there is as it should be. I also specifically
took the electrician outside to check the pool set-up (because there
was a lot of DIY evident around the house) and he said it was very
well done, nothing for him to change or improve. Thanks for the info,
guys. Using the breaker will be a lot easier.

Karen



n
>
> > KLE wrote:
> >> The regular switch for the pool pump is, well, out by the pool. Out
> >> the back of the house, across a lawn, through a locked gate, etc. The
> >> circuit panel is conveniently located in my central utility/laundry
> >> room, and the pool is on its own circuit. Would it be appropriate or
> >> safe to use the circuit as the switch on a daily basis, on then later
> >> off once per day through the summer? I know some people put a timer on
> >> the pool pump - is there something I can buy at the big box and hook
> >> up simply, or is it something I need an electrician for?
>
> >> Thanks,
>
> >> Karen
>
> > A breaker IS a switch. Lots of businesses shut breakers daily and they
> > don't wear out even with years of use.
>
> That's right, we use two particular breakers to turn off the lights in my
> company every day for the last 10 years (and who knows how many before tha=
t
> by the company who occupied our space before us, we inherited the sticker
> that says "lights in warehouse" from them). If the breaker does break, th=
en
> you can hire an electrician to replace the breaker and wire a switch if yo=
u
> haven't figured out how to do that yourself by then.
>
> The breaker should be GFCI (unless the one by the pool is), you can turn i=
t
> off by the test button if you want. If nothing is GFCI, then maybe you
> should have an electricial look at it.
>
> A typical 30A GFCI breaker cost about $30 but an electrician will cost $15=
0
> plus the $30 part nominally.


Posted by S. Barker on April 30, 2008, 7:54 pm
Not to mention, if a breaker does go bad, its $3.50 and 6 minutes to repair.

s


>>
> That's right, we use two particular breakers to turn off the lights in my
> company every day for the last 10 years (and who knows how many before
> that by the company who occupied our space before us, we inherited the
> sticker that says "lights in warehouse" from them). If the breaker does
> break, then you can hire an electrician to replace the breaker and wire a
> switch if you haven't figured out how to do that yourself by then.
>



Posted by =?ISO-8859-1?Q?=22Blattus_Slaf on April 30, 2008, 9:17 pm
S. Barker wrote:
> Not to mention, if a breaker does go bad, its $3.50 and 6 minutes to repair.
>

That's right. Pick one up at Home Depot or Loew's and just plug it in.
(after removing the panel cover of course)

> s
>
>
>> That's right, we use two particular breakers to turn off the lights in my
>> company every day for the last 10 years (and who knows how many before
>> that by the company who occupied our space before us, we inherited the
>> sticker that says "lights in warehouse" from them). If the breaker does
>> break, then you can hire an electrician to replace the breaker and wire a
>> switch if you haven't figured out how to do that yourself by then.
>>
>
>


--
Blattus Slafaly ? 3 :) 7/8

Posted by RBM on April 30, 2008, 6:11 pm

> The regular switch for the pool pump is, well, out by the pool. Out
> the back of the house, across a lawn, through a locked gate, etc. The
> circuit panel is conveniently located in my central utility/laundry
> room, and the pool is on its own circuit. Would it be appropriate or
> safe to use the circuit as the switch on a daily basis, on then later
> off once per day through the summer? I know some people put a timer on
> the pool pump - is there something I can buy at the big box and hook
> up simply, or is it something I need an electrician for?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Karen

There's no reason not to use the breaker to turn on and off the pump.
Typical time clock needs to be installed by an electrician, or at least
someone familiar with wiring methods and materials. The pool motor should be
GFCI protected as well



Page 2 of 3       < 1 2 3 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
Sump pump float switch: separate from pump? January 15, 2006, 12:25 pm
pool pump October 29, 2005, 4:14 pm
Pool motor switch zapped July 8, 2007, 6:56 pm
Pool Pump Question May 21, 2006, 5:46 pm
Pool pump hype? May 22, 2006, 1:15 pm
Pool filter/pump? June 16, 2006, 6:53 pm
Pool filter/pump? June 16, 2006, 6:53 pm
Pool filter/pump? June 16, 2006, 6:53 pm
Low PSI on Pool Booster Pump August 20, 2006, 9:22 pm
Pool pump Electrical November 11, 2006, 9:52 am

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap