How To Wire A Pool Pump

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WRITTEN BY: Inyo Pools

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Pool pumps are wired to run on either 230V or 115V. Most are run on 230V and are preset at the manufacturers at 230V. If you are going to wire your own pool pump, you must first know what voltage is coming to your pump from the house circuit breaker. Also you must ensure that the electrical supply agrees with the motor's voltage, phase, and cycle and that all electrical wiring conforms to local codes and NEC regulations. If you are unsure of this voltage or are unfamiliar with electrical codes and regulations, have a professional electrician wire your pump for you or at least check your work.
Failure to wire the pump correctly can cause electrical shock or can damage your pump motor and void your warranty.

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Step by Step

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Step 1

Measure the voltage on the wires going to your pool pump. See "How To Use a Multimeter to Test a Pool Pump Motor - Voltage". This voltage will be either 230-240V or 115-120V. Pool Pump manufacturers commonly list these as 230V or 115V. Generally you will have three wires coming to your pump. For 230V you will generally have a red, a black and a green wire. The red and black wires are both hot. There is no neutral. The green wire is always ground. For 115V the three wires are generally black (hot), white (neutral) and green (ground).

Step 2

CAUTION: Before you start wiring your pool pump, turn off all power to the pump at the breaker box.

Step 3

Unscrew the two screws that hold the cover over the back end of the motor. Remove the cover to expose the electrical connectors.

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Step 4

Screw a metal elbow onto your pool pump at the end of the motor.

Step 5

Run conduit from the metal box to the pump. String your three wires thru the conduit and metal elbow into the end of the motor. Screw the conduit collar onto the end of the elbow. Ensure that your wire size is adequate for the HP rating and distance from the power source. Check your pool pump owners manual for the correct size. Wire sizes generally run 14 AWG for motors up to 1 HP and from 14 AWG to 10AWG for larger motors depending on HP and Voltage.

Step 6

If you are wiring for 230V, the three wires coming to the pool pump from the circuit box are red, black and green. In this example for Hayward pool pumps, red will go to the L1 terminal and black will go to the L2 terminal. The green wire will be under the green screw to the far right. In addition there is a black plug with two wires coming from inside the motor , a black wire and white wire with a black tracer line. The black plug is positioned so that the white arrow on top of the 2 prong black plug is pointing at 230V.

Step 7

For clarification this picture shows the terminals without the wires. The red wire is attached to terminal 1 of Line 1 (L1). The black wire is attached to terminal 3 of Line 2 (L2). The green wire is attached to Ground (GND). The black plug is positioned so that the black wire is attached to terminal 5. For 230V the white wire is not attached.

Step 8

If you are wiring for 115V, the three wires to the pool pump will be black, white and green. Attach the white (115 V) wire to terminal 1 of Line 1 (L1). Attach the black wire (0 V) to terminal 3 of Line 2 (L2). Attach the green wire under the Ground screw (GND). The black plug is shifted in position so the black wire is attached to terminal 4 Line 2 (L2) and the white wire is attached to terminal 5. Note: in this position the white arrow on top of the 2 prong black plug is pointing at the 115V label.

Step 9

Replace the pool pump motor cover and secure it with the two screws.

Step 10

Lastly your pool pump motor must be bonded in accordance with local electrical code requirements. Use a solid copper conductor, size 8 AWG or larger. Run this wire from from a reinforcing rod to the pressure wire connector provided on the motor housing. Note: In this example the wire coming from the bottom of the picture is going to the pump. The upper wire is going to the heater to bond the heater.

Comments

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(1 to 40 of 456)

Dave Posted: 8/12/2020

If I have a pump that can be wired either 115 or 230 and my power supply is only 115 but the pump is currently wired for 230 will it cause the pump to underperform?
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 8/26/2020

The motor may not turn at all. If you know the voltage of your power source, and that the motor is currently set to a different voltage, I would just switch it to the right setting.
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Erica Posted: 8/12/2020

My old motor didn’t have a ground wire attached. Do I still need to attach a ground wire to the new motor and if so where do I attach the other end of the ground to?
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 8/20/2020

The ground wire should go back to the timer or the breaker.
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Erica Posted: 8/11/2020

My old motor didn’t have a ground wire attached. Do I still need to attach a ground wire to the new motor and if so where do I attach the other end of the ground to?
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 9/3/2020

Your motor needs a ground wire. The ground wire is connected to the metal housing of the breaker box. I'd make sure to higher an eletrician to get you set up.
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Bill Posted: 8/1/2020

I wire motor for 115v and it does not run but if switch the plug to 230v it runs
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 8/21/2020

Are you sure the circuit you are using is 230 volts? Have you double/triple checked the wiring on the motor to verify it is indeed set to the correct voltage?
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Vinny McDermott Posted: 7/22/2020

I installed a new Hayward Super Pump which came with two different power leads for 110 vac and 230 vac. When I went to hard wire the pump, of course I misplaced the 230 vac lead. Any ideas as to the Hayward part number. Thanks
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 9/3/2020

I'm sorry, but I am not sure what you are referring to when you say it came with two leads. Inground pump motors that are dual voltage (accepts 115 or 230 V) usually just have a jumper or a knob on the terminal board to switch it to the desired voltage. The pumps that I have seen fresh of the box do not include conduit or wiring.
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Brian Garnick Posted: 7/6/2020

Very helpful, thanks!
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 8/26/2020

You're welcome! Thank you for reading.
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Mark Posted: 6/17/2020

Appreciate you making this page. step 7 made it clear. L1 and L2 and terminals...seeing those numbers made something simple very clear with a picture
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 9/2/2020

Glad to help. Thank you for reading!
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Jack Disser Posted: 5/23/2020

i have a new 2HP INGROUND POOL PUMP 5850GPH DUAL VOLTAAGE MOTOR WITH DAMAGE THE WIRING DOES NOT LOOK LIKE YOUR PICTURES , I HAVE 30 amp Service ,
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 10/23/2020 Latest

What is the part, model, or catalog number on your motor's label? A picture of the motor label would be most helpful.
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Steve Posted: 3/25/2020

Similar question about wiring hayward pump for 230. Exisiting setup has 2 blue wires and green for ground. Is it correct that either blue wire can be connected to either terminal. Tks
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 3/31/2020

If you are wiring for 230, and have two hot lines, and one green; no matter the color of the wire, one hot line goes to one terminal and repeat for the other terminal
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keith Posted: 1/11/2020

I have two black wires one from "load out" and the other is to" line in"which one gore to L1?
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 1/13/2020

Are you wiring for 120 or 240?
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Redmisto Posted: 1/15/2020

I have the same situation - Two black wires and a ground wire. Hooking up a 230 variable speed motor - ECM16SQU.
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 1/17/2020

Because it is 230 volts, both lines are carrying 115 volts; so it does not matter which line goes to which terminal. One black wire goes to L1; the other black wire goes to L2. There is no wrong answer.The green ground wire goes to the green screw adjacent to the L1 and L2.
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Chuck Grimm Posted: 6/25/2019

Hello I have a Pentair Clean and clear 150 with a AO Smith motor… My switch burned up, I replaced it and need a diagram to re plug the wires back in… Need three from power and the ones going to the white panel… Please help I’ve been working on this for days Thanks Chuck
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 7/9/2019

The Clean and clear is a filter, but the motor is mounted to the pump housing. If you need a wiring diagram for a specific motor we would need the part or catalog number of the motor.
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Rob Posted: 5/29/2019

I have watched your video and another YouTube video about connecting a 115V pool motor. Your video says the white wire is L1 and the black is L2 the other video is the exact opposite. Does it matter?
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 5/30/2019

On the side of every pool pump motor, there is a wiring diagram for that specific model. Follow the wiring guidelines listed on that tag.
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Scott T Posted: 5/17/2019

I have a new Century AO Smith SQ1102 pump for my pool.... installation has been pretty straightforward except that the input power terminals are not labeled L1 and L2. With my red and blue power wires (230v), is there polarity with respect to the terminals? I don't want accidentally run the pump in reverse, you know?
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InyoPools Product Specialist Robert M. Posted: 5/17/2019

Hello Scott - There is no polarity. It will not run in reverse.
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Scott T DeSanti Posted: 5/17/2019

OUTSTANDING!
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Anonymous Posted: 4/23/2019

This video was very helpful. Thank you. Also, I am a customer that order parts from your co. I am awaiting for an Impeller.
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skip Posted: 3/30/2019

Can you change out a 110 V in to a 220V Yes or No
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 4/1/2019

I need you to clarify your question because it is a little vague. Are you trying to wire a 115-volt motor so that it accepts 230 volts? Or are you trying to switch a dual voltage motor from 115 to 230? Or are you wanting to change out a 115 motor for a whole new 230 motor?
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tom Posted: 1/17/2019

I have seen on several videos some impellers have a wear ring and some don't. If mine does not have a wear ring but the impeller keeps falling out can I put one on to hold impeller in place when trying to reconnect motor into housing?
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InyoPools Product Specialist Robert M. Posted: 1/17/2019

Hello Tom - What is the make and model of your pump?
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Timothy Hendren Posted: 11/21/2018

My pump has the L1/2 and L3/4 but no black plug connection I've wired the red to L1 and black to L2 and the green to ground on a astral pump is that ok?
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 11/27/2018

Hello Timothy - to determine if that is the right set up, we would need to know the model or part or catalog number of the motor's tag. Can you provide that info? You can also refer to the wiring guide on the side of the motor for wiring guidance.
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Matthew Posted: 9/18/2018

Hello Dan - yes that wiring explanation is correct.
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Dan Posted: 9/17/2018

Hello, I'm conforming my connections. From my panel/timer I have dbl pole breaker. Line 1 has 120v Line 2 has 120v then I have ground. I assume Load 1 120v goes to L1 and Load 2 120v goes to L2 and Green to GND. Both the Load wires are RED GND is Green. Does this sound correct to you? Thanks for your help.
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InyoPools Posted: 9/5/2018

Hello David - Two speed pumps are not dual voltage. If your motor label says 230v, you can't test it on 110v. If the motor is 110v, you can run the hot line (usually black) to the low or high speed terminal, the neutral line (usually white) to the common terminal, and the ground line to the ground terminal (green screw).
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David Leath Posted: 9/3/2018

I have an old pump that I'm trying to wire up to see if it works. I have 4 wires coming out of the motor. How would I wire it up just to see if it's still good? The four wires are red, blue, white, and black. How would I wire it to a 110 electrical cord to see if it works? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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