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How To Add a Line to the Pool Bonding Wire

WRITTEN BY: Inyo Pools

3.24 out of 5 stars on 17 ratings
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By code, all electrical pool devices, lights, pumps, control boxes etc., must be tied into (or bonded to) a common grid that surrounds the pool. When the pool is built, it will incorporate a continuous steel rebar grid within the concrete pool wall. This grid is grounded into the earth and all electrical units, like the light niche show here, are wired with heavy 8 gage wire to this grid. This is referred to as bonding. This guide shows how to add a new bonding wire to this grid when you are adding a new electrical unit to your pool system.

Step by Step

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Step 1

VIEW SETUP - In this pool configuration we are adding a Salt Chlorine Generator to the pool system. We are looking for a place to connect the bonding wire from the SCG (labeled To SCG) to the bonding grid. A bonding wire has already been connected to the pump motor and we would like to connect to that wire.

Step 2

VIEW PROBLEM - The motor has a lug at the top of the motor to attach the bonding wire to. We tried to attach the bonding wire to the SCG into that same lug but the lug is too small to accommodate both heavy wires securely and the second wire kept slipping out. The solution to this problem is to use a split bolt to connect the two wires.

Please click here to view the bonding lug.

Step 3

ORDER PART - You can purchase a copper Split Bolt (usually sold in pairs) from any hardware store. Look for one that will accommodate a #8 or #10 gauge wire.

Step 4

UNSCREW NUT - Take the nut off the end of the Split Bolt.

Step 5

PLACE SPLIT BOLT - Slide the Split Bolt over both wires at the point where you want to connect them. In this case we connected the bare bonding wire from the SCG to the motor lug. Then we connected the end of the green bonding wire coming from the grid to a convenient point on the bare grounding wire.

Step 6

TIGHTEN NUT - Replace the nut onto the Split Bolt and tighten. Make sure both wires are connected solidly and cannot be pulled out of their connectors.

Step 7

VIEW CONNECTION - This and the previous picture show the final connected.

Comments

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(1 to 10 of 10)

N Gala Posted: 7/19/2020

Thanks for the simple, cut to the chase explanation. I just had a new pool pump put in and noticed it was not bonded. After reading your website. I have successfully bonded the new pump to the existing bonding wires. I was to aggravated to call the installer back and this helped.
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 9/10/2020

Fantastic! Thanks for reading.
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Chatterpaul Sewchand Posted: 4/12/2019

Can you splice bonding wires
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InyoPools Product Specialist Robert M. Posted: 4/15/2019

Yes, you can splice bonding wires.
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/5/2016

Joe - There are several videos online that address AG pool bonding. Here's one from a guy whose AG pool did not pass inspection because it wasn't bonded correctly - "How to Bond a Pool First Attempt".
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Diane Posted: 6/4/2016

This info is awesome. We have an in ground pool with an older Polaris booster pump (for our pool sweep) that I'm in the process of replacing. I just noticed that the older Polaris was never bonded to the system. I had the pool installed about 25 years ago. The connector looks as if it's never had a bonding wire attached. I've replaced my Hayward pool pump twice, and installed a new Pentair DE filter last year. I completely ignored the Polaris. We've never had a "pool guy", I maintain and repair everything myself. I can't thank you enough for this tutorial with pictures. The new booster pump will be bonded with the split connector. Since the pool was permitted and passed code, I'll assume the rules have changed. Here in Los Angeles County the codes are pretty strict, but I guess they weren't when I had it designed and installed! Thank you for everything, you guys are amazing. My husband can't tie his own shoes (that's a joke) so I'm the pool "girl". :-)
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Joe Posted: 6/2/2016

I also have an old Anthony swimming pool and can't find the bond cable what did you do to bond your equipment to that works and is safe to swim in
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Anonymous Posted: 4/16/2016

Guys, very important to understand. Bonding a pump, hand rail, light, heater, etc, Is not the same as grounding it.
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 11/3/2015

Richard - The original niche should be already grounded to the grid bonding wire. The pilot screw that secures the light fixture to the niche should bond the light fixture to the grounded niche. As a backup, the cable to the junction box also has a ground wire that will connect to the circuit breaker.
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Richard Posted: 11/2/2015

Old Anthony swimming pool. Can't find bonding wire from pool re-bar to equipment. No hand rails so can I ground to red brass pool light conduit or to a 8ft brass rod driven into ground
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