Electrical Question about a Dangerous Pool Area Circuit

I see no mention of any GFCI protection for the pool area and equipment, and if now you are experiencing a possible voltage leak this creates an extremely dangerous condition for any one in the area of the swimming pool… © By: Dave Rongey

Electrical Wiring Video Home Electrical Wiring Videos about this Topic and More Check out my YouTube Channel, and Subscribe!

Learn more with my Home Electrical Video Course: Basic Home Electrical Wiring by Example

Electrical Question from Melissa about Electrical Wiring
Background: Melissa, a Homeowner from Enterprise, Alabama
[ad#block]Question: Hello! My dad wired the pump to our pool directly to the box on the outside of our house. About 10 feet out, he spliced into the line (made a ‘Y’) and hooked up power to an outdoor storage shed. Recently we sold the storage shed and had another family member cut and cap the split off the main wire that runs out to the pool pump.

When our electric bill came in this month our kWH usage had more than doubled. Could he have done something wrong capping this wire that may be causing this? We have done absolutely nothing different that would make our kWH usage jump like that. In fact, our household number has decreased so we expected our electric usage to also decrease. Comparisons to last year’s usage show that we’ve used about 250 more kWH this month than the same time last year. We shut off all the breakers and the meter stopped spinning so we know it’s not a faulty meter.

I read out meter today and we are already on track for nearly 100 kWH usage per day!

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Melissa.
I would recommend that the electricity that supplies the pool equipment and that area be turned off immediately!
From what you have described you have not mentioned any GFCI protection for the pool area and equipment, and if now you are experiencing a possible voltage leak this creates an extremely dangerous condition for any one in the area of the swimming pool. Please do yourself a favor and call a qualified electrical contractor who can come out and correct this situation right away! There is a banner on this page which may be used to locate an electrician in your area. Do not mess around with this, get it fixed! If the electrical power serving the pool area were on a GFCI and you have a voltage leak the GFCI would have tripped off, so most likely that area is energized!

The Following links will assist you with your electrical question:

For more information about Electrical Wiring
Electrical Wiring

This link is helpful as a Homeowner
Do-It-Yourself Electrical

Make sure not to miss these Resources for: Wiring Diagrams
Wiring Diagrams

Be Careful and Be Safe – Never Work on Energized Circuits!

For Best Results Consult a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Locate An Electrical Contractor in Your Area