New pool failed electrical inspection
 

Our neighbor's brand new inground pool just failed its electrical inspection. Seems the city inspector found a minor current leakage on the ladder. The electical install was done by a llicensed electrician, everything is properly grounded (lights, pump, panel), so it's a head scratcher. Any thoughts what could cause this? The troubling thing is the general pool contractor told them this is no problem and they can keep using it before the electrician comes back to remedy the problem.

What I find curious is how some current is escaping and the GFCI isn’t tripping. Those things only take milliamperes for microseconds and they should pop.

All metal should be bonded together. Pumps, heater, panels, light housings, and the ladder(s). Obviously the ladder is not bonded (wired) to the other equipment, or the connection is not tight.

The troubling thing is the general pool contractor told them this is no problem and they can keep using it before the electrician comes back to remedy the problem. - likey a ground, but I never would have said that.

Sounds like the cups weren't grounded to well.
Sounds like some deck work is in someone's future, unfortunately the only way i know to re-ground the ladder is at the cups. Which are set into the deck. Wonder if a grounding rod might help? Straight from the ladder.

I've seen low voltage lights cause strange things with pools, if the wires are buried close enough to the beam of pool shell. Funny how little things like that work

Why not bypass the issue for the time being and pull the ladder from the cups. Could also go with a different type(material) ladder/ handrail.

Definitely a bad idea to give the go ahead to use the pool knowing even slight voltage is passinng through. BUT...no one whats to say no!

Thanks for the comments. I will pass them along.

https://www.iaeimagazine.org/images/...7a_LofFIG2.jpg

https://iaeimagazine.org/magazine/2017/03/14/taking-the-mystery-out-of-equipotential-bonding-requirements-for-swimming-pools/

Our local codes require a bond wire also be ran from pool shell into any concrete decking. Continuous with no breaks. So no split connectors. That from lights to cage to handrail/ladder cups to decking to equipment to grounding rod. No joke.
Really have to think about routing well in advance.

Really cracking down on improper grounding.


Definitely pull the ladder if the pool will continue to be used.

I had an issue in one of my rentals. Tenant was getting shocked in the shower. It took three different electricians to find the issue. There was a short in an outlet on an adjacent wall which somehow made its way to the copper pipe in the shower. Cost me some bucks to get it fixed fast.