Question about pool pump motor wiring

[wdfifteen]

This 120 volt pump motor has a 30 amp plug connector on the cord. Given the info on the data plate I don't see why it should require 30 amp service. All the research I have done shows 20 amps would be plenty. I am a newbie at above ground pools, so I may be missing something. Do any of you experts see any reason this motor needs 30 amp service?
The pump will be located 120 feet from the breaker box. My research shows 12 ga UF direct buried would be adequate for most pumps at that distance. Some input from the brain would be helpful.

[nota]

is it a 9 amp run load or a start load of 9 amps

most motors like that need a higher start load then run load

test with an amp meter to be sure on short cord

[MBAtarga]

This chart lays it out simply - 1.5HP 115V 1Ph motor requires 30 Amp breaker - hence 30 Amp plug. Based on distance from power source, appropriate wire gauge should be used to the outlet. Edit source: https://www.wwpp.co/flint-and-walling-pumps/F&W-Motor-Data.pdf

[wdfifteen]

Thanks for the info. I did not take this as good news at first.
But after much denial and gnashing of teeth I’ve concluded this isn’t all bad. I’ve known I want 60 amp service at the barn but haven’t had time to think about how I was going to get it out there.
The pool is 100 feet from the panel and in an almost direct line between the panel and the barn.
Bingo. Mrs WD gets her pool and for not much more money I get power for my air compressor.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Thanks for the info. I did not take this as good news at first.
But after much denial and gnashing of teeth I’ve concluded this isn’t all bad. I’ve known I want 60 amp service at the barn but haven’t had time to think about how I was going to get it out there.
The pool is 100 feet from the panel and in an almost direct line between the panel and the barn.
Bingo. Mrs WD gets her pool and for not much more money I get power for my air compressor.

Meaning, you're going to change the pump to 240v? Good plan.

[wdfifteen]

^^
I haven’t gotten that far yet. This is a rapidly evolving plan.

[red-beard]

I suggest you swap the pool pump for a VFD type.

[cabmandone]

So what direction did you go on the pool? Get a CL find? On the pump, I'm running mine off of a 15 amp breaker but as you saw in the picture on your other thread, my pool is next to my building. I'm not an electrician so it doesn't make much sense to me why you need a 30 amp circuit for a motor that only draws 9 amps max load.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by cabmando

So what direction did you go on the pool? Get a CL find? On the pump, I'm running mine off of a 15 amp breaker but as you saw in the picture on your other thread, my pool is next to my building. I'm not an electrician so it doesn't make much sense to me why you need a 30 amp circuit for a motor that only draws 9 amps max load.

Part of it is the over 100' distance and voltage drop which is a motor killer.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by cabmando

So what direction did you go on the pool? Get a CL find?

Yep, CL. 27 foot, 54 inch wall Aqua Leader. It’s 2 years old, has a robot cleaner, ladder, new in box solar cover. $800.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Yep, CL. 27 foot, 54 inch wall Aqua Leader. It’s 2 years old, has a robot cleaner, ladder, new in box solar cover. $800.

Nice find!! Hope your wife enjoys it. You'll have to post some pics! Take a look at Trouble Free Pool for opening/closing your pool. It's a great resource. If you didn't get a winter cover, you might want to do so. You're gonna love that robot cleaner!

Originally Posted by Zeke

Part of it is the over 100' distance and voltage drop which is a motor killer.

I knew the wire had to be sized larger to compensate for the additional resistance but I didn't know you had to increase the breaker size as well. Wouldn't there be a concern that the motor could melt down before the breaker would pop?

[T77911S]

breakers are for wires. wires are sized(breakers) for the load.

you can put a 15amp brkr on 10ga wire. you can NOT put a 30 amp brkr on 14ga wire.

I would run 6/3 to the barn. that will also give you 120. I would also run a 240 compressor. I prefer 240 for motors.

I dint know the size of your barn or what you will be doing but I would really consider a 100amp service out there. when I added my garage I put in a 100 amp box, also converted my overhead power to under ground which meant I had to add a disconnect outside for code. not a big deal. gave me a place to run the garage service from.
don't buy the wire from a box store like lowes. goto your electrical supply house. you can get the wire in the exact length you need and it will be cheaper. I just bought 33ft of 14/2 for less than$10.

I just put in an HVAC in my garage so you never know how much power you need.
compressor,
welder

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by T77911S

I dint know the size of your barn or what you will be doing but I would really consider a 100amp service out there. when I added my garage I put in a 100 amp box, also converted my overhead power to under ground which meant I had to add a disconnect outside for code. not a big deal. gave me a place to run the garage service from.
don't buy the wire from a box store like lowes. goto your electrical supply house. you can get the wire in the exact length you need and it will be cheaper. I just bought 33ft of 14/2 for less than$10.

This is not a DYI project for me anymore. Two months ago I had not even thought of a swimming pool - ever - and I had a full schedule of projects already on my plate. But Mrs WD decided she wanted a pool and found a way to make it affordable. I was going to put something else off and install the pool wiring myself when I believed I could just bury a cable from an existing external power source. Now that the project has escalated to tearing out drywall around the breaker box, boring through an 8" poured concrete wall, etc etc. I'm out. I do plan to have my handyman dig the trench. At $15/hr plus the ditcher rental I can't afford not to.
The electrician gave me estimates for 100 amp vs 60 amp and the different is trivial, so 100 amp it is.
My compressor has a 1 1/2 hp 220volt motor. It was going to sit until I got around to doing something about 220v power in the barn next year (or the year after). Now I'll have power THIS year! That pool isn't looking like such a pain in the butt after all.

[T77911S]

yea, sucks when you have to pay someone. I am too tight to do that and sometimes too stupid to pay someone. me and my wife just poured 4yrds of concrete yesterday!! we are both in our 50's BTW. just a guess but this now makes around 20yrds maybe more that we have done.
its a good thing we have a good driver we request and he helps us, but we also pay him.

got a lot of projects on the plate as well. now have to finish driveway and wife wants a new kitchen. so guess what, I get to pull cabinets and hang new ones.

[wdfifteen]

Turns out the new pool cover is a winter cover. I’ve read mixed reviews on solar covers. Some say the don’t ratse the temp all that much. Not sure if I should get one.
The pool installer suggested a salt water pool. Anyone have experience with that system?
Running the power line from the house to the pool, then to the barn, is going to cost $5500, pool install was $1450, water was $180, new liner $275, and the pool itself cost $800. The installer said a brand new pool with all the accessories would have cost $8500.

[Geoz1]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Turns out the new pool cover is a winter cover. I’ve read mixed reviews on solar covers. Some say the don’t ratse the temp all that much. Not sure if I should get one.
The pool installer suggested a salt water pool. Anyone have experience with that system?
Running the power line from the house to the pool, then to the barn, is going to cost $5500, pool install was $1450, water was $250, new liner $275, and the pool itself cost $800. The installer said a brand new pool with all the accessories would have cost $8500.

Pool season is nearly over. It's late in the season to install a pool heater. Run your power (for the shop), to the pool. Run a 1" plus gas pipe to the pool. The power companies all use flexible gas pipe.

Find a neighbor (college age), that want's to work.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Turns out the new pool cover is a winter cover. I’ve read mixed reviews on solar covers. Some say the don’t ratse the temp all that much. Not sure if I should get one.
The pool installer suggested a salt water pool. Anyone have experience with that system?
Running the power line from the house to the pool, then to the barn, is going to cost $5500, pool install was $1450, water was $250, new liner $275, and the pool itself cost $800. The installer said a brand new pool with all the accessories would have cost $8500.

I don't have personal experience with a salt water system but have given a lot of thought to going that route. A friend with an in ground pool has a salt water system and said he only checks levels something like once a week where I check chlorine and add daily. The other benefit of a salt water system is that the water is "softer" as I understand it and doesn't tend to dry your skin like chlorine pools. I just add a bag of salt at the beginning season to my pool to keep the water soft.
As for solar covers, I think they help hold the heat in more than actually heating the water. The problem with a solar cover from my experience is, they are difficult to get out of the pool by yourself and they tend to get dry and brittle after a few years of use.
Good write up on salt water systems.
http://www.inyopools.com/Blog/converting-your-pool-to-saltwater/