Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Is my waterfall pond pump going to shock me?

I'm not an expert electrician, but I was wondering about pond pumps. I've built a waterfall with a waterfall pump used for ponds....but I swim in this pond as well. I'm worried about there being a short in the pump and being shocked to death? Do these pumps have some kind of shock proof device in them? They obviously know people will be in the water with them working, cleaning, swimming, etc.

How do swimming pool pumps prevent shock?

Any info would help?

Thanks

circuit breakers?

face72,

Arent those pumps actually 12v DC? Does it have a "power brick" that plugs into 120v and outputs 12v?

If they're true 120v, I can't say as I blame you for being cautious!

Circuit breakers? I guess? It plugs into the normal 110 outdoor power outlet I have on the side of my house.

I have no clue if its a 12v DC. Its a big pump though? ...It can pump 5000 gph.

If I went pump to a portable GFCI plug in...to the house...would that protect me?

It should. Is the pump submerged in the pond or sitting alongside? I'm guessing submerged, hence the concern.

Face...

Plug it into a GFCI outlet and you should be fine. All outside, bathroom, garage, kitchen, and utility room outlets should be GFCI protected according to current electrical codes here in Texas due to proximity to water. When the outlet detects a short, it automatically trips just like it would in a bathroom. If you go without it, you will know if the pump is electrifying the water because you will have floating fish and you will start to tingle when you get closer to the pump. You will have no doubt about what is happening. I recommend going with the extra $28 or so for a GFCI plug and follow the code.

I think if I had 110 vac electrical devices in the pond, I'd GFI protect all the circuits. And I'd unplug them/open the breakers when we went swimming.

After finding I had forgotten to turn them back on afterwards for a couple of days, I would thereafter be sure and do so immediately after swimming.

Yeah its a submersible pump. I'll just hook it up to one of those GFCI extension cords and it should be fine.


Thanks

Don't know anything about this but would find out before getting back in the water

face72,
I'm an electrician, and you should definately plug it into a GFCI outlet, but what Theo said is the best idea. Never rely on a safety device, it is there for protection, but it can become faulty. The best idea would be to unplug the pump anytime you go in the water. Just think of it this way, you wouldn't throw a toaster in the bathtub with you even if it was plugged into a GFCI outlet, right?

Now that is just good common sense even I can follow that.

Then how do large scale hawaii resorts handle waterfall pumps and people swimming in there pools? Is it an external pump? What about a pool light in a pool? It could have a problem and fry you? Any ideas?