How to wire a pool pump for dummies
So you have just received a pool pump without a cable coming out from the motor, and then wham! it hits you, you do not know how to wire a pool pump.
What now?
Wiring a pool pump is very simple and I will explain how and include a picture to make it really simple.
So what you need is to basically put a wire coming out the pump into the pools db box breaker switch.
So first of all you will need to get yourself around 2 – 3m of 1.5mm or 2.5mm flat cable. This should have a red, black and a thin copper cable in it. ( please note that this is color identification for South Africa other countries may differ)
- Red / Brown- Live
- Blue / Black – Neutral
- Green / Copper – Earth
Find it? Ok great now grab one end and seperate the wires out of the white outer cable about 3cm should be ok.
Once the cable has been seperated you now need to cut the black and red wires tips off to expose the copper underneath.
This needs to be a max of 1cm and you will do the exact same for the other end.
Once both ends are stripped open the black plastic cover on the top of the pump, this is usually done by undoing 2 screws usually a standard size star screwdriver is what you need.
Ok so now you will see the inside of the pumps electrical like the picture below.
- Now using a small star screwdriver loosen the black and red screws coming from the one end of the red block preferably the end which does not have wires in (if you received a pump without a cable) you can see in the picture.
- So red ( live +) goes to red or if your pump is different from the picture the cable might be brown.
- Now black ( Neutral – ) goes to black
- Tighten the screws to secure the wires into the red block you do not want these wires coming out and causing a short so make sure they are tight and secured in place.
Next step is if you look about 2cm right of the red cable you will see a silver screw just like the picture, but the position may differ. This is your earth point and this is where you need to put the thin copper wire on to. You can use a round lug or wrap the copper around the screw and thread it into the hole of the screw just make sure it is secure.
Next step: You almost done !
- Now that your pump is wired, you need to take the other end of the cable and run it into your pools DB box.
- How do you do that? Simple the outer casing of the DB box should have 4 screws around it. They are usually a big flat size see it? Great so now loosen them and remove the casing.
- Now turn off the main breaker and any other breakers which may still be on in the DB.
- At the bottom you will see a plastic washer or hole at the bottom of the DB? you either need to remove the washer or put the cable through the hole of the DB box.
Ok now you should have from left to right the following switches in front of you:
A big breaker which usually has a L & N on it then 2 thinner breakers next to that. The big breaker is your mains, the second breaker is your pool light and the 3rd breaker is your pump. If you are wanting your pump to run off a timer please see our FAQ how to wire a timer.
If you not using a timer continue reading….
- Connect the red wire to the bottom of the 3rd breaker
- Then connect the Black / Blue wire to the brass rail usually found at the top of the DB but this can vary just look and see if the existing wires are blue or black going to the rail.
- Lastly connect the thin copper wire to the earthing rail usually bottom or side of DB, once again look and see if there are existing green or copper wires going to the rail.
You have now become the man of the house again and your swimming pool should turn on no problem just close the DB box and Pump up before turning on.
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