extension cord draining power?

mt232

My father and I each have the same hayward DE filter for our above ground pools. His runs great, requires almost no maint. great pressure.......mine loses pressure all the time, I cannot find any visable reason for this. I maintain both, so any user error would be equal. But, he had an electrical line drawn to his pool and uses no extension cord.....I use about 75 ft of extension cord. Could that be my problem?

(I know, and that extension cord will be properly replaced)

SecretSquirrel

What is the horsepower and/or full load amperage of the pump and what gauge wire is your dropcord made from? And have you measured the voltage at the drop cords end?

joed

Unless that cord is 14 or 12 gauge (most are 16 or 18) the cord is probably your problem. You have a large voltage drop through the cord.

Sammy

Its probably the cord... 75 feet is a long draw for that. Most pool pumps are 3/4 horse. And at start up or as the filter gets clogged its gonna have some peak draws.

Speedy Petey

Most pumps I have seen in recent years are 1 - 1.5 hp.
Even a 14ga cord would be an issue.

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troubleseeker

Gotta get rid of that cord. Lay some one inch pvc conduit, with some 10ga wires, and forget about any future pump problems, even if you upgrade to a larger pump.

donarose

Hello,

Can you tell me what guage wire would be required for a 1.5 horse power pool pump. It is running on 110Volt

frenchelectrican

Donarose:.,,

With 1½ HP motour wired for 120v circuit it will expected to draw at or near 20 amp and wire size will be #12 but the biggest issue is how far is from the breaker box it is ??

If you can get nameplate info from the motor you will see it should be pretty close to the rating i stated here.

But once you get over 1½ HP and above better off reconnected for 240 volts anyway.

And the other issue is if the motor is hardwired or use the cord connected due the code can change a bit here.

Merci,Marc

handyman78

I have used Hayward pool equipment (currently 1 hp pump) for over 20 years on my pool and would definitely not want to be using an extension cord for any extended time. If the cord gauge is not your ONLY problem, it may also be the connections on the ends of that cord. Extension cord outlets are not made anywhere near the quality of a good 20a spec grade or better receptacle. I have a plug on my pump for convenience but the cord is short- 4' and connected to a high grade outlet & 12g permanent wire connected by conduit (30 feet) to the house wiring on a 20a gfci breaker.

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sameek

I'm new here, so bear w me. Last year I used an above ground 12g cord, about 100 feet to pool (24ft, not sure of pump HP I assume 1.5 came w pool) A couple of times the cord got pretty warm at the wall, but didn't trip the GFI. I also have a multi outlet cover on it. The freezer is also plugged in there. I plan to move the pump/filter farther away to make access easier. 150ft. At that distance is 10g enough? Would it handle a heater if I get one later? When I get it buried, can I run it through pvc pipe? Not sure the diff between conduit and pvc pipe. someone said if I used pvc it would be easier to pull and replace should there be any future probs. I also made my own solar heater and wonder if I'm working the pump too hard, and maybe why it heated up? The cord heated up, not the pump.

Speedy Petey

None of this is a legal installation. ESPECIALLY running an extension cord underground!
PLEASE have an electrician wire this pool right. You are dealing with your family, electricity and water. THINK about that!

sameek

I guess I failed to say that when it is run underground, it would be hooked up directly to the electrical box. But I'd like to buy cable just once. Use as ext cord temporary. Hopefully the electrician can use it to hook into box, and do it right. Is the 10g the right thing to do that w in the future? Not to worry, I will not try to wire this myself. For as many people I talk to, seems there are twice as many opinions. That's why the ? about the pvc pipe.

bob22

You can't use extension cord underground in or out of conduit. You'll have to purchase the right type of wire for the conduit. If your electrician says he can use the extension cord in some way, get a new electrician.

sameek

ok. Thanks! Anyone know where i can find building codes online? My town doesn't have book available, and don't have time to sit at town hall weeding through it.

vsheetz

When you say you lose pressure you mean the pump loses prime? When you lose pressure/prime is the pump motor not running or not running properly? It is ok as long as running and primed, but won't prime by itself when the timer cycle comes on again?

If the pump motor is running and you can't keep prime, notwithstanding the electrical discussion, I think there is air getting in on the pool side or a difference in plumbing heights can be the problem. I have had to install a one-way check valve just before the pump to solve loss of prime problems that I could find nothing specific wrong with the plumbing/valves (the most common problem is leaking air at the strainer backet lid (use vaseline here) and air getting in at a valve (replace o-rings in the valves).