Pool Pump Trips Breaker / GFCI

December 8, 2014

3 Minute Read

Electrical problems can be among the most mysterious and frustrating that pool owners experience. They are also dangerous to the untrained DIYer so great caution – or a licensed electrician – is required when attempting to diagnose. Here are the most common reasons we see when it comes to pool pumps tripping.

Moisture

GFCIs are quite sensitive to moisture so if your breaker trips after a storm, you might just need to let the sun do its thing for a day or two. If it’s not summer, you can probably just leave the pump off for a day and try again once everything has had a chance to dry. In the summertime, you can still get by with your pump not running for one or two days but it will require some extra chlorine (shock) and manual circulation with a pole or paddle a couple of times per day.

Keep in mind that rain isn’t the only possible source of water. A misdirected sprinkler, spray from power washing, even high humidity can affect a GFCI.

Bad or Wrong Breaker

Sometimes breakers just fail due to age or inferior quality. If the problem does not appear to be with your pump and/or motor, try replacing the breaker.

You could also have the wrong size breaker if you recently bought a new pump or motor that was not an exact match to the previous model. Confirm you have the correct breaker size by checking how many amps the new motor requires.

Short in Pump

You might be able to spot an obvious pump motor short by disconnecting power and taking off the motor end cap. Make sure all wiring is properly connected and nothing appears obstructed or burnt. Insects who decide your motor makes a really cozy home can create an electrical short by blocking contacts.

Wrong Voltage

Most complete pumps and replacement motors leave the factory set at 230v to prevent installers from accidentally running 230 volts to a motor that is set to 115v. This has saved many motors from premature frying but it also results in many confused homeowners. Typically in this scenario, the pump will initially come on, then shut down, repeat. Check to see which voltage your motor is set to and what voltage you have running to it.

A Quick Fix

One quick thing to check is if the “reset” button on the GFCI simply needs to be pressed back in. If the GFCI trips, then you will need to press the reset button to restore electricity back to your equipment. Watch this helpful GFCI outlet video for more details.

Always remember that addressing electrical issues requires proper knowledge and safety precautions. If you are in any doubt, enlist the help of a qualified pool professional.

Matthew Simmons Technical Writer & Pool Product Expert

Swimming pool expert at InyoPools and host of Poolside Chat, brings over a decade of experience in the pool industry.

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Troubleshooting Topics

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Chlorinators

Skimmers / Drains

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163 responses to “Pool Pump Trips Breaker / GFCI”

Russ

August 5, 2019

I have a three year old Hayward Tristar 1.5 HP two speed pump which is run by a Intermatic P1353ME digital controller. We have had A LOT of rain here in S Florida. It has rained every day for the past two weeks. However, Sunday when I went outside the pump was off. I opened the box and the breaker for the pump was tripped. I tried to reset the breaker, however it just keeps tripping. The digital controller is not getting power as the screen is blank and nothing changes when I reset the breaker. The other two breakers in the box (LED lights and pool heater) are not tripped, and my heater is getting power.
Is it a bad breaker, a short, or bad motor?

Thank you for any thoughts you may have!

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  August 14, 2019
  
  It could be all of the above. I cover all this in the article but I will give another quick rundown of things to check.
  
  1) Swich circuit to a different breaker or change breaker. This will determine if the breaker is the issue
  2) If timer is still out after switching breaker, try bypassing the timer to determine if the motor still works.
  3) Find the user manual for timer for troubleshooting steps. If unavailable, contact manufacturer for best troubleshooting path.
  
  Reply
2. Daniel Godfrey
  
  September 3, 2021
  
  what was the problem? Mine is the same I think
  
  Reply
  1. Matthew Simmons
    
    September 8, 2021
    
    This original comment is rather old, you’re likely not going to get a response. But I’d focus on troubleshooting your specific issue. There are going to be different variables for each pool, so what works for them may not apply to your application.
    
    Reply
Jamie

July 16, 2019

Bought a brand new Waterway pump (old one had shot bearings, etc) which is exactly like the old pump. Hooked everything up and it trips the breaker immediately. No moisture as breaker is inside the house and GFI works as there is power to the hot tub when the pump is not plugged in. Old pump and new pump has same voltage and amp. No clue where to go from here….pls help

Reply
Martin Rodriguez

July 14, 2019

Earlier this week my pump motor stopped working on us. We live in Florida though so I’m used to the storms tripping the breaker however this time when I reset it–the breaker tripped immediately and then again and again and again. I actually asked a local pool service to come out and take a look at the situation and he told me to replace the unit. The next day before he arrived to change it out I reset the breaker the with the old motor attached and IT WORKED so I called off the new motor. Well it rained again quite heavy and guess what…the motor trips the breaker immediately again. I took the motor cover off and there does not look like there is anything wrong with the connections. I also disconnected the connections completely and tried to reset the breaker and it reset without any problem. So to me that says that the motor is no good anymore right or am I missing something that I need to try? Thanks!

Reply
1. Martin Rodriguez
  
  July 14, 2019
  
  FYI my pump is a century c48l2n134c1
  
  Reply
2. Matthew Simmons
  
  July 15, 2019
  
  There is likely an issue with the phase windings which would be best fixed by replacing the motor. if the motor is under warranty, you can get it replaced via warranty. The replacement for your c48l2n134c1 motor is the UST1152 – 1.5 HP Round Flange 56J Up Rate.
  
  Reply
Frank

July 7, 2019

Hey,
I have a new fiberglass , saltwater system (hayward). The pump is running since end of may and i have noticed 3-4 weeks ago the breaker tripped overnight.. did not care much and turned back on.. 2 says ago i have noticed the pool pump hasnt started in the morning and turned breaker on and this morning ( a day later) did not turn either.. breaker trips overnight. I run the system during the day and doesnt trip when its working.. i sis reset this time the breaker and turned off and on.. we had rain both nights.. i dont find anything suspicious . No noise , everything looks good otherwise… any ideas!!?

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  July 8, 2019
  
  My best guess, the breaker is faulty or water is getting into the circuit overnight. You can try switching the circuit to a different breaker to determine if the problem repeats itself.
  
  Reply
Ramona

June 18, 2019

Hi Mathew,
We just had our liner replaced in our inground pool. They unhooked everything at the equipment when they installed it. Wires to the pump and all. Why would they need to do that? My problem is, now when I try and start the pump, it trips the breaker, immediately. I reset the GFC button but it still trips. They came back out and told us we needed a new breaker…I’m not so sure…Any ideas?

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  June 18, 2019
  
  A new breaker is a cheap fix. You could also try wiring the pump to a different breaker to verify. Get the breaker, have them install it (hopefully) for free and take it from there. The guide is all about eliminating possibilities as you troubleshoot; this is your first possibility, eliminate it.
  
  Reply
  1. Dave O’C
    
    June 26, 2019
    
    Breaker tripped this am when trying to start pump. first time in 30 years. Had recent rain. Waited till mid afternoon. Success!!! Thanks for all advice. If it keeps happening I’ll call an electrician.
    
    Reply
Zack

May 13, 2019

I have a murray 60amp main outdoor circuit breaker that keeps tripping. The pool power has a 30amp circuit breaker tied into this 60. After the 30amp circuit, there is wire that leads to the outdoor pool control box. This box has 15 and 20 amp circuit breakers for each item, pool pump, hot tub pump, lights, etc. I have turned off all the circuit breakers. When i pull the main 60amp it holds. When I pull the 30amp breaker it immediately pops and trips the 60 amp as well. I just replace the 30amp breaker and have the same problem. The power from the 60 to the 30 trips both? They are literally on opposite sides of my garage wall. The 60amp is next to my outdoor meter. The 30amp is on the opposite interior wall tie to a sub panel with conduit leading to the pool controls. This problem just appeared out of no where? Any suggestions?

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  May 13, 2019
  
  My apologies, but the explanation is confusing and I can’t follow all the different breakers and their locations. You may need to bring in an electrician, or someone with more experience to be onsite to review the wiring.
  
  Reply
Bob

December 14, 2018

Hi,
The 240v breaker for my pool pump trips only in cold (<45degree) weather. Breaker has been replaced and unit will normally start upon weather warming up. Sometimes banging on the pump helps to allow it to start. Never has a problem in warm weather. Protected from rain,etc. Could it be capacitor…..? Or what?

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  December 19, 2018
  
  I checked with one of our more experienced Century Motor techs and he had not heard of this issue. The only thing I could think of would be there is a problem with a freeze protect circuit. A freeze protects only kicks on when air temp sinks below the temp you set it for. Usually freeze protects are set between 36 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Do you have a variable speed with a built-in freeze protect or a separate freeze protect box?
  
  Reply
Shannon

August 9, 2018

Hi Matthew,
Ok, brace yourself. I was electrocuted in my apartment swimming pool 2 years ago. I am in a lawsuit and it is not my intention to use any of your professional knowledge for legal matters. When inspected, the City department of Housing found Pool pump was leaking and in addition to pool owners not having a working GFI or grounded wiring, they had done a lot of illegal electrical work. The incident severely damaged my spine and nervous system. Anyway, I saw the ground wire and it was completely melted and about a dime size hole in the metal box that housed it. There was no electricity in the water when I was found. My thought is that the surge completely melted the wiring so there was no longer a conduit of electricity into the pool. Can you explain the mechanics of that to me? You can email me too if better: Shannon_colhoun@yahoo.com. Not many Drs have helped understanding my injuries and I’m still researching the internet with key words trying to understand what happened to me. Thank you;)

Reply
GO

August 7, 2018

I have a Hayward heater and system…when I switch the heater on from the remote or the prologic main board or remote, the 3A fuse pops and the heater won’t work. Replaced the fuse and I can manually work the heater from the heater itself. Any idea why the remote/board causes the fuse to blow and the heater not to work?

Reply
Jesse

June 23, 2018

Hi. I have a Hayward 1hp powerflo matrix pump, the cord was plugged in but the pump wouldn’t turn on, I thought maybe the connection was loose so I pushed it in, there was a spark and some smoke. Now one of the prongs on the pool pump power cord is burnt. Should I just replace the cord?

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  June 27, 2018
  
  Did it flip the breaker? You can try plugging it into a different outlet to determine if it is a pump issue or if your original outlet is faulty.
  
  Reply