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”

Steve stevedccc@comcast.net

May 15, 2021

Hi, Last year I had a pool installed and electric was done professionally and passed inspection. Recently, I needed an electrician in the garage for work done and he mentioned that my control panel original to my 1986 house is by FPE (federal pacific) and not reliable tripping breakers. Well this now actually concerns me. Now I’m wondering if my pool is safe in the event of a faulty motor one day? The pool is bonded but even though I have two GFCI’s next to the pool pump electric, the designated pool pump outlet itself does not seem to have GFCI itself has more of a thick bulky plug in (odd looking three prong). Am I solely depending on my home’s FPE electric box’s safety during a possible pool motor failure?

Reply
1. Andrew S
  
  July 6, 2021
  
  A single GFCI duplex receptacle is capable of protecting all other receptacles on the same circuit. I am not familiar with The wiring in your particular situation but this might be useful information.
  
  Additionally, traditional circuit breakers are only designed to protect the wires in your home. Anything attached to your home electrical system that draws too much current over less than adequate gauge wiring will not be protected.
  
  Cheap extension cords are a perfect example of this.
  
  Reply
Masoud

May 7, 2021

Hi
My Hayward pool pump tripps the breaker after 5-10 seconds . I changed the Capacitor but still the same issue . Any advise ???

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  May 14, 2021
  
  Yes, please refer to the article above and do any troubleshooting besides the capacitor part.
  
  Reply
rob simmons

April 7, 2021

My pool pump will randomly trip the breaker as well. Sometimes it goes for a month or 2 without tripping and sometimes only a day or two. Had local pool guy out and he said pump looks brand new, I have no idea how old since only owned the home for 2 years. The electric box and breakers are also brand new. Rain seems to have no impact. I am considering replacing the breaker with old style vs what I think is arc fault since box is only 2 years old. It is 110 on 20 amp breaker. Any ideas? Thanks!!

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  April 7, 2021
  
  First, I would start with any other troubleshooting options mentioned in the article. Test the voltage reaching the pump., put the pump on a different breaker. If you have to start somewhere, those are those places I suggest.
  
  Reply
Don

November 29, 2020

I bought a brand new pb4-60 Polaris booster pump to Replace my old Pentair booster pump. Both pumps run 230 or 115 But the new Polaris pump trips the breaker immediately when I turn it on. I have no idea what’s going on?

Reply
Chrystine

September 1, 2020

Hi I have a polaris pool cleaner which is operated by a 1.5 hp booster pump. I removed the polaris to clean ther pool. When I reconnected the polaris and turned on the pump the pump sounds like it’s working but there is no water pressure. I took the Polaris to be tested and it’s not the polaris.

I just dont know what happened so suddenly for thre pump to stop pushing water? Help! Please!

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  September 2, 2020
  
  Going by your description it doesn’t seem like the pump is tripping the breaker, it is just humming. The hum could be a sign of the motor’s capacitor failing If you have a Polaris Booster Pump PB-460, the rep[lacement motor is the B625. if you want to attempt replacing just the capacitor, the part is 25MFD 370V – 628318-307. How to Test a Pool Pump Capacitor
  
  Reply
JERE

August 12, 2020

The Intermatic Model T104R Timer that turns on and off the motor on my pool recently, about two or three times week, trips my GFCI requiring me to reset it which has been increasing very hard to to reset. I have removed the ON TRIPPER and turn the motor on at the pump and it never trips the GFCI. Have you any suggestions at to why I am experiencing this problem?

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  August 24, 2020
  
  Have you checked the circuit continuity yet? If not, I would start there. Does the issue flare-up after rain or is there no particular rhyme or reason to it?
  
  I would also try switching to a different breaker to rule out a breaker being the issue.
  
  Reply
Allen

June 15, 2020

I have a very unique and odd issue. The GFCI breaker has been tripping for my spa light. The breaker provides power to the pool and spa lights but only trips when I try to turn on the spa light. I removed the spa light and there is no signs of leakage. It’s been sitting on my deck and here is the odd thing. The breaker does not trip at night time (between 9pm and 9am). It only trips during the day!! I have replicated this for 3 straight days. I replaced the breaker and the same thing happens. I tried not running the pump during the day but that didn’t work either. The light works at night but not during the day time. I don’t know what to do to fix this.

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  September 3, 2020
  
  The breaker only tripping at night is an odd one. Are the lights the only thing on that particular breaker? Is there an appliance that is usually only used during the day on that circuit?
  
  Is the circuit breaker in an exposed area? i.e., does the box get direct sunlight to where it can get overheated? The heat can cause a breaker to trip. If I had to bet, heat would be the culprit, that theory is based mainly on it only happening during the day.
  
  If there is a bright side, at least this is only affecting your light during the times you are least likely to need it.
  
  Reply
Wendy Carlile

June 10, 2020

We have a saltwater pool and the pump works fine until we turn the pool light on then the breaker trips. As long as the pump is off the light performs fine, only when the pump is running and we try to turn the light on does the breaker trip. Any suggestions? I initially thought there might be a leak into the light housing but I’m not for sure. We have not used the pool while the light is on just in case of electrocution…mom fear!
Thanks!

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  September 10, 2020
  
  Because you can use one or the other but not both at the same time I believe you have a bad GFCI breaker. GFCI breakers can bbecome more sensitive when they start to breakdown, causing false trips.
  
  Reply
Wendy C

September 24, 2019

In the past two days, our GFCI on the Hayward Pro Logic panel has started tripping. It hasn’t rained here in weeks so I know it isn’t a moisture issue. When I press the reset button I am able to power up but it trips again. The pump ran for a good 7-8 hours before it tripped this evening. The control box itself seems hotter than usual, any ideas?

Reply
Jorge Triana

August 19, 2019

Good afternoon.. Pool pump/motor was running perfectly on a timer. Had a pool place come and redo the stairs and the handle going into the pool. As part of that they needed to make sure all these were grounded correctly. After that, the pool pump fails to start consistently and sometimes the breaker is tripped. When i reset it, i hear a hum/buzzing at the breaker and then it goes away. Sometimes pump starts and works without any issues. Yesterday it worked perfectly.

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  August 26, 2019
  
  If the issue is directly caused by their mishandling of the pump then you can have them take a look at it and correct it. It could be as simple as a loose connection or a bad capacitor as the humming is a common symptom of. You can also try testing the circuit for proper voltage (if you are feel comfortable with electricity) Using the Proper Test Equipment to Troubleshoot Pool Motors
  
  Reply