Pool Electrical Has
Its Own Code Article.
NEC Article 680 governs every wire that touches a pool or spa — and it’s one of the most safety-critical sections of the entire National Electrical Code. The reason: water plus electricity plus people. The bonding requirements, the equipotential grid, the GFCI protection on every motor, the strict separation between low-voltage lighting and line-voltage circuits — all of it exists because someone got electrocuted in 1965 and the industry decided never again.
Most homeowners we work with in LA inherit a pool that was installed correctly fifteen years ago and has slowly drifted out of code: a ground rod corroded, a bonding wire cut during landscaping, a pump replaced without re-checking the GFCI. We assess what’s there, document what’s out of compliance, and get the system back to NEC-current. Or we wire new pools from rough-in — coordinating with the pool builder, the GC, and the inspector.
What We Install & Service.
- New pool electrical from rough-in — coordinated with pool plumber and GC, full sub-panel, pump and heater circuits, lighting, bonding, automation
- Hayward OmniLogic, OmniHub, OmniPL — full automation system installation and configuration
- Pentair IntelliCenter and EasyTouch — pool/spa automation alternatives to Hayward
- Jandy AquaLink — legacy and current automation systems
- Variable-speed pump wiring — Pentair IntelliFlo, Hayward TriStar VS, Jandy ePump
- Pool heater circuits — gas heater ignition wiring, electric heater dedicated circuits, heat pump wiring
- LED color-change pool lighting — Pentair IntelliBrite, Hayward ColorLogic, Jandy WaterColors
- Pool light retrofits — converting incandescent to LED in existing niches
- Spa wiring and bonding — dedicated GFCI sub-panel, equipotential bond around spa
- Equipment sub-panels — properly sized sub-panel for the pool equipment area
- Equipotential bonding grids — #8 solid copper grid around pool, ladder bonding, light niche bonding
- GFCI breakers — for every pool/spa motor and lighting circuit per NEC Article 680
- Ground fault testing — pre-replaster checks, annual inspections, code-compliance documentation
Our Pool Process.
- Site VisitYarden walks the equipment pad, checks the existing wiring, looks at the pool light niches, examines the bonding grid (where visible), and reviews the panel for available capacity. For new pools, coordinate with the pool builder’s plans.
- Compliance AssessmentDocument what’s NEC-current and what isn’t. Identify priority issues (missing GFCI, broken bonds, ungrounded niches).
- Written QuoteItemized: equipment, automation system, lighting, bonding work, sub-panel if needed, permit fees. Clear total.
- PermitLADBS permit for any pool electrical work. Required — not optional.
- InstallEquipment circuits, bonding, lighting niches, automation panel. Each phase tested before moving on.
- ProgrammingHayward OmniLogic / Pentair / Jandy automation programmed: schedules, scenes, app linking, smart home integration where requested.
- InspectionLADBS final, bonding tested with megger, GFCI tested under load. Signed inspection card.
Cost & Timeline.
Typical timeline: 2-5 days on-site for most pool electrical projects. New pool builds coordinate with the pool builder’s schedule — usually multiple visits over 2-4 weeks during construction.
Why Bonding Matters.
The equipotential bonding grid around your pool is what keeps a fault from killing someone. If a pump motor shorts to its frame, the entire grid (ladder, lights, rebar, equipment) all rise to fault potential together — nobody touches a 120V difference. Cut the bond grid during landscaping, and the next fault could electrocute someone in the water. We test bonding on every pool service call. If it’s broken, we fix it. If it’s missing, we add it.