What is the size of the wire for the pool pump? (Expert weighs)

By the end of this guide, you should be able to fully understand what gauge of wire to use for your pool pump.

Pool pumps require the correct voltage and current for optimum performance. The gauge of wire used to carry these electronics must be able to accommodate them. Otherwise, the heat generated by the current may interfere with the operation of the motor. Thus, the cross section of the wire will depend on the current strength and voltage of the power source. 

As a rule, the size of the wire required to supply power to the pool pump depends on many factors. But the wire gauge is often in the range of eight to sixteen. The current and supply voltage from the power supply are the main factors. High current requires thicker wires. Other factors include material and run length. The best material for pool pump wire is copper, which has low resistance. Then, if the route is long, use thicker wires to power the pump.

We'll go into more detail below.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Wire Gauge for a Pool Pump Motor

Materials

The correct choice of water pump wire material is only one - copper. The suitability of copper is due to its lower resistance to electron flow compared to aluminum, which has a high resistance. Low resistance significantly reduces voltage drop.

Mileage duration

This is the distance the wire must travel to reach the energy pool pump from a power source, usually a circuit breaker.

You will need thick wires for long distances (running distance) and thinner wires for short distances.

Why is it so? Thin wires have a high resistance to current flow. This will lead to a large voltage drop and eventually overheating. Therefore, always choose thicker cables if the route length is significantly longer.

Pump power and voltage

For higher pump powers, thicker wires are required. (1)

This is because high power pumps generate more electrical current. Thus, thinner wires will not be a suitable choice for your high power pump. As already mentioned, they have a high resistance, and if you use them for such pumps, it will be a disaster. Take a thicker one to ensure the safety of your pool pump.

In addition, the selection of wire size is affected by the voltage supplied to the pump motor due to the number of live wires used for 115 and 230 volts.

For a 115-volt circuit, there is only one hot wire, so the current is supplied exclusively through the wire. In such a situation, thicker wires are mandatory to limit overheating.

On the other hand, a 230 volt circuit has two cables supplying voltage to the motor. The current is divided equally. So, thinner wires can be used to power the pump.

Why is Wire Gauge needed?

A pool pump requires current and voltage to generate enough power or watts to pump water.

Wires are needed to transmit these electrical elements - current and voltage. The wire you use must adequately accommodate these electrical items in order for your motor to produce the desired number of watts for optimal performance.

If the wires cannot deliver enough voltage and current to the pool pump, the motor will strive to achieve optimum power.

In the process, he may hurt himself. Higher amperage generates more heat, which increases the load and shortens the life of the pump. (2)

The correlation between power/watts, voltage and amplifiers is shown in the formula:

Power (Watts) = Power Factor × Amps × Volts

Take a look at some of our articles below.

• How to connect a fuel pump to a toggle switch
• How to connect 2 amps with one power wire
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Recommendations

(1) horsepower - https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/horsepower-hp

(2) life span - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/lifespan