- Jun 12, 2022
- 5
- 1
- 33
- If you're a qualified, trainee, or retired electrician - Which country is it that your work will be / is / was aimed at?
- United States of America
- What type of forum member are you?
- DIY or Homeowner (Perhaps seeking pro advice, or an electrician)
Hi all!
Well, I have an ancient spa air pump that died some years ago. Finally have some time to look at it.
From the motor, a black and white (MB and MW) wire connected each connected to a red wire from a switch. One on each side. The switch has two more connections from which two red wires connect each to a black wire. Those two black wires ran through a whip to the pool timer box, where they were each wire-nutted to a black wire each (B1 and B2) that vanish into a conduit going underground.
So, essentially MB connected to B1 and MW connects to B2, or the other way around (since both are black wires I can currently not tell what is hot and what is neutral).
The home was built in 1979. The pump is so old that any identifying labels have faded, but it is small and considering the 5 outlets of the spa, I believe it is a 1hp 120 V model.
Now, here’s the thing. At the other side of the house near the spa there is a switch that turns the air pump on and off. When off, the voltage on B1 and B2 reads 1.6 to ground each and 0 between them. When the switch is on, they read 120 to ground each and 1 between them.
What devil magic used to run that old pump? And how do I install a new one?
Bonus: the switch near the spa is in a box with a GFCI outlet. That box connects through a 4” conduit to another box with two switches for the pool and spa lights. From there two conduits go underground. Two romex lines come from the bottom box and lead to the breaker box inside the garage.
Well, I have an ancient spa air pump that died some years ago. Finally have some time to look at it.
From the motor, a black and white (MB and MW) wire connected each connected to a red wire from a switch. One on each side. The switch has two more connections from which two red wires connect each to a black wire. Those two black wires ran through a whip to the pool timer box, where they were each wire-nutted to a black wire each (B1 and B2) that vanish into a conduit going underground.
So, essentially MB connected to B1 and MW connects to B2, or the other way around (since both are black wires I can currently not tell what is hot and what is neutral).
The home was built in 1979. The pump is so old that any identifying labels have faded, but it is small and considering the 5 outlets of the spa, I believe it is a 1hp 120 V model.
Now, here’s the thing. At the other side of the house near the spa there is a switch that turns the air pump on and off. When off, the voltage on B1 and B2 reads 1.6 to ground each and 0 between them. When the switch is on, they read 120 to ground each and 1 between them.
What devil magic used to run that old pump? And how do I install a new one?
Bonus: the switch near the spa is in a box with a GFCI outlet. That box connects through a 4” conduit to another box with two switches for the pool and spa lights. From there two conduits go underground. Two romex lines come from the bottom box and lead to the breaker box inside the garage.
