grounding a SWG

[PoolDoc]

Hi Dorie;

As is often the case, sudden changes prompt sudden action. In your case, you are looking at an increase in bleach prices, and have decided to go with an SWG.

Now, I think SWG's are often helpful, and -- unless you get a bad one, or a bad installation -- almost always more convenient than bleach. But, they aren't cheaper, even with bleach at $1.30 per gallon. Several threads, in the SWG are centering on annual operating costs in the $60 - $100 per season range. The (corrected) calculations I've seen seem reasonable. But, even at $1.30 per gallon, not many pools will spend more than $100 per season on bleach. If you did, you probably need to post your chemistry info, so someone can make sure you aren't doing something wrong.

Keep in mind, too, that most SWG users here *still* use bleach for start up, heavy bather loads, and so forth.

When you add in the $500 - $1500 installed cost of an SWG, you aren't looking at any savings, even if you divide the cost of the SWG over 20 years.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't get an SWG; it just means you shouldn't think that doing so will save you money.

On to the codes . . .

I can verify, from much experience, that most electricians don't know how to apply the pool section of the NEC, and even fewer understand WHY those requirements exist or WHAT they accomplish. JohnT's explanation of the difference between bonding and grounding is correct; Mike_in_NJ correctly notes that lack of bonding can lead to more corrosion, but it's also true that bonding itself can increase corrosion, under certain conditions.

And, Mike_in_NJ is also correct that bonding requirements have safety concerns at their core. But, will the lack of a bonded ladder substantially increase your risk of injury by electric shock? The answer is, "Only very rarely, and usually only if something else is wrong."

To put it another way:

• I won't let my family swim in an unsanitized pool, and those are very common.
• Until they could swim 400 yards non-stop, I wouldn't let my boys swim, unless an able swimmer (preferably a lifeguard) was scanning the swim area continuously. Sometimes, that meant that my wife or I had to 'be' the lifeguard, at pools where the guards goofed off.
• But, my family does now swim at pools where not all the deck hardware is properly bonded.

Bonding is an excellent idea. But, my judgement is that, in the absence of other serious problems (and it's true, I do have the luxury of usually knowing a lot about the design and construction of the pools where we swim), lack of a bonded ladder doesn't really concern me. It's a risk, of course. But, it's almost certainly not as big a risk as the risk of dying from aflatoxin poisoning my boys face each time they eat peanut butter.

So, what am I saying?

1. Don't get an SWG because it's going to save you money. Get it, only if the other benefits of an SWG are worthwhile to you.
2. Don't bond because of a risk of increased corrosion: there's not much evidence to support that.
3. If you are hypervigilant about risks, then you probably should be pay what it costs to get the ladder bonded. But, if you ever allow youngsters to swim without having adult eyes on them every single minute they are in the pool . . . then you are worrying about minor risks, when you should worry about more major ones.

Hope this helps.

Ben
PoolDoc

[Waterworks]

Rather than worry about cutting up your deck or any issues about bonding or ground, just get a Saftron ladder. www.saftron.com
They really are nice looking and come in different colors to coordinate with your decking.

Brad
www.waterworkspools.com

[doriec]

Ben and others who responded,
Thanks for all your advice. Ben, you gave me perspective when you explained the cost factors of an SWG versus bleach. After considering the annual cost for the bleach we use, the SWG does seem pricey.

Our pool is 27,000 gal. and our swim load is heavy--lots of grandkids and their friends. We use about 12 gal. of bleach a week. My consideration for an SWG was also due to lugging those gallons and having a sanitizing system for the pool when we were gone for periods of time.

I do appreciate all the advice that you all gave me. I didn't know about the vinyl ladder. That solution seems so simple. That is why I like this site so much--there is so much valuabel information.

Take care! Dorie

[Poolsean]

Um..Vinyl ladder? Please tell me it's a stainless steel ladder. This may be minor, but a vinyl ladder has no conductive properties and will not need grounding.

[PoolDoc]

but a vinyl ladder has no conductive properties and will not need grounding.

I think that's the point, Sean.

Ben