about a month ago I helped a friend drain and refill his pool (due to too high of CYA and CH.) About an hour into the draining, we started hearing a popping sound from over by the pump. After a couple of more pops, the motor shut down. After shutting down the power at the main panel, we discovered that the pump had been wired with 14 gauge solid wire (in 1988.) Over the years, the combination of current and vibration cause the wire to blow itself in two about 2 inches from the motor.