interesting re: pool pump wire guage

[GTakacs]

For 30ft of wire, 14 AWG is fine for a 3/4 hp motor. If you're running it at 110V it's still file. If you want a bigger pump you should consider running them off of 230V. If you're already running 230V then 14 AWG will handle all the way up to a 2hp pump at a distance of 30'.

I have 10 AWG running from my breaker to my pool equipment for 230V plus a 14 AWG neutral if I need 110V over there.

[tenax]

thanks again guys..i think i'm good..the run is actually 25 ft..it's on 120 w/ a 15amp breaker that powers the pump exclusively. i have no intention to get it to share with anything else. i have 3 other 120 volt lines available to the shed so no need. the one speed motor draws 8.6 amps at full load and 120 volts.

[cwstnsko]

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.