I took out a 20 Amp double pole non-GFCI breaker that was attached to pool pump wiring. I know that this needs to be a GFCI breaker. I purchased a new 20 Amp double pole GFCI breaker.

I installed the double pole GFCI breaker 20 Amp to panel where the old non-GFCI breaker was attached. The wires coming from the pool pump are Black, Orange, Green and White. On the old breaker, the Green and White were connected to the Neutral bar.

I connected the GFCI breaker's white pig tail to neutral bar on panel, and connected the pool pump white wire to the Neutral hole on the breaker.
I connected the Black and Orange to the two breaker load holes.
I still have a Green wire from the pool pump that was also attached to the neutral bar.

The new GFCI breaker trips, if the Green wire remains on neutral bar, or if I disconnect it from neutral bar.

Does the Green wire need to be connected to the breaker, or do I have a bad breaker out of the box?

You have the breaker wired right.
Check the other end. See where the neutral goes.
A 240v pool pump does not require a neutral, so if they have the white just sitting in the box and it is touching ground it will instantly trip the GFI breaker.

Stanfortyman,

Thanks for the help. It's getting dark now. I'll try it tomorrow and post again.

If it WAS 240 volts and needed a Neutral, the Neutral and ground would remain separate with the neutral Isolated from Ground.

If it WAS 240 volts and needed a Neutral, the Neutral and ground would remain seperate with the neutral Isolated from Ground.This is kind of vague Strat.
The N/G go to the same bar in the main panel, they do not remain separated.
With a GFI breaker, the LOAD neutral goes to the breaker, the LINE neutral from the breaker itself goes to the N/G bar in a main panel, or to the N bar in a non-service panel.

I was just told by a local pool electrician, that pool pumps never go to a GFCI breaker. Pool pumps require grounding. Only spa/pool lights and convenience outlets near the pool are GFCI protected.

I am OK with the GFCI protected pool lights. But, am I wrong that pool pumps require GFCI breaker?

This is kind of vague Strat.
The N/G go to the same bar in the main panel, they do not remain separated.
With a GFI breaker, the LOAD neutral goes to the breaker, the LINE neutral from the breaker itself goes to the N/G bar in a main panel, or to the N bar in a non-service panel.

What I was saying was, if it was a 240 Volt Unit of any type that requires a Neutral, the neutral and ground need to remain separate.

Good that your asking questions here. You need to stop talking to that local electrician, unless for some reason the local city or state Code wavies the National Electric Code. See attached image of the 2008 NEC Handbook, tell your electriciian to read Section 680.22 (B), that requires pool pumps to be GFI protected.


I was just told by a local pool electrician, that pool pumps never go to a GFCI breaker. Pool pumps require grounding. Only spa/pool lights and convenience outlets near the pool are GFCI protected.