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View Full Version : Connecting 120/240 volt line to light, gfci and pool pump breaker


BDVM
Jun 19, 2009, 08:20 PM
I have recently demolished my shed and long with it the electrical connections which powered my light switch, gfci receptical and pool pump. I thought I had the electrical connections correct but the breaker is tripping when I attempted to turn it back on.

Breaker is 15 Amp

The line coming into the shed is a black, red and white bx cable (no bare conduit).
This feeds into my junction box where the connections are made.

My light switch is connected on a single pole switch, black to black and white to white.
My gfci receptical is connected on the line side in (white/silver) and (black/gold) on the load side out to other outdoor recepticals (w/s and b/g).
My pool pump reset breaker needs to be set to run on 230 volt (7.5 amps) and only has red and black going into the reset breaker from the junction box. Red into the reset breaker is marretted to black going to the pool pump and black and white connect to the terminals on the reset breaker, with another white going from the breaker terminal to the pump.

Like I said, I am perplexed and am obviously missing something. Any help would be appreciated! :) :confused: :)

Stratmando
Jun 19, 2009, 08:28 PM
Are you saying you are getting a 240 volt circuit, and a 120 volt circuit from a red, white and black?
You cannot by code use 120 and 240 as described.
The switch may need 2 blacks, and the 2 whites tied together.

BDVM
Jun 19, 2009, 08:33 PM
I was looking to replace what was existing... I just bought this house 1 year ago and the light, receptical and pool pump all ran off this one breaker. This is not allowed?

Stratmando
Jun 19, 2009, 08:39 PM
You need a red and black for the 240,
You need 1 hot(red OR black, or some other colors used for hot)and a white, you are short 1 conductor.

Stratmando
Jun 19, 2009, 08:42 PM
One thing you could do is a change pump to 120 volts, and have light and receptacle on black and pump on red, you can share the neutral provided they are on opposite phases and connected so when 1 trips, the other trips as well. You should read 240 volts out of the 2 breakers.

BDVM
Jun 19, 2009, 08:43 PM
This is a quick sketch of what I have.. any help is appreciated...

Stratmando
Jun 19, 2009, 08:44 PM
Doesn't sound like you need a lot of power(small shed?)Then 3/4 PVC may work could even pull a pair of travellers so you can switch outside light from either end.
Edit, just saw the above drawing, you CANNOT do that, converting pump may be an option, or pull an extra wire.
You may not have read post above yours, as we were posting at the same time.

BDVM
Jun 19, 2009, 08:50 PM
:D:o

This is how is was before but obviously I've got somethig messed up...

So you want me to change to 120 volt for the pump and use the other hot wire for the receptical and gfci?

Stratmando
Jun 19, 2009, 09:00 PM
That would be best, did you read my 10:42 post, the switch may need to be white to white and both blacks to switch.

BDVM
Jun 19, 2009, 09:07 PM
Is this OK since the breaker in the house running this setup is 15amp? The pump draws 14 amp on 120 volt and the gfci receptical protects two other exterior recepticals against the fence and the light switch in the shed?

Stratmando
Jun 19, 2009, 09:12 PM
If the wire is #12, and on 20 amp breakers you could.

BDVM
Jun 19, 2009, 09:14 PM
Thank you for your help.. I'm off to bed for the night... going to sleep on it...

Stratmando
Jun 19, 2009, 09:16 PM
Good Luck.

hkstroud
Jun 20, 2009, 05:54 PM
I am assuming that the breaker trips even is there is no load.

KISS
Jun 20, 2009, 08:50 PM
Disconnect R & B @ JB going to light switch. Trip?

Stratmando
Jun 21, 2009, 07:27 AM
"My light switch is connected on a single pole switch, black to black and white to white."
I think the problem of shorting is here.