Pentair
Electrical Short or Ground Fault
Pump trips the breaker or GFCI immediately when turned on.
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Shorted motor windings, Water intrusion into motor or drive, Damaged power cord or conduit, Incorrect wiring or shared neutral on GFCI circuit
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Do not repeatedly reset a tripping breaker; this is a fire and shock hazard.
- Step 1 – Visual inspection: With power OFF, inspect the motor and drive for burn marks, melted insulation, or water inside the housing.
- Step 2 – Isolate pump: Disconnect the pump wiring at the breaker or junction box and see if the breaker holds with the pump disconnected. If it does, the pump is likely the source of the fault.
- Step 3 – Insulation test (technician): Have a technician perform a megohm test on the motor and wiring to check for shorts to ground.
- Step 4 – Correct wiring: Ensure the pump is wired per Pentair’s diagram, especially on GFCI circuits where shared neutrals can cause nuisance trips.
- Step 5 – Replace motor/drive: If the pump is confirmed to be shorted or leaking to ground, replace the motor and drive assembly.
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Repair Difficulty
Professional Required
5/5
Required Part
IntelliFlo Motor and Drive Assembly
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