Fountain pump cables

Fountain cables out of a pool? how is it done?

Most people would say over the edge of the pool (Like this?)

cables leaving a pool not protected.

It does not look good and it is certainly not professional. Chances are they are mains cables for pumps. The cables should have at least come under one of the coping stones that make the pool perimeter.

So how should it be done?

There are various options, the simplest and cheapest is similar to above, but as mentioned, the cables should have a stone (in this case) to mechanically protect them.

Cables leaving a pool with some protection.

The next option is to build the pool with a false cavity wall in a convenient location with a gap in the cavity wall base and the cables enter through this gap up through the cavity and exit at the top on the dry side.

The best option is to bring the cables out via conduits laid in the base of the pool when it was cast, but these conduits will need to have special glands.

The above is a gland for concrete. Bigger glands are available.

F.A.Q's

1) Why can the cable not just lie over the edge?

As it is an electrical cable it can be easily damaged, it must have mechanical protection.

2) Why cant I put a pipe over the edge of a wall just below the water surface and the other end go to the controls?

The water will at some point be siphoned out of the pool and putting water all over the controls.

3) Why cant I just bury the cable in the concrete base when the pool is cast?

How will you remove the pumps to service them?

If you want to move any pumps / lights round, you can't because the cable is too short.

If a pump fails how will you get it out, and a new one in if the cable is buried in concrete.

 It will cost more to drain the pool dig out the right cable, not hitting any others and then repairing it than it would have been to install a gland in the first place.

To cast concrete it must be wet, how will you stop the weight of the pumps the cable is connected to from sinking into the wet concrete?

4) Can I install a single cable  and install a junction box and connect all pumps to this?

If the supply cable is big enough to carry the current of all pumps and lights running and there is a suitable junction (box) then yes you can