Endless Pools FASTLANE Owner's Manual page 40

Fastlane Swim Unit Installation
®
Section 13
D
W
39
BONDING THE FASTLANE
13.1 Bonding
Bonding is the joining of metal components in or around a pool and its associated equipment to bring them
to the same electrical potential (equipotential). The purpose of bonding is safety. It also prevents cor-
rosion between different types of metal components. Pools generally contain various grades of stainless
steel, copper, galvanized metal etc. in or around them. This includes metal light rings, ladders, rebar in
concrete as well as pool equipment such as pumps, heaters, and pool controllers.
All of these metallic components outside the pool should be connected by a solid copper wire. This wire
and all of the metal components form a pool's bonding grid. Bond wires and connections may be readily
visible in a pool's equipment area or on anything metal around the pool. To be compatible with chemically
treated water, Endless Pools uses a stainless steel wire to connect the metal components inside the Fastlane.
When two different types of metals are immersed in a conductive solution (pool water), they undergo
what's called a galvanic reaction. The weaker metal (anode) will begin to dissolve; these particles will react
with the conductive solution and coat the stronger metal (cathode). This will develop an electrical charge
between the two metals called electrical potential and can be measured as voltage.
Safe: All metallic components in or around the pool ARE connected with bonding wires. This reduces the
chance of galvanic reactions and prevents the build-up of electrical potential between these components.
This in turn reduces the chance of a user receiving an electrical shock if they made contact with two metal-
lic components in the pool at the same time.
Unsafe: One or more metallic components in or around the pool ARE NOT connected with bonding wires.
The unconnected components become either an anode or cathode, leading to corrosion and the development
of electrical potential. The electrical potential IS DANGEROUS as it only takes a small shock to incapaci-
tate a pool user.
13.2 Bonding the Fastlane
Wall Mount Fastlane:
The Fastlane, Hydraulic Power Unit, and Controller MUST be tied into the pool's bonding grid. Refer to
Figure 13.1 for bonding the Wall Mount Fastlane.
All Wall Mount Fastlane shipments include bonding clamps to be attached to each threaded rod of the wall
mount bracket. The threaded rods of the bracket must be tied into the pool's bonding grid. Before shooting
gunite, #8 solid copper must be attached to each bonding clamp. These wires will then be attached to a
bonding connection that's incorporated into the pool's bonding grid. Once the Fastlane is installed in the
pool, the stainless steel wire that exits the top of the unit must be attached to one of the threaded rods. Mak-
ing this connection will ensure that the metal components of the Fastlane (inside the pool) are connected to
the pool's bonding grid.
Additionally, a second copper wire from the pool's bonding grid must be attached to the Hydraulic Power
Unit and Controller. This is typically done by extending the bond wire from the existing pool equipment
(heater, pump, etc.) and attaching to the bonding connections located on the Hydraulic Power Unit and
Controller. The Endless Pools equipment is properly bonded when the Fastlane, Hydraulic Power Unit, and
Controller are tied into the pool's equipotential bonding grid. This should be verified by testing the continu-
ity between all metallic components around the pool (refer to Figure 13.3 for testing procedure)
Deck Mount Fastlane:
The Fastlane, Hydraulic Power Unit, and Controller MUST be tied into the pool's bonding grid. Refer to
Figure 13.2 for bonding the Deck Mount Fastlane.
All Deckmount Fastlane shipments include a copper bonding lug that's pre-attached to the hose cover tray
(deck plate). Once the Fastlane is installed into the pool, the stainless steel wire that exits the top of the unit
must be attached to the bonding lug on the hose cover tray. A #8 solid copper wire is then attached to the
bonding lug which must tie into the pool's bonding grid. This is typically done by attaching the copper wire
to a connection at the pool's existing equipment (pump, heater, etc.) that's presumably already incorporated
into the bonding grid of the pool.
Additionally, a second copper wire from the pool's bonding grid must be attached to the Hydraulic Power
Unit and Controller. This is typically done by extending the bond wire from the existing pool equipment
(heater, pump, etc.) and attaching to the bonding connections located on the Hydraulic Power Unit and
Controller. The Endless Pool's equipment is properly bonded when the Fastlane, Hydraulic Power Unit, and
Controller are tied into the pool's equipotential bonding grid. This should be verified by testing the continu-
ity between all metallic components around the pool (refer to Figure 13.3 for testing procedure).