Pool Electrical Calculator

Circuit requirements for pump, heater, lights, and automation.

Inputs

Pump motor (HP)

Heater type (0=none, 1=gas, 2=heat pump)

Number of pool lights

Light type (1=LED 12V, 2=incandescent 120V)

Salt chlorinator (0=no, 1=yes)

Automation panel (0=no, 1=yes)

Spa blower (0=no, 1=yes)

Wire run to main panel (ft)

Tab to move between fields

Results

Sub-panel size (amps)

Total connected load (amps)17.4

Dedicated circuits needed3

GFCI breakers needed3

Pump circuit (amps)15

Heater circuit (amps)6

Bonding wire (#8 Cu, ft)125

Feeder Wire Size#6 AWG

How to Use This Calculator

Enter the pool pump motor horsepower — residential pools typically use 1 to 2 HP.
Select heater type: 0 = none, 1 = gas (minimal electrical draw), 2 = heat pump (high amperage).
Enter the number of pool lights and whether they are 12V LED or 120V incandescent.
Toggle salt chlorinator, automation panel, and spa blower if your pool has these components.
Enter the wire run distance from the pool sub-panel to your home's main electrical panel.
Review Sub-Panel Size (amps), Dedicated Circuits, and GFCI Breakers for your electrical contractor.

What each input means

Pump motor (HP): Pool pump horsepower. Residential pools typically use 1-2 HP.
Heater type (0=none, 1=gas, 2=heat pump): Gas heaters draw minimal electricity (ignition only). Heat pumps draw 30-50 amps.
Number of pool lights: Number of underwater pool lights.
Light type (1=LED 12V, 2=incandescent 120V): 12V LED lights use a transformer and draw very little. 120V incandescent draw ~300W each.
Salt chlorinator (0=no, 1=yes): Salt chlorine generators typically draw 5-8 amps at 240V.
Automation panel (0=no, 1=yes): Pool automation/control system panel.
Spa blower (0=no, 1=yes): Air blower for spa jets, typically 1-1.5 HP drawing 10-15 amps.
Wire run to main panel (ft): Distance from the pool sub-panel to the main electrical panel.

What each result means

Sub-panel size (amps): Recommended sub-panel amperage rating (60, 100, 125, or 200A).
Total connected load (amps): Total amperage draw of all pool equipment at 240V.
Dedicated circuits needed: Number of separate circuits required.
GFCI breakers needed: All pool circuits require GFCI protection per NEC 680.
Pump circuit (amps): Pump circuit amperage at 125% of motor FLA per NEC.
Heater circuit (amps): Heater circuit amperage (gas heater ignition or heat pump).
Bonding wire (#8 Cu, ft): Estimated #8 solid copper bonding wire for equipotential bonding grid.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Pump motor (HP) = 1.5, Heater type (0=none, 1=gas, 2=heat pump) = 1, Number of pool lights = 2, Light type (1=LED 12V, 2=incandescent 120V) = 1 = 8 input(s) provided
Calculate Sub-panel size
Sub-panel size
60 = 60
Calculate Total connected load
Total connected load = pumpAmps240 + heaterAmps240 + lightAmps240Equiv + saltAmps240 + autoAmps240 +...
17.4 = 17.4
Calculate Dedicated circuits needed
Dedicated circuits needed
3 = 3

Engine last updated July 28, 2026. Checked against 3 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.

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