Pond fountain. Beautiful when running efficiently, but a dud if wire is not properly gauged. Quite a few customers are under the impression that it is less expensive to run a pump on 220-240V than it is to run on standard 120v. But this is innaccurate. Let us explain.
Energy companies charge by kilowatt hour, not current. Now if you are running a powerful pump with thin-gauged wire, your pump will lose a lot of its power due to wire resistance and thus not have energy-efficiency. So a 1/2 HP pump will not produce as much flow on 120v as it will on 220v if the wire is not properly gauged. But if the wire is properly gauged, the 120v produces as much flow AND is no more expensive to run than a 220v pump.
Wires that are too thinly gauged also create a safety hazard as the wire and insulation heat up, deteriorate over time, or fail completely. 220-240 volt pumps require thinner-gauged cords to run long lengths than lower voltage pumps do.
Scott Fountains has created this handy table that helps customers who buy their fountains determine how thick of gauge is needed for their 1/3HP to 3 HP pumps. Note: distance is not from pond outlet to the motor. Rather, the customer needs to know the distance from the main breaker to the motor! For a 1/2 HP motor using 12 gauge wire on 115Volts, the maximum distance from the motor to the main panel is 160′! If you are using a 230 volt pump, that distance increases to 650′! Moving to the 3HP option, only available in 230V, if using 12 gauge wire the maximum run from pump to main breaker is 190′. But if using 10 gauge cable, that length increases to 300′. If 6 gauge is used, the distance increases to 750′!
Though the table created by Scott is of great help with their fountains obviously, it is also useful to look at even if you are purchasing a unit by another manufacturer. Again, the total run from the main power source to the motor is what is important. For example, if you have 14-gauge wire running from your main power source to the outlet at the pond’s edge, then that run will need to be short. Electricity will need to travel all the way from the main power source to the motor in the pond.
It is crucial the homeowner or commercial developer calculate the distance from the main breaker to the motor. Once that distance is known, and the gauge of wire running from main breaker to the outlet for the pond’s motor, we can help you determine what gauge wire your pump needs to have included for optimal performance. We are not trying to make things complicated, only to help you get the best possible fountain for your property.
Maximum Cable Length in Feet from Motor to Main Power
Pump Size | 1/3HP 115V | 1/3HP 230V | 1/2HP 115V | 1/2HP 230V | 3/4HP 115V | 3/4HP 230V | 1HP 115V | 1 HP 230V | 1.5HP 230v | 2HP 230V | 3HP 230V |
12 AWG | 175′ | 700′ | 160′ | 650′ | 125′ | 480′ | 75′ | 400′ | 310′ | 250′ | 190′ |
10 AWG | 275′ | 1120′ | 250′ | 1020′ | 150′ | 760′ | 100′ | 630′ | 480′ | 390′ | 300′ |
8 AWG | 430′ | 1720′ | 390′ | 1610′ | 200′ | 1200′ | 150′ | 990′ | 770′ | 620′ | 470′ |
6 AWG | 680′ | 2680′ | 620′ | 2510′ | 350′ | 1870′ | 300′ | 1540′ | 1200′ | 1530′ | 750′ |
4 AWG | 1050′ | 4180′ | 960′ | 3880′ | 700′ | 2890′ | 650′ | 2380′ | 1870′ | 2360′ | 1190′ |