Ask The Pool Guy Q&A: Do Grounding Lugs have to be Copper?
Grounding The electrical equipment for swimming pools must be grounded and connected by wiring methods in accordance with the NFPA 70 National Electric Code® (NEC®). The following must be grounded: all electrical equipment associated with the circulation system; all electrical equipment located within 5 feet of the inside wall of the pool water; all through-wall lighting assemblies and underwater luminaires; panelboards that supply electricity to equipment associated with the pool; GFCIs: transformer and power supply enclosures; junction boxes; and pool motors. Grounding and bonding terminals should be identified as being used for wet and corrosive environments. Grounding and bonding connections should be made of copper, copper alloy, or stainless steel. They also should be listed for direct burial. Luminaries and related equipment should also be grounded. All lighting assemblies and luminaires must be connected to an insulated copper grounding conductor not smaller than 12 AWG. Where a non-metallic conduit is installed, the installation of an 8 AWG insulated copper bonding jumper may be required in the conduit. Wet-niche luminaires supplied by a flexible cord must have all exposed non-current-carrying metal parts grounded. An equipment-grounding conductor should be installed with the feeder conductors between the grounding terminal of the pool equipment panelboard and the grounding terminal of the applicable service equipment. Source: https://www.nachi.org/grounding-bondi…