A swirl pluggin is unlike a regular 3 prong plug-2straights with 1 ground underneath. It still has 3 prongs but they are in a circle formation and the pluggin in LARGE. The pluggin has a special circuit breaker in the box because it's so close to the pool. My pump sits about 2 feet from the pool and possible water exposure. It never tripped last year and I never remember it getting wet from kids playing in the pool. I'm glad we have it now-after they explained to me the reason. Denise