Re: Swimming pool light - electricians?

On Jul 21, 1:32 am, "MiamiCuse" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "RBM" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:4883f9ad$0$4998$607ed4bc@cv.net...
>
>
>
> > "MiamiCuse" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:fYednThqa9fjbh7VnZ2dnUVZ_jadnZ2d@dsli.com...
> >>I have two lights about 3 feet below the water surface. One of them turn
> >>on and one of them went off recently.
>
> >> I had the electrician who was working on my remodeling take a look, and
> >> he opened a junction box near the pool, and there is power at the
> >> junction box, so it is either the bulb or the light fixture is bad.
>
> >> He told me normally swimming pool lights are low voltage, but in my case,
> >> the wire going to the light is not low voltage but 110v. He said either
> >> the light fixture has a built in low-voltage transformer, or when they
> >> put the light fixture in back in the 70s, they used a 110v light fixture,
> >> and I need a specialist that deals with pool lights to examine it.
>
> >> Do I need to hire an electrician that is specialized in pool light
> >> fixtures? or do I need to drain the pool down below the fixture level to
> >> take a look myself?
>
> >> My water table is very high being in Miami, I was told I cannot drain it
> >> or it will crack, what if I drain my pool to half full (25000 gallon
> >> pool) it will not crack right?
>
> >> Thanks,
>
> >> MC
>
> > Line voltage pool light fixtures are very standard. Typically, one screw
> > holds the totally enclosed fixture into a niche in the wall of the pool.
> > If you remove the screw, there should be enough cord inside the niche, for
> > the fixture to be lifted out and placed on the pool deck for repair. If
> > the fixture is in good shape you may be able to replace the lamp and
> > reseal the fixture without water getting in, but if not , just replace the
> > entire fixture. These things come with cords attached, which you can buy
> > at whatever length you need to reach the deck box.
>
> From the box to the pool light I would estimate about twenty feet...I think
> this is pretty far I don't know why they located it so far away. In any
> case the box is about 12" above the deck, a 1" PVC conduit attached to it's
> base and the PVC conduit disappeared into the deck and eventually to the
> pool light.
>
> When the electrician was looking at the box, we took apart the plastic box
> cover, and the 90 degree PVC elbow below it was loose, I tried to tighten it
> but instead loosened it, and this is really strange, water seeped out of it.
> I managed to tighten it back up, but the PVC conduit 18' away was partly
> filled with water. I think the water level is the same as the pool surface.
> I think this is not normal right? I would assume if this is line voltage
> and the conduit is filled with water, then it's wet from there all the way
> to the fixture? Something about this makes me real nervous...

buffalo ny: the light could be 110v or 12v or any voltage the last
owner connected there. easy clue: read the voltage on the bulb.
for ease of installation, find a similar sized replacement UL listed
underwater fixture at your local pool supply company.
hire a licensed experienced electrician there are always code updates
to follow with swimming pools. you may have a water leak from the
pool or rainwater is in your electrical devices, this requires your
prompt repair.