Pool Painting
- Thread starter JPMorgan
- Start date
The light needs to be replaced.
It's a safety hazard.
Do not send power to the light.
Disconnect all power from the light.
Can you explain why? I have used the light in the pool for years, including last year with no issues.
- May 23, 2015
- 25,716
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Looks like they patched the back of the light niche to stop a leak. The wire conduit is supposed to go out from the back of the niche a few inches and then directly up to the water line level so that it is “flooded” for just a short length and there’s no leak issues. It may be the conduit connection on the back of the niche sprung a leak and they patched it with epoxy. If you ever need to change the light it’s going to be a heck of job digging out that patch to free the wire.
The integrity is compromised.
It's a shock hazard. Someone could be killed.
If there is any doubt about the integrity of a light, it needs to be replaced.
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Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed In Calder Sloan's Pool Electrocution
The family of a 7-year-old boy who was electrocuted in a swimming pool has filed a lawsuit against four companies.
miami.cbslocal.com
A service company should never do that type of repair to a light.
If they do and someone gets killed, they are liable to be charged criminally and civilly.
Financial liability is in the millions for someone getting killed, you could go to jail, and you have to live with the fact that someone died due to your negligence.
https://www.ecmweb.com/around-the-c...ricians-charged-in-houston-pool-electrocution
www.chron.com
The Houston Chronicle reported that the electricians have been charged with criminally negligent homicide.
The electric current was caused by a short in the pool light, police said.
An investigation by police, the city's Public Works and Engineering Department and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation also determined the wiring to the pool light lacked a ground fault circuit interrupter that would have immediately cut off the current in the event of a shock, officials said.
The pool also lacked proper bonding, police said. Both are violations of the National Electric Code.
The hotel hired Brown Electric, Inc., in June to replace the wiring and bonding for the pool, police said.
Pyle, the supervisor for the job, did not get a permit for the work with the City of Houston, police said..
Electricians charged in electrocution of man at Houston pool
Shoddy work by two electricians led to the death of a man at a west Houston hotel...
www.chron.com
The Houston Chronicle reported that the electricians have been charged with criminally negligent homicide.
The electric current was caused by a short in the pool light, police said.
An investigation by police, the city's Public Works and Engineering Department and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation also determined the wiring to the pool light lacked a ground fault circuit interrupter that would have immediately cut off the current in the event of a shock, officials said.
The pool also lacked proper bonding, police said. Both are violations of the National Electric Code.
The hotel hired Brown Electric, Inc., in June to replace the wiring and bonding for the pool, police said.
Pyle, the supervisor for the job, did not get a permit for the work with the City of Houston, police said..
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Obviously this is a serious issue and needs to be addressed before I start filling the pool. I have taken the light out of the housing (see below) and inspected the cable that runs from the back of the light to where it enters the back of the housing and I don't see any frays or tears in the cable anywhere. I have also contacted 5 different pool companies today to try to get someone to come out to inspect the light. Of course, this time of year you wait a week or longer for just about any type of service from a pool company. Is an electrician an option (could get an electrician out a lot sooner) or do I need to stick with a pool service company to do this inspection? Finally, if a pool company inspects and tells me it's safe, how do I know it is? Should I ask for some type of documentation of their inspection beyond just a simple receipt? I was about to start filling the pool before I snapped that picture.... now you've got me freaking out!
I think the recommendation is to replace the light including the housing in the wall.
It's a Pentair low voltage light, which is safer than 120 volts, but it is really old and, in my opinion, the cord is in poor condition.
I would not use the light.
My recommendation is to replace the light.
I would not use the light.
My recommendation is to replace the light.
I think that it is a Pentair Amerlite Pool Light
SPECTRUM AMERILITE (SAM) LIGHT
Spectrum Amerlite (SAm)
SPECTRUM AMERILITE (SAM) LIGHT
Spectrum Amerlite (SAm)
I know it is one of those lights that rotates colors. We had it installed about 15 years ago when we did the pool deck. A pool company is going to want the pool empty to work on the light, right? Is this something a regular electrician could handle or would you recommend I use a pool company? Finally.... I found the breaker for the light at the electrical panel. If I can't get service within a reasonable amount of time, I am planning to put the light back in it's niche, but pop the breaker. Will also put tape over the breaker with "Do Not Use" note. I'm assuming this will be safe. Is that correct? Just won't have a pool light this year. Would rather get it fixed now, but I'm not waiting around for 10-12 days to get a pool company out here.
Thanks for your advice and guidance on this. Who knows..... maybe you saved someone's life. Safety was not my concern when I posted the picture of the light niche, but I'm glad I posted it and got your warning. If I do pop the breaker and put the light back in the niche does it look like water might leak where that wire goes into the back of the niche..... and is there something I can apply to create a better seal. It's understood I won't be using the light..... just want to stop a potential water leak at that site. Here's the photo again:
Thanks for your advice and guidance on this. Who knows..... maybe you saved someone's life. Safety was not my concern when I posted the picture of the light niche, but I'm glad I posted it and got your warning. If I do pop the breaker and put the light back in the niche does it look like water might leak where that wire goes into the back of the niche..... and is there something I can apply to create a better seal. It's understood I won't be using the light..... just want to stop a potential water leak at that site. Here's the photo again:
What year was it installed?
I suspect that they used putty to stop a leak, or a possible leak.
You can use some type of waterproof sealant to help reduce the likelihood of a leak.
You will have to ask the electrician or pool service if they can work on lights and if they need the water level to be down.
Can you show a picture of the breaker, junction box and the transformer?
If it’s 12V, then it seems there should be a transformer or controller that’s supplying the 12V somewhere. I have some conduit and a junction box sticking up out of the ground with the wiring, maybe you have something similar? I think I’d look for that and maybe unhook the wires as well.
May, 2008. I found the owners manual. It is a Spectrum Amerlite (SAm)
Will waterproof silicone sealant caulk do the trick for waterproofing the back of the light niche?
See photos below of the breaker at the main panel, a junction box which sits in the corner of our patio, the pool light switch at the back of our house near the pool equipment (I took the cover off today), and the transformer.
Your fine to fill the pool to the light level. We work on them from the deck.
Can you snap a pic of the whole niche on the inside
Can you snap a pic of the whole niche on the inside
I’d do more than shut the breaker off if you leave it like that long term. You wouldn’t want someone turning it back on at the wrong moment.