16' x 30' Flat Kidney Owner Build

[newdude]

Anyone have recommendations on enclosures they like?

I recently installed this cover over the vinyl siding trim plate box / 2 in 1 thingie. (I'll get/add a pic of it later)

I liked it because it was low profile but expanded with the rubber gasket like an accordion when needed.

Commercial Electric 1-Gang Expandable Extra Duty Horizontal/Vertical Non-Metallic Weatherproof In-Use Cover (16-in-1 Configurations), White WCWR1PW - The Home Depot

Commercial Electric low profile non-metallic while-in-use device covers provide weatherproof protection when an outlet is in use. While-in-use covers are made from high-impact polycarbonate construction

www.homedepot.com

Chin up about the inspection. While this was a clear fail, so much of it comes down to the interpretation of the inspector, common sense be darned. You could have just as easily failed for several other things if they were in a bad mood.

 

[dleonard1122]

I recently installed this cover over the vinyl siding trim plate box / 2 in 1 thingie. (I'll get/add a pic of it later)

I liked it because it was low profile but expanded with the rubber gasket like an accordion when needed.

Commercial Electric 1-Gang Expandable Extra Duty Horizontal/Vertical Non-Metallic Weatherproof In-Use Cover (16-in-1 Configurations), White WCWR1PW - The Home Depot

Commercial Electric low profile non-metallic while-in-use device covers provide weatherproof protection when an outlet is in use. While-in-use covers are made from high-impact polycarbonate construction

www.homedepot.com

Chin up about the inspection. While this was a clear fail, so much of it comes down to the interpretation of the inspector, common sense be darned. You could have just as easily failed for several other things if they were in a bad mood.

Thanks, my inspector actually called out those accordion covers while he was here so I'll probably go with that to win back some brownie points next time he comes out. I'd love to see more about what 2 in 1 box thing you're talking about. I've never actually installed an outlet, let alone an outdoor one, so I am going to have to get some education on how to go about this.

 

[newdude]

I'd love to see more about what 2 in 1 box thing you're talking about

This one is pretty much it. The old outlet on the side of the house was sketchy at best and just a galvanized box screwed to the house with flap covers over the outlet plugs. This one was a trim plate for the siding and also a non metallic outlet box that the cover screwed into.

Ply Gem 8.5 in x 7.5 in White Electrical Mounting Block EBLCKH04H - The Home Depot

The Cellwood Electrical Mounting Block provides a level surface for transitioning from siding to an electrical fixture. Ideal for use where a UL-listed electrical box is required. Cellwood Mounting Blocks

www.homedepot.com

What's the shed look like ? Plywood siding or vinyl ? For plywood you wouldn't need the trim style and only a grey plastic box. That cover I posted also comes in grey.

 

[newdude]

I've never actually installed an outlet, let alone an outdoor one, so I am going to have to get some education on how to go about this.

Post pics of the current outlet (no pun intended) and the outside wall of the same area.

It's likely that you can poke a hole in the direction of the electric wire that allows it enough slack to go through the wall with 8 inches to smack an outlet/box on it. Or we'll use the old outlet box as a splice to extend a short new piece though the wall.

 

[ajw22]

He also mentioned that they sell plugs that go into the drains of the pump to complete the water bond. I might look around for that because it would be nice to always have the water bonded and not just when the later is installed.

Perma-Cast PB2008 Water Bonding Fitting PB-2008 in the pipe going to the pump on a tee fitting

Electrical Bonding - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[dleonard1122]

Perma-Cast PB2008 Water Bonding Fitting PB-2008 in the pipe going to the pump on a tee fitting

Electrical Bonding - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Any issue with just installing it into the drain on the pump?

If it's as simple as that, I'll probably order it and go that route. Unfortunately I don't have the ability to install it 3" below the pool waterline though so realistically I think this is an imperfect solution for me. Since I plan on running the pump 24/7 it'll work in the same way that I plan on always having the ladder installed while people are swimming though.

 

[newdude]

So with a new patio door, stoop and patio, the 20 year old light fixture and outlet stood OUT being so weathered. Another unforeseen $150 later, it's all nice now.

 

[ajw22]

Any issue with just installing it into the drain on the pump?

Show me a pic of where "the drain on the pump" that you want to put it is?

 

[dleonard1122]

Do we have any resident sparky's here on TFP that can give me a thumbs up on my plan to add the convenience outlet?

Pictured above is a light switch in the shed near where I want to install the outlet. From this, I'll pull off a line side hot and neutral wire. I'll run that (and a ground to attach to the box?) through liquid tight conduit to my outdoor rated metal box which I've installed with the front face flush with the outside wooden siding of the shed (it's just like plywood or whatever, no vinyl or anything to worry about.) Then, install a 15a tamper resistant GFCI outlet and a weatherproof in use cover. Sound reasonable?

 

[newdude]

Do we have any resident sparky's here on TFP that can give me a thumbs up on my plan to add the convenience outlet?

What else is on the circuit ? Is it a dedicated line to the shed with just the two switches ? Or already shared with 1/4 of the house ?

 

[dleonard1122]

@Newdude

This circuit is just for the 4 receptacles and 3 lights in the shed, coming off of the sub panel in the shed. Feels reasonable to just add one more receptacle to it, right?

 

[dleonard1122]

On the water balance front, I have dialed my SWG in so my FC is in a good spot. pH still rises and wants to sit pretty high, so I've been adding MA weekly to drop it from 8.2 to 7.2, which has gotten my TA from 120 down to 90. I've had to fill a couple of times and we know my well water is very basic, which at least somewhat contributed to the continual increases in pH. Hopefully by next summer I can get the TA down more and won't have to add so much MA.

i haven't checked CYA, CH, or Salt in a bit, I imagine it's still where I left it.

The water itself has always been very clear, but the bottom gets dirty pretty quickly with leaves and just general dirt since we don't have the pool deck finished yet.

 

[newdude]

OK so at 90, the TA will likely find its own happy home. Switch to managing PH in the high 7s and it should be less demanding. Maybe only a little, but every little bit, right ?????

i haven't checked CYA, CH, or Salt in a bit, I imagine it's still where I left it.

The water itself has always been very clear, but the bottom gets dirty pretty quickly with leaves and just general dirt since we don't have the pool deck finished yet.

I *think* I have one last vac run of construction dirt to get out. Then with grass growing I should finally be out of the dust storm phase. Hang in there, it sucked.

 

[dleonard1122]

Finally got the stainless steel steps in, so I went ahead and installed them the only way I felt comfortable. I made an A-frame jig to hold the steps where I wanted them with the anchor cups already attached. Then I triple-checked my measurements and everything for level and poured a concrete pad around them. Thankfully my neighbor had a mixer he let me borrow for the price of banging out the last batch of mortar he must have let dry.

 

[dleonard1122]

Days like today make me regret not just going with a simple rectangular pool. This is as much coping as we were able to get cut today. It took a while for us to find a groove (and figure out exactly how much needs to be cut for an 8' radius.) Unfortunately, I lost my help after lunchtime and it's a really slow process solo. I hope to finish a bit more tomorrow and ideally the rest of it by next weekend so I can start to cement everything down next weekend.

Also, I'm starting to get worried about the impending cold and winter. I originally hoped I'd have everything buttoned up by the time winter came but the odds of that happening are diminishing. I'm wondering if I'd be best off if I just drained the pool and "winterized" it by doing everything except the safety cover (which I can't put in until the pavers are done.) Thoughts?

 

[newdude]

My cover guy gave me the option of using the patio deck, or the dirt around it. He said the 18 inch anchors hold fine. Next year you could cut the tubes to the standard 9 inch, or just leave them long.

 

[ajw22]

Also, I'm starting to get worried about the impending cold and winter. I originally hoped I'd have everything buttoned up by the time winter came but the odds of that happening are diminishing. I'm wondering if I'd be best off if I just drained the pool and "winterized" it by doing everything except the safety cover (which I can't put in until the pavers are done.) Thoughts?

You have a good 8-10 weeks before the first snow.

You are not going to drain a liner pool much anyway. The question is when nighttime temps drop below freezing and you may want to shutdown the pump and winterize the pipes.

You need to see how much leaves get blown into your pool once they start dropping in about 4 weeks. That may get you scurrying to cover the pool.

 

[dleonard1122]

I got the pool ladder in, fixed the bonding wire attachment to the steel walls with fine thread screws with nuts, and installed the WR/TR GFCI outlet on the outside of the shed.

Passed our final electrical inspection.

Now onto setting the coping this weekend.

 

[dleonard1122]

Hard to tell much progress between this photo and the last, but I promise it's there. All of the pavers on the far side for the pool, from the steps around back to where the ladder anchors are on the left are mudded in a secured down. The ones in the foreground and the straight wall on the left still need to be done.

So far it's going okay (I think) for never having done masonry work. The Laticrete 254 mortar that @jimmythegreek recommends is some thick and sticky stuff, and a lot different consistency than a typical masonry mix that I have seen before. I'm having to use a little more of it than I probably should have because my concrete collar is set a little bit lower than I'd have liked, but I've pulled a few bricks after setting them and it seems to be adhering pretty well. This week it's going to get cold before warming up again next weekend so I might have to pause on this for a few days.

In other news, I ordered the Stegmeier paver drain which is going to be run parallel to the straight wall of the pool and will hopefully prevent runoff from coming downhill into it.

The trees are changing colors and I know these leaves are going to start dropping in bunches. Maybe I'll have it closed by Halloween? More likely Thanksgiving...

 

[dleonard1122]

And with that, I'm done cutting and mortaring down the coping. Just need to do the grout and then that step will truly be done. This turned out way better than I could have ever anticipated, and dare I say better than I would have expected had I paid a 'professional.' I'm especially happy with the corners of the steps here.

I need to give a lot of thanks to @jimmythegreek because I used his past comments around this forum extensively when figuring out how to do this step. I don't think he's been on here much lately, but I hope he's well, and anyone that comes after me trying to do this I highly recommend you seek out his advice.