GFCI - Pool Lights Tripping every few days

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FlyersDude21

Well-known member
Oct 23, 2023
86
Houston
Surface
Plaster
Our pool (2 lights) and spa (1)light are attached to a GFCI outlet on the side of our Pentair panel. There are two circuits, one for the pool and one for spa so I can turn them on/ off independently.

We have them set to automatically go on around sun down and run until 11 (4 hours or so).

One night a month ago I noticed that they were not turning on. We had a storm that week so I thought maybe it tripped from lightning.

I reset GFCI and the lights came back on for a few days. The gfci then tripped again at which point I reset it. Again, a few days later they tripped off.

Should I reset the GFCI and then run the spa or pooI independently to see which circuit might be tripping?

Could the GFCI be bad or typically what causes us to happen? As mentioned, the lights will stay on for a few days and then kick the breaker so it's not like it's instant.

Also what I call a pool repair co or a electrician for something like this to fix?
 
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Start by replacing the GFCI. As GFCI's age they get more sensitive.

You say the lights are connected through a GFCI outlet but then you talk about resetting "the breaker". Confirm that you reset the GFCI outlet button and don't actually have any circuit breakers needing to be reset.
 
ajw22 said:
Start by replacing the GFCI. As GFCI's age they get more sensitive.

You say the lights are connected through a GFCI outlet but then you talk about resetting "the breaker". Confirm that you reset the GFCI outlet button and don't actually have any circuit breakers needing to be reset.
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I meant GFCI button not breaker

Could water be sleeping into the lights? Also I assume an electrician should be called not pool co?
 
As @ajw22 above stated and I concur with him to first change the gfci outlet as it can be defective with time /age and is much cheaper to try and see if that will rectify the problem. If that doesn't correct the problem next would be to isolate the three lights one at a time and let the other two work for a while to see which is the problem light as I'm sure they're not all bad at once.
 
wireform said:
As @ajw22 above stated and I concur with him to first change the gfci outlet as it can be defective with time /age and is much cheaper to try and see if that will rectify the problem. If that doesn't correct the problem next would be to isolate the three lights one at a time and let the other two work for a while to see which is the problem light as I'm sure they're not all bad at once.
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Could there be a rubber seal issue on one of the pool lights or would that cause instant tripping? I doubt it's the spa as that bulb and gasket were replaced 2 months ago
 
wireform said:
As @ajw22 above stated and I concur with him to first change the gfci outlet as it can be defective with time /age and is much cheaper to try and see if that will rectify the problem. If that doesn't correct the problem next would be to isolate the three lights one at a time and let the other two work for a while to see which is the problem light as I'm sure they're not all bad at once.
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Update: was able to narrow it down to the spa light. It now won't even stay on and automatically trips the GFCI.

It's a Pentair Bulb Spabrite.

I changed a bulb in June and also the gasket. Any suggestions on why it might be tripping still?

Do I still need to change the GFCI? There's an electrician going to be at my house tomorrow doing some other non-related work. Should I ask him anything specific?
 
If the GFCI is more than a few years old I would change it. They get more sensitive with age.

If the GFCI still trips you have to open up your spa light and see if it has water in it.

Have a new gasket on hand.
 
ajw22 said:
If the GFCI is more than a few years old I would change it. They get more sensitive with age.

If the GFCI still trips you have to open up your spa light and see if it has water in it.

Have a new gasket on hand.
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If a new gasket was just put on in June, I'm wondering how water is getting in, if that's infact the issue.

Here's the GFCI. I'm assuming it's nothing special and just a normal outdoor GFCI?

1000015071.jpg
 

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I just had the exact same Eaton brand gfci fail and anything connected through it was dead. Get it changed with same brand so then you can transfer the wires to the same sidearm place on the circuit otherwise you'll need to figure out what's what. That can be had at Lowes.
 
ajw22 said:
You have to run a new fixture and wire.
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How would I determine if water is leaking in the back versus linking in through the new gasket that I put on two months . I plan to pull it out this weekend to check and replace the GFCI.

Do the light wires typically go all the way on long runs directly to the Pentair control panel or do they usually terminate at a central box somewhere close to the pool?

Lastly, which way do the bubbles /bumps on the gasket face Just to make sure that I put it on the right side
 
There is no typical. Builders should run light wires to a pool light junction box near the pool and some run light conduit all the way to the equipment pad.
 
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