Hey all, I really appreciate this forum and have already learned a lot here. I'm a first-time pool owner by having bought a 1985-era home in Maryland last summer. In spite of all that is great about this home, including many nice upgrades made by the previous owner(s), there are many boneheaded things that have come to light that have me shaking my head. And today I'm shaking my head over the pool light.
When we moved in, I could not figure out where the pool light switch was and whether the light worked. After a much leg work, I traced it down to a 120V circuit (w/GFCI) routed through a switch in the house and back through the breaker box apparently to route out to the pool pad subpanel via a common conduit. At the pad, there is a 120v/12v transformer that feeds a conduit (with no junction box BTW), presumably to the light. Last fall, after swapping out an old transformer that didn't work, we finally got 12v output, but no light. So I decided to take it on this spring after opening the pool, assuming it was just a bad bulb. So, I popped the light fixture (Swimquip 5082) and there was no extra cord in the niche to raise it to deck - thanks, installers. Hoping to pull it above deck, I disconnected the wires at the transformer, affixed them to a fish at the transformer, and start yanking on the cord at the niche. The cable gave way readily - good. The fish didn't move - bad. So, I kept pulling the cable until a sliced end came out. (See pic). Who knows when or how this happened but from what I gather, the light hasn't worked in years. The fixture seemed to contain its original gasket and seal and and the light is still good. Shaking my head again.
After cursing the previous owners, I accepted that I have to replace the whole fixture and that this may have been a blessing in disguise. The wires arriving at the transformer are not even the same color as those in the light cable, nor is there a separate #8 bonding wire arriving in the conduit at the transformer. God knows what happened to create this arrangement, but maybe whoever sliced through that conduit saved a life.
So, I've got a new in-kind replacement light on order (with ample cord) and will be doing some digging (dirt, not concrete luckily) to find out where the conduit was sliced as well as what strange things may have happened over the years. The old cord was cut at about 10 feet, 5 of which appear to have been soaking in water within the conduit. The rest of the run is only about 15 feet to the pad in soil, so it could be worse.
Questions bugging me are:
1) There is a bonding cable coming from behind the niche, but the potting compound looks sketchy as if there could be some corrosion going on behind there. See pic. Does this look like it needs to be patched up? If so, what would you recommend?
2) The same bonding cable that then exists the niche via the PVC conduit mysteriously does not appear that the transformer. Clearly, it needs to terminate on the other end. Can this cable be legitimately spliced in some way and run in the conduit? I have a feeling I'm not going to like the answer, but I'm really not into busting up the deck to get behind the niche.
3) I know there should be a JB between the transformer and the light, but is absolutely required? The transformer is 5+ feet above the water line so there is no threat of water intrusion. It would be simple enough to install, so not a problem.
4) Any other thoughts?
Sorry, this is longer than it needed to be but wanted to give the context. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
When we moved in, I could not figure out where the pool light switch was and whether the light worked. After a much leg work, I traced it down to a 120V circuit (w/GFCI) routed through a switch in the house and back through the breaker box apparently to route out to the pool pad subpanel via a common conduit. At the pad, there is a 120v/12v transformer that feeds a conduit (with no junction box BTW), presumably to the light. Last fall, after swapping out an old transformer that didn't work, we finally got 12v output, but no light. So I decided to take it on this spring after opening the pool, assuming it was just a bad bulb. So, I popped the light fixture (Swimquip 5082) and there was no extra cord in the niche to raise it to deck - thanks, installers. Hoping to pull it above deck, I disconnected the wires at the transformer, affixed them to a fish at the transformer, and start yanking on the cord at the niche. The cable gave way readily - good. The fish didn't move - bad. So, I kept pulling the cable until a sliced end came out. (See pic). Who knows when or how this happened but from what I gather, the light hasn't worked in years. The fixture seemed to contain its original gasket and seal and and the light is still good. Shaking my head again.
After cursing the previous owners, I accepted that I have to replace the whole fixture and that this may have been a blessing in disguise. The wires arriving at the transformer are not even the same color as those in the light cable, nor is there a separate #8 bonding wire arriving in the conduit at the transformer. God knows what happened to create this arrangement, but maybe whoever sliced through that conduit saved a life.
So, I've got a new in-kind replacement light on order (with ample cord) and will be doing some digging (dirt, not concrete luckily) to find out where the conduit was sliced as well as what strange things may have happened over the years. The old cord was cut at about 10 feet, 5 of which appear to have been soaking in water within the conduit. The rest of the run is only about 15 feet to the pad in soil, so it could be worse.
Questions bugging me are:
1) There is a bonding cable coming from behind the niche, but the potting compound looks sketchy as if there could be some corrosion going on behind there. See pic. Does this look like it needs to be patched up? If so, what would you recommend?
2) The same bonding cable that then exists the niche via the PVC conduit mysteriously does not appear that the transformer. Clearly, it needs to terminate on the other end. Can this cable be legitimately spliced in some way and run in the conduit? I have a feeling I'm not going to like the answer, but I'm really not into busting up the deck to get behind the niche.
3) I know there should be a JB between the transformer and the light, but is absolutely required? The transformer is 5+ feet above the water line so there is no threat of water intrusion. It would be simple enough to install, so not a problem.
4) Any other thoughts?
Sorry, this is longer than it needed to be but wanted to give the context. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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