Electrician currently here to replace pool light. Wires won’t budge from either end to be able to pull new new wires through.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
Pool light wires won’t budge!
- Thread starter Household6
- Start date
Photo 2 - conduit going into ground was easy to pull up. Feared it was just shoved into ground to pass inspection. So we dug. Confirmed conduit at least in area where shown in photo 1.
Photo 3 - removed all the white putty. There was a somewhat dried out black “plug” that was behind the white putty. Chiseled through it and wires now free from area where go into and behind niche, but still won’t budge.
By not budging, I mean there’s absolutely no give when we try to pull on them. I recall somewhere seeing to put Dawn in the conduit, but the area is level, so really no way for it to get in and move down to lube things up.
Photo 3 - removed all the white putty. There was a somewhat dried out black “plug” that was behind the white putty. Chiseled through it and wires now free from area where go into and behind niche, but still won’t budge.
By not budging, I mean there’s absolutely no give when we try to pull on them. I recall somewhere seeing to put Dawn in the conduit, but the area is level, so really no way for it to get in and move down to lube things up.
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My PB had to resort to brute force to pull one of my light cables. Standing in the drained spa, they pulled the light, and - without cutting the cable in case they were unsuccessful - wrapped the cable at the light end tightly around the handle of a pick axe. Then they turned the pick axe (by the blades with gloves on) with all their strength and the cable eventually budged.
How about using a vacuum to help suck it through and blow on the other end with low pressure air or another vacuum exhaust?
I should add they make wire pulling lube made for this. I find soap gets sticky if it dries out.home depot will, have the lube
cfherrman
TFP Guide
Try compressed air to loosen any dust. Always try pulling for either side to get it to loosen.
I say have someone on both ends and play tug a war or heave ho to work it loose. turkey baster to squirt soap into the hole might help as well!
There’s no way something could be holding it in place? Don’t want to break the wires as then we really would have a mess on our hands.
I’ve done some digging.
Photo 1 for overview. Look close and you’ll see I tied a string at front and back of each hole to track where wires should be.
Holes 1 and 2 have grey conduit.
I’ve dug all around and hole 3 you’ll see white conduit (this is the same conduit that runs into our pump house for the water).
Surely the electrical isn’t below the water?
Photo 1 for overview. Look close and you’ll see I tied a string at front and back of each hole to track where wires should be.
Holes 1 and 2 have grey conduit.
I’ve dug all around and hole 3 you’ll see white conduit (this is the same conduit that runs into our pump house for the water).
Surely the electrical isn’t below the water?
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We tried that. Neither side will budge. Seems like there should be SOME play.
Being in the ground for 30 years. Nothing obvious. I'm in earthquake country, so it's likely the earth moved around a bit since the conduit was laid.
Water! Just make sure all power is off and then force water into the conduit; an old electrician's secret. Water is the universal solvent and a pretty good lubricant, too! Conduit likely has some dirt or debris inside wedging the wiring in place. Sounds unusual, but I've watched many seasoned sparkies employ water to free obstinate cables. Good idea to flush further after wire is out with more water and compressed air or vacuum till dry before re-pulling new conductors.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,353
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
They ran the light connection to a different location and later built the pool house and needed to reroute it. Someone too lazy pot pull out the wire and lay new conduit to the new location.
Sure glad we didn’t just keep pulling!
As soon as he cut the pinch out of the pvc the wires pulled through quite easily.
The “pinch” area wasn’t even cracked. So it had to have been done with a heat gun, and with the wire already in it.
The only reason I can come up with why someone would do such is
1. meanness.
2. electrician wanted to ensure they had to be called to redo when the light went bad.
Craziness!
As soon as he cut the pinch out of the pvc the wires pulled through quite easily.
The “pinch” area wasn’t even cracked. So it had to have been done with a heat gun, and with the wire already in it.
The only reason I can come up with why someone would do such is
1. meanness.
2. electrician wanted to ensure they had to be called to redo when the light went bad.
Craziness!
Update: thanks everyone!
After the paint fiasco, cutting through the red tape of the City to get a hydrant meter, and obtaining permission to close the street so the hose can’t be run over, digging up our yard to find a crimp in the pvc, tomorrow we fill er up!
After the paint fiasco, cutting through the red tape of the City to get a hydrant meter, and obtaining permission to close the street so the hose can’t be run over, digging up our yard to find a crimp in the pvc, tomorrow we fill er up!
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Well it is DONE and about ready to go!!! What a weird path this one took!!! Can't wait to see it full of fun times!
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