Grounding an installed pool light

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J

jefski

Gold Supporter
Aug 7, 2021
19
Monticello, IN 47960
Our Pentair light niche is supposed to have a ground wire from the electrical panel to a lug on the inside of the niche. I have an electrician lined up to install the wire, but Pentair calls for 3M Potting Kit 2136 (or equivalent) to seal the connection. 2136 specifies that it needs to cure 4 hours before submersion. Anyone know of a seal we can use that won't require draining 2+ feet of water?
Thanks.
 
From one manufacturer's website:
Pool light potting compound can be used on a variety of applications, including pool, spa, and fountain lighting fixtures. Using swimming pool light potting compound can waterproof electrical wires and connections to ensure the lights in your spa, pool, or fountain don't get damaged from water.
If applied underwater, moisture would be sealed in and defeat the purpose.
 
jefski said:
Our Pentair light niche is supposed to have a ground wire from the electrical panel to a lug on the inside of the niche. I have an electrician lined up to install the wire, but Pentair calls for 3M Potting Kit 2136 (or equivalent) to seal the connection. 2136 specifies that it needs to cure 4 hours before submersion. Anyone know of a seal we can use that won't require draining 2+ feet of water?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
That is a bond, not a ground, wire. The ground wire is in the cable that runs to the light. Needs to be 8gauge copper. It will extend to the lug in the light junction box.
 
1poolman1 said:
That is a bond, not a ground, wire.
Click to expand...
The wire is called a bonding jumper because it bonds the niche to the junction box but the purpose is grounding.

The wire is an equipment grounding conductor (EGC) (aka a ground wire).

It is a supplemental equipment grounding conductor to address the small ground wire included with the light.

The ground wire included in the light cord is considered to be too small and the added ground wire was done as an alternative to requiring the manufacturers to increase the size of the ground wire in the light cord.

The niche should be bonded from the outside.

Rust from pool light ground wire

I had new Hayward Pool Light (non LED) installed last year. Shortly after, I noticed a streak of rust stains appearing above the light. The streak is easily cleaned with Vitamin C powder in a sock and being doing that every two - three weeks. I finally removed the light from the Niche to see...
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Last edited:
jefski said:
Our Pentair light niche is supposed to have a ground wire from the electrical panel to a lug on the inside of the niche.
Click to expand...
The ground goes from the junction box to the niche.

Do you have 120 volt lights or low voltage lights?

Do you have a junction box?

Do you have a low voltage transformer?
 
The inside wire is sometimes listed as a bonding/grounding wire or a bonding jumper which makes it easy to confuse it with the bonding wire, which is connected at the back of the niche to the bonding lug.

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JamesW said:
The ground goes from the junction box to the niche.

Do you have 120 volt lights or low voltage lights?

Do you have a junction box?

Do you have a low voltage transformer?
Click to expand...
120V. No j-box between the light and the electrical panel, and no transformer.
We've been experiencing some powdery material on the light, and Pentair said we should add the ground wire. It was left off by the initial installer. I have to hope that they installed the bond on the outside lug.

20220510_140823.jpg
 
I recall from your other thread that you might be having a stray current issue.

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www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 

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Bonding of light niche

I am confused on the bonding of my light niche. I bonded the exterior lug with the 8 gauge wire to the exterior equipotential grid. This picture looks like there is a separate bonding inside the light. Is that one just part of the chord light or another bare copper wire? Which copper wire serves...
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JamesW said:
Are you 100% sure that there is no J-box?

How far from the light to the panel?

Can you show a picture of the inside of the niche?

Is the ground lug still in good condition?

Does it look like the ground lug was ever used?
Click to expand...
Yes, we had the light replaced twice (this installer didn't seem to know about the ground either). It's a continuous cable that's factory sealed to the light and the only connection is at the breaker panel. I worked in the electrical industry for about 40 years, I'm confident about this one.
 
Is the light conduit PVC or metal?

Did the pool pass the electrical inspection?

Can you show the light conduit where it goes up to the panel and the light cord where it connects in the panel?
 
jefski said:
Yes, we had the light replaced twice (this installer didn't seem to know about the ground either). It's a continuous cable that's factory sealed to the light and the only connection is at the breaker panel. I worked in the electrical industry for about 40 years, I'm confident about this one.
Click to expand...
Your other question: I estimate about 60-65 feet of conduit. And here's a drawing of our niche. 20220519_110621.jpg
 
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