Expensive mistake

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PuyRobin

PuyRobin

Member
Apr 9, 2024
21
Puy Robin, 79310 La Boissière-en-Gâtine
Hello from rainy France...
Think I may have made a mistake with my pool lights bought!

I'm refurbishing our pool, its concrete with a fiberglass skin, anyways how do I seal the cable?
Is there a fitting I can get that will seal around the cable or one I can pass the cable through?

As we are only in the planning stage all ideas welcome

Regards
Chris
 

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Welcome to TFP! :wave: So it sounds like you are concerned about ensuring the new hole(s) you drill for the light cable will be sealed to prevent water from leaking out correct? Good question as most of the time I'm used to seeing a small size conduit inserted through the wall to carry the cable that eventually goes back to the equipment pad (power source) that is mounted about 2-3 ft above the waterline. That way water getting into the conduit isn't a problem. But if you are hoping to simply slip the cable through the wall by itself, I would suspect either a good quality polyurethane sealant or perhaps some sort of pool butyl plug may be in order.

Let's reach out to AQUA~HOLICS for some thoughts. Perhaps there's a simple solution. Stand by for more info and replies.
 
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Texas Splash said:
Welcome to TFP! :wave: So it sounds like you are concerned about ensuring the new hole(s) you drill for the light cable will be sealed to prevent water from leaking out correct? Good question as most of the time I'm used to seeing a small size conduit inserted through the wall to carry the cable that eventually goes back to the equipment pad (power source) that is mounted about 2-3 ft above the waterline. That way water getting into the conduit isn't a problem. But if you are hoping to simply slip the cable through the wall by itself, I would suspect either a good quality polyurethane sealant or perhaps some sort of pool butyl plug may be in order.

Let's reach out to AQUA~HOLICS for some thoughts. Perhaps there's a simple solution. Stand by for more info and replies.
Click to expand...
Bonjour,
Yes thats what I need to know the best way to do this ?

Chris
 
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I think you should run the cable through a light conduit that is sealed until above the water line to a pool light junction box that is at least 18” above the water level and 4 feet from the pool.

Then seal the hole around the light wire with pool putty.

This assumes the hole will eventually leak and the light conduit may get flooded.
 
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ajw22 said:
I think you should run the cable through a light conduit that is sealed until above the water line to a pool light junction box that is at least 18” above the water level and 4 feet from the pool.

Then seal the hole around the light wire with pool putty.

This assumes the hole will eventually leak and the light conduit may get flooded.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply,
I understand the need of keeping the conduit above the waterline, my concern is how to seal the conduit to the concrete/fiberglass. I was hoping there would be a mechanical type of fixing to seal it.
Yes the putty sound a good idea just worried if water leaks between the fiberglass and concrate.

Chris
 
PuyRobin said:
Thank you for your reply,
I understand the need of keeping the conduit above the waterline, my concern is how to seal the conduit to the concrete/fiberglass. I was hoping there would be a mechanical type of fixing to seal it.
Yes the putty sound a good idea just worried if water leaks between the fiberglass and concrate.

Chris
Click to expand...
The fixture is normally cemented in place with hydraulic cement. Not sure how that would work with a fiberglass shell in the mix.
 
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PuyRobin said:
I understand the need of keeping the conduit above the waterline, my concern is how to seal the conduit to the concrete/fiberglass. I was hoping there would be a mechanical type of fixing to seal it.
Click to expand...

The mechanical method for sealing is using a gasket behind the light that forms a seal with a fiberglass shell.

For concrete pools hydraulic cement is packed around the conduit penetration and then plaster to complete the water proofing.

You can do one or the other or both on your concrete/fiberglass structure.
 

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ajw22 said:
The mechanical method for sealing is using a gasket behind the light that forms a seal with a fiberglass shell.
Click to expand...
Thank you for taking the time to reply,
I'm not sure I understand how I can use a gasket with the lights I have - they just hang on a bracket, this is my worry with concerns leaking between the fiberglass and conduit into the concrete.

Chris
 
PuyRobin said:
I'm not sure I understand how I can use a gasket with the lights I have - they just hang on a bracket, this is my worry with concerns leaking between the fiberglass and conduit into the concrete.
Click to expand...

Those are cheap lights that are not well designed and leave those mounting problems to you.

Hayward, Pentair, or Jandy would never sell a light designed like that to pool builders.

The light manufacturer does not care that your pool may leak water. They already got your money.
 
ajw22 said:
Those are cheap lights that are not well designed and leave those mounting problems to you.

Hayward, Pentair, or Jandy would never sell a light designed like that to pool builders.

The light manufacturer does not care that your pool may leak water. They already got your money.
Click to expand...
Hello,

yes I understand all this apart from the cheap bit, but keeping that in mind with all the knowledge this forum has to offer there has to be a solution or have I really made a big expensive mistake and the only fix is to forget about lighting the pool.

Chris
 
PuyRobin said:
Hello,

yes I understand all this apart from the cheap bit, but keeping that in mind with all the knowledge this forum has to offer there has to be a solution or have I really made a big expensive mistake and the only fix is to forget about lighting the pool.

Chris
Click to expand...

In my opinion, with a light like you have it is left to the installer to determine the best methods for installing the light.

I described the methods available to you above.

There are many things in construction where the solution needs to be engineered in the field. This is one of them.
 
ajw22 said:
In my opinion, with a light like you have it is left to the installer to determine the best methods for installing the light.

I described the methods available to you above.

There are many things in construction where the solution needs to be engineered in the field. This is one of them.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply,
I understand what you are saying that the solution needs to be engineered by the fitter, this is why I came to the forum for help. I'm not a pool builder or engineer only a diy-man. I'm looking for help so I can make the best solution, to do the job right.

Chris
 
tommelton said:
I hope that mounting bracket is either stainless steel, brass or plastic - otherwise if just steel/plated steel - you will see rust in no time. Also - the mounting screw will need to be stainless or brass as well.

Good luck - in getting the cable sealed.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply,
The mounting brackets are said to be stainless steel the same with the screws.

The cable is turning into a big nightmare something I should have taken into account before buying the lights.

Chris
 
PuyRobin said:
Thank you for your reply,
I understand what you are saying that the solution needs to be engineered by the fitter, this is why I came to the forum for help. I'm not a pool builder or engineer only a diy-man. I'm looking for help so I can make the best solution, to do the job right.
Click to expand...
and you got my best answer in what I would do in post #5.
 
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@PuyRobin, lots of replies already I see. But don't be discouraged just yet if some recommendations appear challenging. Let's give our field experts like @AQUA~HOLICS and perhaps @Poolbreh some time to see this thread. There advice may be the same as others provided, but you never know. Maybe there's another angle based on your scenario.
 

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