So I am new to pool ownership, but I'll try to provide accurate details...
About a month after purchasing a home with inground pool here in Houston, the pool light went out. I am fairly handy, so I read up a little then 'dove in'. The fixture came out easily enough and I noticed that it was 1/3 full with water...a leak I assume in the seal. Upon disassembling the light fixture (Amerlite SAM changing color light), I see the resin in the back of the lamp is broken. Before I buy a new light fixture, I want to pull the cord out to measure the length I'll need on the new light. I tied a string to one end, clipped the old cable at the lamp fixture, removed the wire nuts and the j-box for that light and pulled. No luck...not an inch. I am able to slide a fish wire from the j-box end for about 40 feet. From the pool side, I reached in the wet niche and inserted the fish...it only slid in about 4-6 inches.
SO...what could be stopping the fish wire? I would think that's probably the location of the cable being stuck but not sure. I haven't drained the pool to be able to clearly look in there and I'd rather not. I can't find good data on wet niches...is there typically a wire clamp on the back side of the niche? It's a Pentair wet niche(metal).
Other info: I felt a rubbery substance that the cable goes through in the back of the niche...it came out of the hole in the niche easily. Feels like it was some kind of seal or plug, but I assume the conduit is supposed to take on water?
Second question, there was crumbling substance around the niche ground wire (inside the niche). Does that matter? Do I need to replace whatever was applied over the ground wire/screw? And if so, is there anything that works while there's water in there?
Thanks! I'm about at wits end on this silly cable and just need someone with experience to share what they know or have seen!
About a month after purchasing a home with inground pool here in Houston, the pool light went out. I am fairly handy, so I read up a little then 'dove in'. The fixture came out easily enough and I noticed that it was 1/3 full with water...a leak I assume in the seal. Upon disassembling the light fixture (Amerlite SAM changing color light), I see the resin in the back of the lamp is broken. Before I buy a new light fixture, I want to pull the cord out to measure the length I'll need on the new light. I tied a string to one end, clipped the old cable at the lamp fixture, removed the wire nuts and the j-box for that light and pulled. No luck...not an inch. I am able to slide a fish wire from the j-box end for about 40 feet. From the pool side, I reached in the wet niche and inserted the fish...it only slid in about 4-6 inches.
SO...what could be stopping the fish wire? I would think that's probably the location of the cable being stuck but not sure. I haven't drained the pool to be able to clearly look in there and I'd rather not. I can't find good data on wet niches...is there typically a wire clamp on the back side of the niche? It's a Pentair wet niche(metal).
Other info: I felt a rubbery substance that the cable goes through in the back of the niche...it came out of the hole in the niche easily. Feels like it was some kind of seal or plug, but I assume the conduit is supposed to take on water?
Second question, there was crumbling substance around the niche ground wire (inside the niche). Does that matter? Do I need to replace whatever was applied over the ground wire/screw? And if so, is there anything that works while there's water in there?
Thanks! I'm about at wits end on this silly cable and just need someone with experience to share what they know or have seen!