Apparent slow leak through pool light connection

[jtown]

Hi,

First time posting here, although I've learned a lot through the various forums.

About a week ago, I noticed a wet spot on the ground between our pool and equipment area. After digging up the wet area, I found a slow leak (a drip every few seconds). It's coming out of the conduit in which the cable for the pool light runs (see picture, pool is to the right). The pool light still works fine.

We have a standard Pentair light fixture. Is there some sort of seal that goes around the electrical cable that might need to be replaced? (I attached a picture of the light cavity.) Would I have to drain some water to do that?

I'm not ready to replace the conduit, as that would require removing our pool deck, something we're not planning on redoing for a few years.

I could just seal up the end of the conduit with silicone where I dug it up.

Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

 

[PoolguyinCT]

Order a "cordstopper" & have the conduit repaired pronto, conduit is for your protection..
& that's a great photo- " pipe crossing" is bad practice, hence the failure.

 

[jtown]

Order a "cordstopper" & have the conduit repaired pronto, conduit is for your protection..
& that's a great photo- " pipe crossing" is bad practice, hence the failure.

Thanks for the recommendation. It looks like what I need.

One question, though, how do I get the cordstopper onto the cord?

 

[PoolguyinCT]

There is a slice in the stopper. Compression will close the slice around the cord.

 

[jtown]

Ok, sounds easy enough. Now I just need to measure the hole.

 

[duraleigh]

1. I was not aware that conduit from the niche needed to be waterproof.....in fact, I thought it was intended to be flooded.

2. Why do you think the threads came loose.

3. A "cordstopper" doesn't seem right to me but rather a repair in the conduit which will then flood (which it should) but not leak.

 

[PoolguyinCT]

1. I was not aware that conduit from the niche needed to be waterproof.....in fact, I thought it was intended to be flooded.

2. Why do you think the threads came loose.

3. A "cordstopper" doesn't seem right to me but rather a repair in the conduit which will then flood (which it should) but not leak.

Yes to the above points.

1. It is a "wet conduit."

2. I place my bet on thread failure to poor chemistry erosion conduit crossing over the lower pipe & lower pipe acting as a fulcrum. Granted I'm 100s or 1000s miles away so that's my guess.

3. cord stopper allows a conduit repair without draining pool.

 

[duraleigh]

So, I think I get it. The cordstopper essentially makes the conduit dry, even though it originally held water.

interesting choice of metal, threaded conduit instead of glued pvc.

 

[PoolguyinCT]

Correct, they are handy time & water savers for these repairs. Btw There is no mandate for conduits to be flooded either.

& I agree that is a wacky material for conduit - needs repair pronto.

 

[thelorib]

So would it be ok to put the cordstopper at the opening of the conduit?

 

[CJadamec]

Brass conduit for a pool light was allowed to be used as the bonding conductor. The conduit itself becomes the water bond.

The broken conduit should be repaired but I doubt its going to be easy. What ever you do DO NOT cut the wire for the light or you will be buying a whole new light fixture. You should also put a jumper between the bare copper bond wire in the trench to the brass conduit that's still left going to the pool.