Broken wire on pool light. What to do next?

[Mheadroom]

So my 120v light (likely original from 1995) was triggering the GFIC outlet.

I pulled the light, changed the bulb and still triggered.

I then changed the gasket, same.

I then pulled the bulb, let everything sit for an hour to ensure dry, and turned on without a bulb. Still triggered.

I then decided to just replace with a 12v light.

I cleared a bunch of silicone sealant from the niche and gave a tug. This is when the wire broke leaving about 5” exposed inside the niche. Im pretty sure there’s still some silicone deeper in the plumbing behind the niche.

Any ideas what else to do? I am getting some movement on the ground wire. Should I try pulling that with the line attached at the box? Any other ideas?

 

[ajw22]

@wireform @1poolman1 @Lake Placid ideas on dealing with a broken light wire stuck in the conduit?

 

[wireform]

I'd say the best chace to get out what's left is to pull it back to the junction box. Then I would tie off a nylon pull cord on the niche side and try to pull that back with the wire. Before giving it a go I'd load up the conduit with wire pull lube for the best outcome. I see no other choices here. In the five inches that's left I'd fold back on wire on Itself 11/2'' to hook the cord and flatten the hook part as best possible for least interference.

 

[Bill1974]

No easy fix other than what has been suggested. You may want to try pushing some wire or the end of a metal pull tape into the conduit from the niche side to see if you can break the silicone or whatever is holding the wire free.

If your conduit has broke off from your niche, make sure it has not shifted to much that the cable is pinched or going to get cut with more settling (likely to happen if there is any leak).

If all else fails there is alway digging and fixing the conduit. It's not as bad as you think unless it's encased in concrete.

 

[Mheadroom]

No easy fix other than what has been suggested. You may want to try pushing some wire or the end of a metal pull tape into the conduit from the niche side to see if you can break the silicone or whatever is holding the wire free.

If your conduit has broke off from your niche, make sure it has not shifted to much that the cable is pinched or going to get cut with more settling (likely to happen if there is any leak).

If all else fails there is alway digging and fixing the conduit. It's not as bad as you think unless it's encased in concrete.

Unfortunately it IS under a concrete patio

Hoping it’s just more silo me that I can get out. Will keep working at it. Otherwise I’m just going to pop back in the broken light and tell everyone it’s just for decorative purposes.

 

[ajw22]

Are you pouring a lubricant into the conduit?

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/b00040204/

 

[Bill1974]

Nothing wrong with leaving it broke. I barely use my light and it's been more work than enjoyment than I have got out of it. I have dug up mine twice, once to fix it and other time to replace the niche when I was getting a new liner. I hopefully forever fixed it by welding a pipe coupling on to the niche (much more solid than the brazed on nut the niche comes with). So even if the conduit fails I can still seal around the cord with a liquid tight cord grip.

 

[Mheadroom]

Thanks all for the advice and I managed to get it fixed.

In the end, there was about 3” of additional silicone in the pipe behind the niche.

I tied a thin string to the ground wire at the panel and then worked to slowly pull the ground from the box. (Didn’t use the string but figured it was good to have just in case)

Once I got the ground trough, I was able to dislodge some of the sealant from the sides of the wall. I then gripped the small amount of wire I had left on the main cord and got it to pull out a bit.

I had attached poly pull tape on the panel end of the cords so was able to pull another line. This worked well and as I pulled the main cord into the pool, pulled out the rest of the sealant with it.

Once the tape was through, it was easy to pull back the new cord. Sealed everything up with butyl tape and think we’re good.

Took a bunch of hours and a ton of swearing but the 12v light is now in and working well!