Old standard Amerlite, 120 incandescent, standard base, stainless steel shell, 8-3/8 in. prismatic tempered glass lens, and chrome face ring with uni-tension clamps.
I haven't used the light for several years, long story why, but short version; GFCI cranky and I haven't needed to plug anything in to GFCI as have more convenient power sources. I, also, thought the bulb was burnt out. 2007 developed a major leak requiring many gallons a day to keep water up to level during human swim season (dogs can handle cold water year round though). I'm embarrassed to report my monthly water bill.
I did have someone come out mid summer but he was unsuccessful and had trouble getting him back. Finally, late Fall 2007, got TWO different different pool guys out to find the leak. One had me do measurements and different things over a week period to try to locate where leak was. Long story short, it was not at equipment and I couldn't find any leaks throughout the summer using red dye even near the light. (Lesson learned ...... take light out of socket to check for leaks behind light, which I didn't do.)
Early winter a retired pool guy, friend of friend, told me it sounded like the leak was behind the light as the water leveled out about 3" above the bottom of light. As it was getting into winter I let the water level go down, closed pool, and watched it fill with leaves and everything else, water going from light green, to dark green, to dark brown. Spring 2008 we had a very successful frog pond with thousands of tadpoles and then hundreds of leopard frogs, along with a sudden increase of copperheads which we are still battling. (We still catch 2-3 a week within 10 feet of house and Mastiff puppy just got his second bite last night on face. Each Labradoodle has had one each on paws.)
I digress, as usual.
Last summer, 2008, after all frogs had left pool, I drained the pool, fixed the leak behind light, and did an acid wash with the help of (girl) friend who was visiting for a few weeks. Right at the end of our "fun job" I slipped and fell, stupidly walking down slope to deep end prior to washing the baking soda off the decline (very slick), tearing a shoulder rotator tendon. We did get the pool filled back up and going but I was in no condition to do anything about the light.
This summer I flipped the switch on light and low and behold it came on. Someone had used a flat bladed screw driver to push the button in on GFCI so power had been going to light. When I found this I immediately tripped it because I was unsure of it's safety.
This week I replaced the GFCI and the new light gasket arrived (and an LED replacement bulb), cleaned up the stainless shell, lens, and soaked the brass clips and stainless clip screws in vinegar. Everything is sparkling except for the lenses faceplate. The ring looks okay on outside but was caked with all kinds of corrosion and pitting around the indention where gasket fits in to it on back side. The "pitting" is like tiny cracks in the finish going across the indention all the way around. BTW... the old gasket was fused tightly to the shell and face ring. It took me a couple of hours to clean the residue left using Krud Kutter and lots of elbow grease.
I tried, unsuccessfully, to get everything back together but it is such a tight fit and I didn't use lube or locking wrenches.
I've now located my lube and locking wrenches to clamp it while putting little clamps back on. I really want to get this back together and into niche as I can't run the Polaris with light out of pool.
Question******* Will the lube and new gasket give a good enough seal until I can get a new face plate? I really don't want to put the effort in to assembling it if there is no chance that it will give a good seal. Pool guys make it look so easy. I haven't been able to "leave the ranch" all week to purchase one "locally" and may not be able to today.
Another Question****** If the new gasket does keep water out will a few days in old face plate damage it enough so that I need a new gasket with the new face plate when I can get it?
I just read here on board to put silicon around nut where line goes in to shell. So glad I found that. It seems that about 15 years ago I had the shell and cord replaced but I think this is the original face plate, circa 1981, and possibly original gasket. I've had pool guys replace bulb a few times over the years when they were out here doing some repair I didn't want to tackle but didn't watch them closely as they were taking light apart and reassembling. BTW... Light is very basic, no timer, but I did have a dusk to dawn "eye" added to it years ago. Until I started adding low voltage lighting all over the place, several years ago (on going project), we kept the light on all night but don't need that now.
Thanks for any advice. geekgranny
I haven't used the light for several years, long story why, but short version; GFCI cranky and I haven't needed to plug anything in to GFCI as have more convenient power sources. I, also, thought the bulb was burnt out. 2007 developed a major leak requiring many gallons a day to keep water up to level during human swim season (dogs can handle cold water year round though). I'm embarrassed to report my monthly water bill.
I did have someone come out mid summer but he was unsuccessful and had trouble getting him back. Finally, late Fall 2007, got TWO different different pool guys out to find the leak. One had me do measurements and different things over a week period to try to locate where leak was. Long story short, it was not at equipment and I couldn't find any leaks throughout the summer using red dye even near the light. (Lesson learned ...... take light out of socket to check for leaks behind light, which I didn't do.) Early winter a retired pool guy, friend of friend, told me it sounded like the leak was behind the light as the water leveled out about 3" above the bottom of light. As it was getting into winter I let the water level go down, closed pool, and watched it fill with leaves and everything else, water going from light green, to dark green, to dark brown. Spring 2008 we had a very successful frog pond with thousands of tadpoles and then hundreds of leopard frogs, along with a sudden increase of copperheads which we are still battling. (We still catch 2-3 a week within 10 feet of house and Mastiff puppy just got his second bite last night on face. Each Labradoodle has had one each on paws.)
I digress, as usual.
Last summer, 2008, after all frogs had left pool, I drained the pool, fixed the leak behind light, and did an acid wash with the help of (girl) friend who was visiting for a few weeks. Right at the end of our "fun job" I slipped and fell, stupidly walking down slope to deep end prior to washing the baking soda off the decline (very slick), tearing a shoulder rotator tendon. We did get the pool filled back up and going but I was in no condition to do anything about the light.This summer I flipped the switch on light and low and behold it came on. Someone had used a flat bladed screw driver to push the button in on GFCI so power had been going to light. When I found this I immediately tripped it because I was unsure of it's safety.
This week I replaced the GFCI and the new light gasket arrived (and an LED replacement bulb), cleaned up the stainless shell, lens, and soaked the brass clips and stainless clip screws in vinegar. Everything is sparkling except for the lenses faceplate. The ring looks okay on outside but was caked with all kinds of corrosion and pitting around the indention where gasket fits in to it on back side. The "pitting" is like tiny cracks in the finish going across the indention all the way around. BTW... the old gasket was fused tightly to the shell and face ring. It took me a couple of hours to clean the residue left using Krud Kutter and lots of elbow grease.
I tried, unsuccessfully, to get everything back together but it is such a tight fit and I didn't use lube or locking wrenches.
I've now located my lube and locking wrenches to clamp it while putting little clamps back on. I really want to get this back together and into niche as I can't run the Polaris with light out of pool.
Question******* Will the lube and new gasket give a good enough seal until I can get a new face plate? I really don't want to put the effort in to assembling it if there is no chance that it will give a good seal. Pool guys make it look so easy. I haven't been able to "leave the ranch" all week to purchase one "locally" and may not be able to today.
Another Question****** If the new gasket does keep water out will a few days in old face plate damage it enough so that I need a new gasket with the new face plate when I can get it?
I just read here on board to put silicon around nut where line goes in to shell. So glad I found that. It seems that about 15 years ago I had the shell and cord replaced but I think this is the original face plate, circa 1981, and possibly original gasket. I've had pool guys replace bulb a few times over the years when they were out here doing some repair I didn't want to tackle but didn't watch them closely as they were taking light apart and reassembling. BTW... Light is very basic, no timer, but I did have a dusk to dawn "eye" added to it years ago. Until I started adding low voltage lighting all over the place, several years ago (on going project), we kept the light on all night but don't need that now.
Thanks for any advice. geekgranny
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