My pool is probably 30 years old (early 90's) and I'd guess the light fixtures are original. They were standard incandescent, and look like the fixtures I commonly see on You Tube videos. I have three lights - one in the spa and two in the pool. The pool lights had stopped working over the last couple of years. I had replaced the bulbs, but didn't replace the gaskets, so got some leakage, and they stopped working again.
Recently I ordered a couple of LED screw-in bulbs and new gaskets. I unwrapped one of the bulbs and tested it on one of the lights (after letting the fixture dry out). It worked! I sealed up the light and reinstalled it in the pool. (Didn't do the second bulb yet, as I wanted to make sure everything was hunky dory). Light worked great, for about 10 minutes. Then it flickered and went out.
Next day, took out the light and bulb. The housing wasn't wet inside that I could tell. I tested the bulb on a regular house lamp, and it worked fine - so not the bulb. Also tested regular bulbs in the housing. No light. So - something is up with the housing/fixture. I let it sit for a couple days to see if it needed to dry out or something, but still no light.
So, looks like I need to replace the fixture. Did using the LED bulb burn it out or something? I don't know.
Here's the thing: the company I bought the bulb from won't take it back because it's been unwrapped. So rather than buy a whole new pre-bulbed light fixture, I'd rather just buy an empty fixture and use this bulb in which I've invested about $75. Is this feasible? Does anyone sell JUST the fixture? Am I nuts to do that, and should I just start over with a new pre-bulbed fixture and see if anyone wants the unused-but-opened bulb on EBay? If I go that route, I'll do the same for the other fixture, so the lights are coordinated - at least I can return the second, unopened, bulb if I hurry. . . But if I can just replace the housing/fixture, then I can use both of the bulbs.
Thanks for any ideas/advice.
Recently I ordered a couple of LED screw-in bulbs and new gaskets. I unwrapped one of the bulbs and tested it on one of the lights (after letting the fixture dry out). It worked! I sealed up the light and reinstalled it in the pool. (Didn't do the second bulb yet, as I wanted to make sure everything was hunky dory). Light worked great, for about 10 minutes. Then it flickered and went out.
Next day, took out the light and bulb. The housing wasn't wet inside that I could tell. I tested the bulb on a regular house lamp, and it worked fine - so not the bulb. Also tested regular bulbs in the housing. No light. So - something is up with the housing/fixture. I let it sit for a couple days to see if it needed to dry out or something, but still no light.
So, looks like I need to replace the fixture. Did using the LED bulb burn it out or something? I don't know.
Here's the thing: the company I bought the bulb from won't take it back because it's been unwrapped. So rather than buy a whole new pre-bulbed light fixture, I'd rather just buy an empty fixture and use this bulb in which I've invested about $75. Is this feasible? Does anyone sell JUST the fixture? Am I nuts to do that, and should I just start over with a new pre-bulbed fixture and see if anyone wants the unused-but-opened bulb on EBay? If I go that route, I'll do the same for the other fixture, so the lights are coordinated - at least I can return the second, unopened, bulb if I hurry. . . But if I can just replace the housing/fixture, then I can use both of the bulbs.
Thanks for any ideas/advice.
