Pentair Light leaking

[PebblePool]

So, I got my pool re-modeled (Nov. 2016) and the contractor disassembled the light and re-assembled it, he said that he replaced the gasket when he did. He obviously did not because the gasket is cruddy and the light is full of algae. I've e-mailed him, but I figure since this is Florida and he got paid, he is done with it.

I'm planning on cleaning up the light and putting a new gasket in myself, however I can't find out what gasket to buy.

Its a Pentair.
It says
E41117
No. V-911688
Label #98700600

 

[gwegan]

Call Inyo pools. 407 834 2200. They will determine the correct gasket over the phone.

 

[peterl1365]

Most likely, the Pentair gaskets are stocked at Leslie's Pool. I don't know if there are any non-standard Pentair/Amerilite gaskets, but it is of course possible.

Buying online/phone is probably a hair cheaper, but I think they're only 12 bucks at Leslie's, so it might be more convenient.

 

[PebblePool]

I'm going to give my pool remodeler a chance to make it right, before DIY. The socket has a bit of rust, but I can clean that out myself and install a gasket if the PB doesn't do the right thing. Right now I have it on the deck disassembled, light side down to dry out. Bummer he didn't replace the gasket when he said that he would, but I've learned not to get mad but give them a chance to make it right or file it under "lessons learned".

 

[PebblePool]

So, the pool builder blew me off, Go Figure. I cleaned the light out really good and put a new gasket and bulb in, and installed it in the pool. Being a pentair/amerilite it has one single stainless steel screw which screws it into the light niche. When I was screwing it in, it seemed quite tight, more than I would expect. I pulled out the light and checked for any place that it may be binding up, and nothing. I'm not sure if that screw it tight for a reason, or I'm doing something wrong. Leslies had the gasket and bulb in stock cheaper than amazon, so I got them there.

 

[PebblePool]

So, I found out that it isn't the gasket, after re-assembling the light 5 times. When I submerged it, air bubbles were coming from where the cord enters the light. I was surprised to see that, because the whole bottom of the light appears to be "potted" with some sort of resin. When they were re-modeling my pool, they left the light hanging by the cord, even though I kept putting it on the deck, and you can see where the cord pulled out about 1/8-1/4" from the bushing. I am hesitant to replace the light, because previous owners had epoxied the cord into the back of the light niche, so I figure it will be a PITA to get it out and re-run another. I figure that the light niche is epoxied because the metal conduit has rusted underground between the niche and junction box.

Would it be reasonable to re-seal that connection between the cord and bushing with some epoxy, RTV, or something else?

We seldom use the light, close to never. I don't figure its worth the 100W to have a light in my pool.

 

[chiefwej]

I sealed mine with Goop. You might find the same product labled a Shoe Goo. Check your local hardware store for it. It worked well for me.

 

[PebblePool]

So, I ended up using J-B Weld WaterWeld, and let it cure overnight.... I submerged my light, no bubbles from the cord entry. I finger tightened the retaining screw and I will pull it up in a few days to see if water entered the fixture.

Not sure how long this will last, I plan on trying to dig up the conduit, and see where the leak is that caused a previous owner to MacGyver the niche. My hope is to eventually replace the EMT conduit with PVC, and get rid of this unsightly j-box that is right next to my pool deck that I have to mow around all the time and bring it up to the back of my house (with a brand new light fixture and long cord).

I will update this thread once I pull it up after a few days to let y'all know the results.

 

[JamesW]

In my opinion, lights should never be repaired like this. They are electrical devices designed to be submerged in the pool.

This can be a serious safety issue.

I recommend that the light be disconnected or replaced.

 

[PebblePool]

I completely agree about "the right way". We never use the light, ever. I am just keeping water from entering the light and growing unsightly algae inside the light fixture.

Like I said in my post, I plan on finding out why a previous owner epoxied the light niche conduit entry. As I said earlier, I believe the EMT conduit is rusted underground where it connects to the niche causing the leak. I plan on digging it up over the next few weeks, and seeing where the leak is coming from. If I can free the EMT from the brass lead, then I'm home free. For all I know the brass lead is broken, or there is EMT directly connected to the niche. I'm not draining my pool, pulling that epoxy and existing cord out without determining where the leak is.

This is a 12V light, and I verified the ground, and there is a GFCI on the circuit before the transformer. If it was 120VAC, I would have disconnected it at the breaker and j-box.

In my opinion, lights should never be repaired like this. They are electrical devices designed to be submerged in the pool.

This can be a serious safety issue.

I recommend that the light be disconnected or replaced.

 

[gwegan]

Again these light fixtures are not considered repairable.

I'm not there so I can't be sure what you have or what you did.

You need to understand that low voltage lights do not have GFCI protection. While there may be a GFCI outlet or breaker upstream it only provides protection up to the primary side of the transformer. The secondary (or here low voltage side) is NOT protected by the GFCI. Its just physics, the current differential that trips a GFCI will not run back through the transformer to the GFCI. While 15 volt low voltage current may not be as "powerful" as 110 current that does not mean its not a safety issue. The ground may be in working order but grounds on the secondary side of a transformer will not necessarily trip the breaker in the event of a fault.