PoolTone Problems!!!!!!!!

[jsimonkeller]

So, like many others on this site, I was tired of the short life of my pentair LED lights and made the switchover to PoolTone. I got the NICHELESS 1 1/2 INCH (SMALL FACE) POOL OR SPA LIGHT and installed them about 18 months ago. The spa light stopped working about 2 months ago and then two of the pool lights went out.

I went back to Florida SunSeeker and they offered me a discount on the replacements, so I said OK and ordered them up. I was out today pulling the old lights out and to my shock and dismay, they lights have basically disintegrated!!!!! It smells like built plastic and the spa one just came apart while trying to remove it. Here are some photos (first two are the larger pool light and the next one is what's left of the SPA light and the hole it came out of). WHAT A MESS!!!!



How is this possible and am I the only one experiencing this problem? It would seem this would be a huge issue for the community if it was happening to everyone, which leads me to the question of "what did I do wrong here?" If I decide to replace the lights with the same brand instead of returning them, what can I do to prevent this from happening again? Wrap the lights in better insulation tape? Use a silicone caulk on it?
Should I go back to Pentair? Their lights generally suck, but they don't explode or melt . . . .

 

[mknauss]

Be sure to send those pictures to them.

Pentair has improved their Globrite they say. Might consider getting those.

 

[jsimonkeller]

Thanks. I sent these over to the PoolTone support email, so we will see. I am definitely considering going back to Pentair before I put new lights in so I don't have to go through this again.

 

[ajw22]

Only accept Globrites with a 2024 manufacturing date and a blue gasket and black end cap.

Pentair LED Pool Lights - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[jsimonkeller]

So now that I removed those crappy Pool Tone wannabe and dangerous GloBrite replacements that melted inside the pipe (PoolTone Problems!!!!!!!!) I have removed what's left of them and the debris and carnage they left behind.

Unfortunately the GloBrite sleeve has melted leaving a hole!!!! I bought an underwater camera to take this pic:



There is no way to access the backside of the sleeve and there is cement above the pipes surrounding the pool. Any thoughts on an underwater fix for this pipe at this point and how I will ever get a light back into this slot ever again?

I turned off the pump and was able to fill this pipe hole with some flex silicone tape to keep the pool from leaking completely down to the level of this light hole for now . . . . man I want to punch the Pool Tone folks in the face.... or just sue them.

 

[ajw22]

There are ways of fixing the hole in the pipe but I doubt you can get the dimensions of the pipe back to where a nicheless light will slide in.

Let's see if any of the pros have ideas - @1poolman1 @Lake Placid @JamesW @98Poolmaster

What has Florida Sunseekers told you or offered you?

There have been other threads about Microbrites and Globrites melting but yours is the first to have made a hole in the pipe.

 

[JamesW]

UL Listing required?

When replacing a light fixture that is in a wet niche, is the new fixture required to be UL Listed? I'm considering a fixture from sunseeker, but it is not UL. I would really like to go with the SS fixture, but don't want to do something wrong.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[JamesW]

In my opinion, low voltage transformers should include a GFCI Circuit Breaker..

 

[jsimonkeller]

Florida Sunseeker has offered me nothing really. I had actually purchased new ones to replace the ones that went out, but once I pulled them out and realized the severity of the damage, I called them and they did not act surprised and just refunded the money to me on the new lights I had not yet installed. I emailed Pool Tone with NO response.

I may just have to go through this process and see how much my pool company charges to lower the pool water, brace the fiberglass pool and then repair the hole.

I agree about the likelihood of reusing the the same niche again. My only option may be to do what I am trying to do in the SPA, which also melted the pipe. I was able to basically get the GloBrite niche out by destroying the rest of the pipe from inside with a drill and the MicroBrite niche (below) is shorter in size and can attach to a 1.5" pipe and go through the same 2 inch hole in the fiberglass. It will be water tight around the niche with some good waterproof bonding agent, but not sure if when the microbrite is screwed in with some plumbing silicone tape if that part will be water tight since the inside will not be a continuous closed pipe with this janky fix.

 

[JamesW]

MicroBrite light melted

Anyone have this type of issue with a microbrite? Curious as to potential causes. Light is about 2 years old.

www.troublefreepool.com

Pentair Microbrite Caught on Fire - Wire Stuck in PVC

I’ve been waiting for a pool company to come out to replace a Microbrite since the item was on backorder. They came out yesterday, and when they pulled they pulled the light out, the back was completely melted and caught fire. Since the wire separated from the head of the light it was too far...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[jsimonkeller]

So what your saying is that all of these lights will potentially melt and disintegrate . . . . that's not awesome.

 

[jsimonkeller]

Good morning. So I was wondering about cutting into the fiberglass to fix this pipe issue in the light hole on my spa. When the original light sleeve was installed a 2" hole was cut into the fiberglass. This 2" hole will not allow me to fix my problem, as I will need the hole to be large enough to get my hand into the area behind the fiberglass wall to clear out rocks and reach the 1" pipe and be able to make a secure connection to the sleeve (sort of the size of the area in black putty around the PVC pipe). After making the repair, I assume I could seal a piece of something (plastic material like the sleeve is made of) to cover this entire larger opening with a 2" hole in this to feed the sleeve through. When I mentioned this to the pool company, they made a face and said water will always leak out of the pool. I am not sure I understand the difference between the leak danger of the original 2" hole that was cut into the fiberglass vs. a larger hole (3"-4") in diameter as long as everything is properly sealed back up. I wondered what thoughts you all had, since this site has always been infinitely more helpful to me than my pool company

 

[ajw22]

Talk to companies who repair fiberglass boats. The fiberglass can be repaired if you know how to do it.

You have enough lakes around Nashville and fiberglass boats have accidents that punch holes in them for there to be some boat repair shops around.

 

[JamesW]

Become a TFP Supporter

Help Support TFP Trouble Free Pool is run by a dedicated group of volunteers that … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com