ReAttach LED light to pool wall

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My spa LED light has been pulled off the wall by my pool robot. The wall screws have pulled out of the plastic frame on the pool wall.
Is it safe to empty my spawater into the pool or is there a risk of the walls collapsing, eg do I need to empty all water? My pool depth is about 1.5 on the opposing side.
Do I need to support the walls with timber across the spa?
The pool is approx 30 years old, what’s the best way to fix this, the plastic pool light wall frame has deteriorated and not sure what I need to reattach. Do I pull wall anchors in the concrete or is that a bad idea, or do I use some other kind of mount?

 

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By the way, obviously the new light is led and screwed into the existing plastic wall mount.
The light that is on the pool floors still has the wall mount attached. Can I simply mount that wall mount to the wall or does it need the new plastic frame to replace the one deteriorated

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

I don't see any problems with draining the spa and fixing the light...

I am a robot kind of guy, but I would not be putting a robot in the spa..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

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Thanks Jim. So there is no issues in drilling a hole in the concrete shell, putting in a wall anchor like below and screwing the light frame into it?

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[ajw22]

I would not drill a hole and put an anchor like that in the spa. I think it will create a path for water to leak through into the gunite shell. And depending on the type of screw the screw can rust.

How does the light manufacturer recommend the light be mounted?

 

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Hi @ajw22 actually I bought 3 new lights and one is not installed.,see attached they included wall plugs to drill into the shell and add it in.

 

[ajw22]

Those pictures make it clearer how the light mounts. Quadrant 3 seems to say that it expects to mount to make a seal against the pool flat wall and keep water from getting behind the light.



It looks to me like you had silicone around the light to seal it.

I think you need to remove all the old silicone and see how well the light sits against the wall. Then do your best to mount and seal the light so water does not get back to the mounting holes.

 

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I think there used to some plastic frame that once sat there that had deteriorated.
I can easily remove that but have a look at this photo of the new light. See all the holes, this allows water to flow behind the light I assume to keep it sanitised back there.
So ultimate question now to drill or not to drill? If I drill is there a way to seal the hole to stop any potential leaks?

 

[ajw22]

I can easily remove that but have a look at this photo of the new light. See all the holes, this allows water to flow behind the light I assume to keep it sanitised back there.

I can't tell from the pic if the holes go all the way through to let water behind the mount.

Explain why they say not to mount the light on an irregualr surface?

So ultimate question now to drill or not to drill? If I drill is there a way to seal the hole to stop any potential leaks?

I know of nowhere in a pool those type of mounting anchors are used underwater.

Screws screw into plastic fittings set into the plaster or have appropriate O rings or gaskets to prevent water leakage from around the screw holes. Your lights have none of those.

 

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I’d agree. Here are some more photos of new light. The little holes allow water to flow behind the light.

I’m wondering if what I see leftover in the pool is one of these - Aquaquip Pool light SM Rending Ring for Concrete Swimming Pools that has deteriorated over 30 years.

Which would tie into what your saying abount no holes to be drilled. Now I dont know if these new rings can be installed without ripping away the times and plaster?

 

[ajw22]

Now that I look closer I see plastic supports that I circled that say it was some type of light ring and not silicone seal.

I think you now understand how the light was mounted.

I would drain the pool and take a very close look at how the plastic ring interfaced with the tiles. Were the tiles laid over the outer rim of the ring?

I might buy the Aquaquip ring and see if your light fits it and how the ring fits onto the spa wall.

You are headed in the right direction but it will take some more study.

 

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Yep it’s definitely not silicone but some plastic mount that has deteriorated. I guess it took 30 years. The main pool mounts are in better condition but are going the same way.

So assuming the ring goes behind the tiles, is there any way to attach a new one without removing tiles? Can a replacement be glued into position after I cut out the old one (but without remove tiles)
Sorry for so many questions

 

[ajw22]

So assuming the ring goes behind the tiles, is there any way to attach a new one without removing tiles? Can a replacement be glued into position after I cut out the old one (but without remove tiles)
Sorry for so many questions

I would drain the pool and take a very close look at how the plastic ring interfaced with the tiles. Were the tiles laid over the outer rim of the ring?

I might buy the Aquaquip ring and see if your light fits it and how the ring fits onto the spa wall.

 

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Thanks! Ok I’m impatient now and have this on my mind. On Wednesday I plan to drain the spa fully (I can’t help but be worried that the pool being full will cause spa wall to collapse!)

I am fairly certain that the pool light wall ring is plastered into the spa wall, and it’s tiled over, meaning it is now impossible to remove it fully without pulling off tiles.
I’m also a little hesitant about drilling into the gunite concrete shell.
Could I cut out what I can see of the wall ring, and simply epoxy in a replacement (meaning it won’t be behind the render)?

Another option, could I drill the gunite shell and epoxy the hole and fully seal it and then screw into it?

 

[ajw22]

Could I cut out what I can see of the wall ring, and simply epoxy in a replacement (meaning it won’t be behind the render)?

You can try but I don't think it will hold up well.

Another option, could I drill the gunite shell and epoxy the hole and fully seal it and then screw into it?

All depends if you are confident you can fully seal it so no water leaks out around it.

 

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Ok so drained the spa. Interestingly the pipes between the spa return and pool skimmer suction seem to be connected - ie I drained spa and noticed water come in the spa return.
Is that normal?
Attached are pics of the wall. To me it looks rendered in?
Any thoughts as to a best way forward?