Spa Pool Light Burst?

[undrwater]

My daughter turned on the pool lights this past week, then discovered the spa looked "dirty" and the light wouldn't turn on.

See photos to find what I discovered.

The incandescent lights are on a GCFI circuit, and the main pool light will still light. They have separate switches. My intention is to pull the fixture when the water gets warmer (I will certainly throw the breaker).

It looks like the fixture has pushed out a bit from the wall. I THINK it was flush before, but can't be certain.

I guess my question is: is this a typical way for incandescent pool lights to fail? Anything else to watch out for?

 

[ajw22]

You need to pull out the light, open it up, and see what you find.

Post pics of what the open light looks like.

 

[1poolman1]

You can get an LED fixture to replace the incandescent bulb. Be sure to replace the gasket on that light if you open it. There are silicone gaskets that seal better and last longer for not much increase in price. Clean the lens, it is dark from the potting compound in the back of the light fixture gassing off and coating the lens.

 

[PoolGate]

Is that rust under the light?

 

[undrwater]

Is that rust under the light?

I don't think so. It looks like the reflection of the dirt that came out of the niche. I'll look at it more closely this weekend.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

The answer to your question is - No, that is not normal at all! If the light is pushed out like that and there is debris coming out, that is a fairly catastrophic failure and the entire light (bulb, housing and wiring) may be completely compromised. You only can change a bulb if the housing is in good condition. Otherwise, you have to pull a brand new light with wiring. Hopefully the niche is not damaged as well.

More information and pictures are needed when you can actually pull the light. If it’s the spa, you can drain the spa easily to get to the light. If it’s the pool, then you’ll have to wait until the water is warmer.

Make sure all the lights are cut off at the breaker. No power to the lights until you figure out what’s going on.

 

[undrwater]

Yeah. The whole thing blew up. I suspect the clips holding the seal deteriorated, causing the seal to fail. Water ingress, electricity, BOOM!
Looking at prices for fixtures with wiring, it appears to be $200-$400 depending on features.

I'd like to just pull the wire for now, and replace the lens (it's fine) until we feel we need a spa light again. Anyone see any issues with that? I've attached a pic of the box by the pool, but I only see one pool cord there, so I think I'm missing one, or one of them doesn't have a relief. Any ideas?

 

[ajw22]

Just disconnect the wires at the junction box and reassemble the fixture and install it back.

You want to use the old wire as a pull cord for new wire eventually. If you pull the old wire out it will be difficult ever getting a new wire in.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

DO NOT PULL THE WIRE!

As @ajw22 said leave everything there until you are really ready to replace the light and disconnect the electrical at the junction box for safety. If you pull the wire now you’ll never get a new wire in there.

 

[undrwater]

Ahh. My intent was to pull with a network cable or similar. I wasn't going to pull without something to pull it back! ;-)

My question is: I have two lights for the pool. The main light, and the Spa light. I can't tell which one is there in the junction box with the relief. Am i correct that the wires coming from the right are the load? I suppose the spa's wire could be at the switch. That's a shorter run. I'll look tomorrow.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Can you get a better picture of all the lights and switches involved as well as the junction boxes? The junction box you are showing only has one wire run connected to it. You need to sort out where all the pool light wire runs come up out of the ground and to what witches they are connected.

 

[undrwater]

Can you get a better picture of all the lights and switches involved as well as the junction boxes? The junction box you are showing only has one wire run connected to it. You need to sort out where all the pool light wire runs come up out of the ground and to what witches they are connected.

I was walking around taking strategic pictures that showed the lights, the junction box, and the switch so I could post here. Well...I noticed something out of the corner of my eye (hidden behind a large plant pot). Lo and behold! The other junction box!

Got the spa disconnected, and I'll leave the cable there for if / when we decide to replace the fixture. Put labels on the wires too so I know what goes to what.

Thanks so much for the help everyone!!

 

[mknauss]

Thanks so much for the help everyone!!

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