Water in an electrical conduit

[kma_97]

Hi All,

My former pool pro replaced my old pool lights with Pentair Intellibrite 5Gs. I walked by the Pentair junction boxes (next to the power center) yesterday and noticed a few drops of water on one of the electrical conduits going into one of the junction boxes and ignored it thinking it’s probably from irrigation. Walked by it today and observed water again. I removed the top of the junction box and to my huge surprise noticed that that pipe with the wire from the light is full of water… I don’t think that water and electricity is a good combination…

What should I do? Do I call that guy and tell him to fix it? Is there a chance that it wasn’t his doing (logic suggest that it’s almost certainly his doing, otherwise he would have told me I got water in the conduit, but I may be wrong)?

Thank you in advance!

 

[mknauss]

The junction box should be a minimum of 12” above the highest water level in the pool. Is it?

 

[kma_97]

The junction box should be a minimum of 12” above the highest water level in the pool. Is it?

Don’t think so… Is it typical/expected to have water there?

 

[mknauss]

There should not be water there. Do the junction box is not that far above the water level?

 

[kma_97]

There should not be water there. Do the junction box is not that far above the water level?

As far as I can tell, it’s at about the same level as the pool

 

[mknauss]

That needs to be changed.

 

[kma_97]

That needs to be changed.

I can lift it above the pool level as close to 12” as wiring would allow. How do I solve the “water in the conduit” issue?

 

[1poolman1]

I can lift it above the pool level as close to 12” as wiring would allow. How do I solve the “water in the conduit” issue?

Light Cord Stopper - 3/4 Inch - New 12 Volt Installation​

There are various ones that accommodate the cord and bond wire. Ignore the 12v description. I have used these and they work well. Generally, a 12" rise is enough to account for surge when ones are swimming. They are listed on the poolweb website (no affiliation).
There is always water in the light conduit up to the level of the pool. We just don't want it to be pushed into the j-box. GFCI should have tripped unless it is a 12v installation. Might want to test it if the lights have been used in that condition.

 

[kma_97]

Light Cord Stopper - 3/4 Inch - New 12 Volt Installation​

There are various ones that accommodate the cord and bond wire. Ignore the 12v description. I have used these and they work well. Generally, a 12" rise is enough to account for surge when ones are swimming. They are listed on the poolweb website (no affiliation).
There is always water in the light conduit up to the level of the pool. We just don't want it to be pushed into the j-box. GFCI should have tripped unless it is a 12v installation. Might want to test it if the lights have been used in that condition.

Thank you! These light cord stopper (based on the description I found on pool web) are supposed to be installed in the light niche. Are you saying that I should move the junction box higher and cram that thing into the conduit at the junction box to prevent the water from entering the junction box? Maybe even add silicone on top?

 

[1poolman1]

Thank you! These light cord stopper (based on the description I found on pool web) are supposed to be installed in the light niche. Are you saying that I should move the junction box higher and cram that thing into the conduit at the junction box to prevent the water from entering the junction box? Maybe even add silicone on top?

I have always used two, one at each end, if there was water intrusion into a j-box. If you put silicone sealant on it the plug will just force its way out of the conduit (ask me how I know). They are a "friction fit" item.
You need to get the proper size. Most newer pool use 1" conduit for the light cord. The size should be on the conduit end in the j-box. If not there, 1" conduit (interior diameter) will measure about 1.25" on the outside. I just copied what was on the website first as a reference to what is available.

 

[kma_97]

I have always used two, one at each end, if there was water intrusion into a j-box. If you put silicone sealant on it the plug will just force its way out of the conduit (ask me how I know). They are a "friction fit" item.
You need to get the proper size. Most newer pool use 1" conduit for the light cord. The size should be on the conduit end in the j-box. If not there, 1" conduit (interior diameter) will measure about 1.25" on the outside. I just copied what was on the website first as a reference to what is available.

“ask me how I know”
Mine are 3/4”. Thank you!!!

 

[beakerlab]

Stopper didn’t work for my light niche leak. Pool Putty didn’t work either. Butyl tape stuffed into the conduit at the niche worked for me.

 

[kma_97]

Stopper didn’t work for my light niche leak. Pool Putty didn’t work either. Butyl tape stuffed into the conduit at the niche worked for me.

Just wrapped around the cord?

 

[kma_97]

If that's the case, why not J-B Weld Waterweld?

 

[ajw22]

If that's the case, why not J-B Weld Waterweld?

You need to be able to easily remove the plug the next time you need to replace the light.

 

[beakerlab]

Just wrapped around the cord?

Butyl tape is more of a sticky putty. It comes in a roll to make it efficient to apply in roofing applications.

 

[1poolman1]

Just wrapped around the cord?

You're not, to my knowledge, trying to stop a leak, just prevent surge from forcing water into the j-box. The plugs will do that. Butyl tape is great at stopping leaks right up until it comes time to replace the light.