Wet niche grounding question

[neirbot]

During construction we're having done at our house, the conduit that connects the wet niche (pool light) to the junction box was damaged, requiring us to cut the green #8 ground wire and the lamp cable. The breaker for the lights has been turned off.

Obviously I will be repairing the conduit and running new wires (likely a new light too), however until then I'm wondering if the disconnected ground wire presents a safety problem for swimming (or for that matter, getting in the water to remove the light etc.).

Thanks.

 

[ajw22]

Was that niche providing the water bond for your pool? Often the wet light niche provides the required water bond.

 

[neirbot]

Was that niche providing the water bond for your pool? Often the wet light niche provides the required water bond.

All I know is that the green wire runs from the light niche to the deck junction box. I can only assume that the answer to your question is yes (and thus my concern).

 

[ajw22]

All I know is that the green wire runs from the light niche to the deck junction box. I can only assume that the answer to your question is yes (and thus my concern).

The green wire doesn’t provide the water bond. There would have been a bare copper wire from a bonding lug on the niche to the bonding grid.

Is the niche metal or plastic?

 

[neirbot]

I still need to determine if the niche is metal or plastic, but I would assume that either would be connected to the bonding grid (the plastic ones via a metal strip connected to the interior and exterior bonding lugs).

 

[JamesW]

The green wire is a supplemental ground. It's not a problem as long as the light is not powered. There should be a bond wire on the outside of the niche that connects to the inside of the niche and provides the water bond.

 

[neirbot]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the quick feedback.