This part is also called the housing gasket. The long length of the cabling means that there are more chances of something going wrong. What is the wattage capacity of the transformer and the required watts for the lights? I purchased my Pentair Pool light 601003, and had it professionally installed. The other just stays fully illuminated green, dims a bit to a dull green and then back fully illuminated green. The procedure to test the GFCI is simple. In that case, what you want to do is simply find the GFCI (usually located near or at the box where you turn on your pool light/lights) and check to see if it has been "tripped". Now that you have tested the light circuit GFCI, you need to reset the GFCI to restore power to the light. Its as easy as removing the lock-screw and pulling the light out of the pool wall. Well done Kevin B. As you can see, there are simple techniques to employ when troubleshooting pool lights. I checked the voltage, with the bulb attached and get 0 volts. Have you rewired anything in that breaker box just before this problem started? Copyright 2022 If you hear something loose inside, it means the filament has burnt out and that you need to replace the bulb. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Dont bother selling its worse than trying to call the irs during a pandemic, I purchased Jandy color light LED in 2019. Your breaker box will have at least one breaker dedicated to your pool. Ive tried cleaning the light socket with vinegar. I contacted Zodiac they sent me another Light out and I replaced it. You dont necessarily need to call a professional or drain the pool. Obviously, there could be a number of reasons for your pool lights to not be working such as a burned out pool light bulb, water inside the fixture, bad GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) just to name a few. We partner with HomeAdvisor to help you find the best swimming pool maintenance and cleaning services in your area. Electrical engineers design breakers to automatically trip when overloaded with electricity. Then, turn the light on. If the fixture wobbles when touched or a strong ripple hits it then a loose screw is likely the cause. Well done Blue Science. Most of the time, this issue is not discovered until the bulb blows. When providing pool repairs and equipment installations in Dallas, we use only supplies and parts from top pool companies. The customer service is the WORST. When they dont work, it casts a shadow over everything! First guess, you have a bad GFCI or bulb. Continue to Step 4. Your home swimming pool can be anything you want it to be. The neutral row is normally labeled, but if it is not look for terminal row with the white wires. LED Pool Light Not Bright Enough? A junction box is the point at which multiple electrical device cables can be joined to one main line. I have reset the panel and the light breakers, didnt help. There are some simple things to check first, below is some advice for pool light troubleshooting. How Can I Protect My Pool From a Winter Storm? I had the same issue and this fixed it Hello , This is an inactive thread. Check the complaints everyone who has purchased them has had nothing but problems after buying and replacing them. You should check to make sure Intellibrite lights are programmed via the Easytouch panel. If you correctly reset the breaker but it continues to flip to neutral, replacing the breaker may be necessary. The light always has to be a dedicated circuit because it has to be protected by aGround Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). I recently had an electrician out to test my pool light because it would not work even with a new bulb. ", "Ryan Wagoner with Blue Science has gone above and beyond to make our pool look great! Nick had Clayton assigned to the repair and he was on it quickly. It was nice to know that he was on top of things for us. A multimeter can detect where there might be a problem in your pools electricity configuration. One night I wanted to use the pool lights. Rather, it can be the symptom of any number of problems, including a bad GFCI, a blown fuse or faulty fixture. At first, it can keep up with the demand, then as the transformer begins to overheat, the larger light suffers more from the drop in current. A test of the circuitry may be necessary to be certain the new bulb will not be ruined by a power surge or some other electrical issue. So, now the main pool light works and after 1 year, the GCFI now trips on the spa light! Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2016, This is the 2nd one of these we have had installed in our pool. Keep up the outstanding work and you will forever keep us as customers. GFCIs are put on the pool light circuit to protect the pool user from stray voltage or electrocution. If the conduit seal degrades to that point, the light is likely dead and will require replacement. Whereas the spa light can operate with the transformers diminished output. We are also insured by a general liability policy that exceeds the minimum requirement set by the state of Texas. apparently the light curcuit power source was connected to the a/c Power outlet on the side of the Easy Touch panel which had a GFCI breaker on it. So, sit back, relax and let us enlighten you. A pool light may have up to 200 feet of wire running from the power source to the fixture. We will be starting from a point in which we assume you have already checked the GFCI and breaker as mentioned earlier in this piece. The ground fault circuit interrupter, better known as the GFCI is a safety device used on installations with a higher than normal risk of electric shock. If your pool lights arent working, one of your first visits should be to your breaker box, located in your basement on the side of your house. Are your pool breakers tripped? As we all should know, water and light sockets do not mix. The reason is simple: TFPC (Trouble Free Pool Care) is a methodology, not a product that you must purchase. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. Grand kids love the transitions of color in Caribbean mode and fast moving colors of Party mode. He also holds multiple patents for pool performance products he has engineered over the years. I cannot get both my spa nad pool Pentair LED light on. Conversely, newer GFCIs will turn off without power, but will not reset. The problem may be easy to fix yourself without the cost of a professional. Flipping the GFCI ensures electricity doesnt accidentally flow through the circuits. A GFCI circuit can be activated by a current change as low as 4 milliamps. Please check your entries and try again. If it reads 0, then your light fixture needs to be replaced. Have you done that? Finally, use an electrical test meter or multimeter (available at most hardware stores) to triple-check that the electricity is off. However, if you are uneasy about working with electrical wiring and devices, its best to call an electrician or pool expert. If the bulb tests well (3-20 ohms) the fixture is probably bad. He made it seem easy. This one light never takes on the correct colors. ", "Contacted Nick requesting that the equipment be reviewed/repaired. The is 72 volts on the neutral wire to ground. To fix the issue, dip into your pool with a phillips head screwdriver and tighten the screw. So before troubleshooting, turn off the electricity to the pool in your breaker box. Locate the TEST button on the outlet, usually between the two sockets. Is there another breaker somewhere for the lights. Compare quotes for free from fully vetted pool professionals. The steps on the bulb shake test are simple: remove the light bulb from the fixture and shake it next to your ear. If you checked the breaker and the light is still out, it may be that the bulb itself has burnt out. Try a new bulb without closing the fixture. If the meter reads 0 from the socket, the fixture is dead and needs to be completely replaced. Could the problem be the transformer when a load is applied? Copyright 2020 INYOpools All rights reserved. Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2016. Installed it myself. If your pool light will not turn on and you suspect the bulb, the old shake test is simple enough for any pool owner to do. My guess would be that the transformer is not rated for the wattage of the extra light. Regardless of where these circuits originate, the reason there should be a minimum of two is that the light circuit should be dedicated to the light only. If the breaker automatically flips back to OFF, then you may need a new breaker. Most homeowners are familiar with GFCIs from their bathroom electrical sockets. If you dont have a junction box or your multimeter test says there is no problem at your junction box, its time to check the lighting unit itself. I have measured the voltage going into the transformer (good) and measured the voltage out (good). A reading of high ohms or OFL (overflow, open, no continuity, infinite ohms) usually indicates a bad bulb, though it also could be caused by a bad wire or fixture. Kevin did a stellar job, not only alerting us of the situation, but he stayed with us for nearly 30mins, looking for our dog. To perform the latter, we will unplug any appliance that may have immediately caused the overload. If your pool has a light out, follow this step-by-step process to properly diagnose the problem. If it reads 0, then you have a problem between the electrical box and the junction box. Replaced bulb, resealed and reinstalled fixture. Your email address will not be published. To complete these steps, youll need both a volt-ohm meter and a megger two measuring devices essential to any service tech. As with anything electrical, if you have any questions or reservations, ask a professional before fiddling with live wires. We have customers call us and say, "I can't get my pool lights to come on. The pool light went out and I liked the idea of getting a color replacement and an LED one too. Not only does Kevin D look after our pool very well. A pool light, despite all its waterproofing and hundred or so volts of electricity, is held into the pool wall by one bolt called the lockscrew. Looking for pool parts? I looked at my main breaker panel and all seems in tack there nothing is tripped. Please consider. Very disappointing. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Why Is My Swimming Pool a Different Color. I checked continuity of the bulb and it is good. Multimeters are low-cost and available at most hardware stores. Something went wrong. Changing a light bulb is the stuff of dumb-blonde jokes. A fixture filled with water can also cause a breaker to trip, so be mindful of that when troubleshooting. The actual task of checking the breaker is not the difficulty, mainly because the task consists of touching a couple probes to terminals. If your pool lights work, you are done and there may be no need to call us. Annoying because most of the time the reason for the trip is a mystery, unless of course you just plugged in an appliance that overloaded a circuit. Questions about troubleshooting your pool lights? The dreaded CLICK of a tripped breaker is an annoying and sometimes befuddling event. It is maybe 12ft between the two even though they give you the full 100ft cable. Disabling it will result in some disabled or missing features. Austin, TX. When a GFCI is tripped, the reset button will be popped out further than the test button. I replaced the main pool light last year after it not functioning for several years. GFCIs also need to be replaced every once in a while so test your every month. I have a very old, but well maintained pool. Set the multimeter to read for 120 or 12-volt range for proper readings. You may need a friend to look at the light while you turn on the power. But leave the green (or green with a stripe usually yellow) wire connected to the junction box ground bar. A reading of more than 100 megohms on both wires is considered good, meaning the fixture has no ground fault. There are generally two circuits for a pool that supply power to the equipment. To reset the breaker, find the flipped breaker, push it to the complete off position and then flip on. How to Test Your Pool Water Without a Kit. It was installed in the summer and we didn't use it right away. Save yourself a little bit of a headache, and potentially some money, by remembering to check your GFCI first. When a breaker is tripped, it flips to an idle position and will not resume current flow until it is completely reset by hand. Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2017. Take a dip and tighten the screw. It had a problem with algae, which is normal this time of year, and he worked hard to make sure the problem was taken care of and that our pool sparkles. My white Hayward light blew the first time I used it. This is Poolside Chat where every week we answer your questions on how to fix and maintain your swimming pool. It worked the first year, only blue and green colors, then the second summer, nothing. Remove the bulb and shake it next to your ear. That coil inside the light fixture is there to cut the circuit to the light in the case that an incandescent bulb bursts. They can be pretty sensitive and prone to nuisance tripping, where they shut down the current even though there is no danger. If not, then your breaker needs to be replaced. Give us a call today. You can find GFCI buttons on electrical outlets in your bathroom or kitchen, anywhere where electricity and water might mix. The lockscrew is located at the 12oclock position on the light fixture face. The difference is night and day. Also, our weekly pool guy is performing A+ also. As long as both the test and reset functions operate, youre ready to proceed to Step 2. I pulled the fixture, no water, bulb was burnt out. Cut old cord at old light and carefully connected 3 wires and tightly bound new wire in black electrical tape. I moved to a new house with an in ground pool. Your problem could be in there. I want to preface this by saying if you have a spa and pool light, but only ONE of them is working, this most likely will not work. So once you screw your new bulb, check to see if it works by turning the power back on to the pool. Great lighting can give your swimming pool area an ambiance and create an wonderful atmosphere for you and your guests. I hope I can pull out the old leads and get new leads through the conduit. Not all applications utilize a junction so this step may not apply. What causes nuisance tripping? It doesnt light. perfectly complements your backyard environment. Take a look at our guide on replacing a pool light bulb. The GFCI works by reading a circuits current for an irregularity that could be a symptom of a shock hazard. "Hi all, simply a 5*, a thank you and a strong recommendation. You may need two fixtures of you have a big pool. So screw in your new bulb and test it, which may get a bit tricky. My pool lights stay on for 1 or 2 seconds and then the GFCI circuit trips (sometimes). The electrician found that one of the transformers was dead so they wired the pool light to the transformer for our inground spa light. The following two troubleshooting techniques require whats called a multimeter. )The black lead is connected to COM port and the red to the mAV port, the latter will be touched to the hot wire to measure volt load. Your email address will not be published. On all GFCI receptacles, there are 2 buttons. I bought one of these, fitted it in about 45 minutes and it works really well. A glimmering pool light will add dazzling high notes to your poolscape; but a dim or broken light can leave you in the dark as to how to fix it. He has built pools and natural landscapes for hundreds of homes and businesses across the country. Thank you! Before we do anything, we want to reset the breaker and also restore the circuit to the point before the trip. The problem is when I attach the new bulb. The GFCI is a mechanism used in homes as a protective surge unit much like surge protectors that you buy to plug in your computer, TV, etc. You will get much more visibility by. I had probably less than 4 hours on the light. Step 1: With the power on (circuit breaker and switches), test and reset the GFCI. If the ground fault is in the hot line, it most likely will trip the GFCI at some point, potentially causing nuisance tripping. Its recommended that fixtures testing in this range be replaced (see illustration). steps from your back door is truly a splendid thing. Could this be something as simple as a wire connection either at the LED light housing or at the J box where the splice is? If you hear the ring-a-ting-ting of a broken filament then its time for a new bulb. Place wire nuts on the load wires from the GFCI until the fixture can be replaced. Not single PULL. Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2015. You can find it at the very top of the face of the light fixture. open the panel tested voltage. To test a single pole 120 Volt breaker we will need to remove the front panel of the breaker box to access the terminals. We will walk through some simple fixes and some not so simple. Its a box where electrical lines converge or split to various locations. Like any electronic component, these interrupter switches have a lifespan and need to be tested monthly to determine their status. If not, turn the power off, disconnect the GFCI loads, turn the power back on and repeat Step 1. I tried contacting Zodiac I sent emails and they totally ignored me. Step 4: If the GFCI passes the test in Step 1, the bulb tests poorly in Step 2, and the fixture tests well (over 100 megohms on both legs) in Step 3, then and only then is it time to replace the bulb and gasket. Replace it with a new one and reassemble the housing unit, ensuring that everything is nice and dry. Then try to turn the pool light on. We needed new pool lights and other types of pool repairs. I wanted LED because of the low power consumption compared to the 500w light it replaced and I get the different colors. Check your GFCI. A GFCI is a device that monitors the amount of current flowing from hot to neutral. The convenience of having your own beautiful glimmering oasis of refreshing pool water just a few
Chlorine exposure or old age can deteriorate the rubber to warp so that it allows water to reach the light internals. I checked the voltage from the control box and this may be my problem. A leaky pool light stems from a bad lens gasket. Bulbs that use a mirrored coating on the back of the light, do so to maximizes the direction of the light emitted by the bulb. However, I wanted to talk a little about something having to do with the GFCI and how it works, as well as what you can do first before calling to schedule a diagnosis of your non-working pool light/lights. I decided to go for the whole new light and fixture. will the 110 volt gfci feed to my 12 volt transformer trip if the 12 volt line faults? If you are swimming with goggles, its good to check your pool lights for leakage. Its that simple. A working pool light is not worth risking electrocution. Not exactly, the pool light after 5 minutes slowly faded and died but the spa light was still on. He would not rest until we were satisfied. Most visitors online was 3404 , on Jan 24 2020, Intelliflo Pump intermittently stops communicating with Easy Touch, Pentair Easy Touch not detecting Pentair Intelliflo VSF, With over 300,000 members, TFP is the largest and most influential pool & spa website on the Internet. On the other hand, 20 megohms is a major ground fault, and youre probably best off disconnecting the fixture. A Dozen Ways to Strengthen Your Remodeling Brand, Decoding the Framing Square for Rafter Layout, New Tool: Metabo HPT MultiVolt Cordless Compressor, A Deck Builder's Guide to 'Google My Business', JLC Rolls Out Deck and Railing Skills Workbook, Webinar: What You Need to Know About Decking. MY ADVICE dont buy the Jandy color lights I read many horror stories and I wish I had know before I bought into their slick sales pitch. Hello, ", More Pool Maintenance Nuggets of Wisdom . A light that doesnt work isnt necessarily the result of a bad bulb. I have a full article on how to replace a pool light bulb that you can read for more detailed instructions. GFCI switch would not re-set and allow pool light to come on and heater was malfunctioning. We didn't even get to enjoy this one. Work is complete and we are up and running again. What is the purpose for the metallic coating on the outside of an incandescent pool light? Just installed, a nice upgrade over the old standard white bulb. I have measured the voltage at the bulb end with no bulb (good). Our Contractor License # TICL 231. All of these issues should be inspected and diagnosed by aqualified repair technician. It's main function is to take the surge of electricity from perhaps accidentally dropping a hair dryer in the bath tub or lightening striking close to your house, and shuts that electricity off at the point before reaching you or the items you are protecting. Reliable Pool Care, LLC. Both lights worked problem solved right. The reading should be 120 volts or 240 volts. The readings from a megger and volt-ohm meter. And remember: Older GFCIs will not test without power, but they will reset. Mind you the spa light stays on. Replacing a pools light lens gasket is pretty simple and even the more novice pool owners can do the job. When we did, we thought we just wasn't working it right, closed the pool. It should light up. The first thing to do is unplug any extra appliances you may have on the same circuit. If the screw is stripped or lost, make sure you replace the screw and the gum o-ring. A true example of customer experience excellence and committment - not only in standard duties, but going the extra mile where and when needed. Any other ideas? Thanks for any info you can provide. Remove the lens frame and take out the old gasket. We talked to the swimming pool installers and they said it is a common problem with these lights and they don't recommend them. Rewired exactly as old. But if you have a single pool light in the pool or if both spa and pool light are not coming on when you flip the switch, then you could possibly only have a tripped GFCI. Bad light bulb or possible water in fixture? So what do you do when your pool light doesnt work? To test your breaker, set your multimeter to AC 120 volts. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. The o-ring is important to prevent excess water leakage into the niche or housing. Remove the light housing unit from its niche in the pool wall and remove the bulb. When I say burns out it doesnt flash then out, it fades out. It is still possible, however, that the fixture is the problem and not the bulb, so test the bulb for continuity when you remove it. It's my first property with a pool so I'm still finding my way. Thank you! Here it is 2021 and the exact same situation I had less than hours on the new light because I had it installed during the winter and this summer I turned the light on the exact same think happened flicker and no lights . But do it quickly! A loose lighting unit is one of the more straightforward fixes. Long circuits (more than 100 feet), fluorescent bulbs, and motors like exhaust fans. Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2013. A little intimidating at 1st to snake a 100 foot cord. Set your volt-ohm meter to continuity test (or lowest ohm scale), and test between the black and white wires to the light (they connect to the bulb). Measure line voltage at junction box. If the bulb was relatively new before it blew, I would not run out and replace it right away. A reading of zero ohms (short circuit, no ohms) indicates a short circuit in the bulb, cord or fixture that should have tripped a circuit breaker or blown a fuse. Double-check your findings. i have a question.i noticed that my gfci does not worki replaced it but still it does not work. I found some solutions to try that other people have done and will hopefully figure something out there, Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2016. I tested everything with the multimeter before connecting and everything was great. Push the reset button back in and try turning on the pool light/lights again at the switch. I did not add the $400 controller, just turn on light and then ON/OFF a number of times to get to the desired color or show mode. This week our dog ran out as Kevin opened the yard gate. Replaced the PCR-4, lights work, but one light does not display green (The other work fine). We put in two large Intellibrite lights and 3 smaller ones using the existing conduit that the fiber optic used.