- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,952
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
Should low voltage lighting be connected to the bonding grid? If so, how? If one light in the system is bonded will that bond the rest?
low voltage lighting and bonding
- Thread starter PoolGate
- Start date
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,952
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
lol- so shall I assume everyone that would answer this has low voltage lighting and is afraid to say it isn't safe? 
I'm not an electrician, don't play one on TV and didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but....
It's my understanding that any electrical equipment installed within the bonding "zone" around a pool must be tested and certified for such installation. But, the manufacturers of low voltage lighting have no financial incentive to pay for such testing, so no certification......
I guess it's kind of like a pool light. Go on eBay and there are lots of waterproof underwater lights, just none that are certified to be used around pools.
It's my understanding that any electrical equipment installed within the bonding "zone" around a pool must be tested and certified for such installation. But, the manufacturers of low voltage lighting have no financial incentive to pay for such testing, so no certification......
I guess it's kind of like a pool light. Go on eBay and there are lots of waterproof underwater lights, just none that are certified to be used around pools.
Use a safety transformer powered by a gfi. You can bond the enclosure.
I wouldn't worry about the lights.
I wouldn't worry about the lights.
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,952
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
The pool county inspector told me someone got electrocuted in the county while standing next to a piece of un bonded rebar. How is the low voltage light any different than a piece of rebar?
If someone was getting shocked because of stray voltage, the rebar in the ground or not in the ground would have made no difference. The bond was not working. Maybe it was broken, maybe it wasn't there at all. Impossible to tell with a hearsay story.
My low voltage pool lights are installed in a plastic niches and not bonded. I'm using a safety transformer powered from a GFI. I've already passed my bonding inspection and I'm not worried about swimming in my pool.
If you're that worried about it, you can bond each light fixture or keep all your landscaping lights greater than 5' away from your pool.
CJadamec
TFP Expert
As far as code requirements go for lights around an outdoor pool:
Any lights outside of 5ft from the pool wall are outside of the bonding area and you may use any voltage (under 750v) with no bonding needed. If you are within 5-10ft from the pool wall all lights and shall be protected by GFCI. All receptacles within 20ft of the pool shall be GFCI protected.
IF you are within 5ft of the pool wall the NEC gets a lot pickier about what you may use. They define the low voltage contact limit as a voltage not exceeding the following values:
15 volts (RMS) for sinusoidal AC
21.2 volts peak for non-sinusoidal AC
30 volts continuous DC
12.4 volts peak for DC the is interrupted at a rate of 10-200 hz
If your light doesn't meet the low voltage contact requirements it must be mounted rigidly no less than 12ft above the pool surface for new installations.
Any light below the low voltage contact limit that is within 5ft of the pool must be powered by a transformer that meets the requirements 680.23 (2). Basically an underwater pool light transformer. If the light is made of metal and will be permanently mounted (ie attached to the deck with screws or in a wall) it shall be bonded if it has a conductive surface area greater than 4square inches. If the light is temporary and not attached it doesn't need to be bonded.
Any lights outside of 5ft from the pool wall are outside of the bonding area and you may use any voltage (under 750v) with no bonding needed. If you are within 5-10ft from the pool wall all lights and shall be protected by GFCI. All receptacles within 20ft of the pool shall be GFCI protected.
IF you are within 5ft of the pool wall the NEC gets a lot pickier about what you may use. They define the low voltage contact limit as a voltage not exceeding the following values:
15 volts (RMS) for sinusoidal AC
21.2 volts peak for non-sinusoidal AC
30 volts continuous DC
12.4 volts peak for DC the is interrupted at a rate of 10-200 hz
If your light doesn't meet the low voltage contact requirements it must be mounted rigidly no less than 12ft above the pool surface for new installations.
Any light below the low voltage contact limit that is within 5ft of the pool must be powered by a transformer that meets the requirements 680.23 (2). Basically an underwater pool light transformer. If the light is made of metal and will be permanently mounted (ie attached to the deck with screws or in a wall) it shall be bonded if it has a conductive surface area greater than 4square inches. If the light is temporary and not attached it doesn't need to be bonded.
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