Pool Light Junction/Deck Box Help

[pooldad5]

Hello Everyone

This is my first time here so please forgive me if I break any rules or say anything dumb. I have looked through lots of threads and haven't found one that speaks to my specific issue. As I am in a time crunch and have just become the owner of my pool, I do not have any info in my signature.

I just recently purchased a home with a pool. The concrete around the pool was very cracked and lifted so I am currently having all new cement poured. This has revealed several problems. The most pressing is the exposure of the pool light junction/deck box. As you can see from my photos I am working with an old pool which means old wiring. This deck box originally sat below a diving board. I am not reinstalling a diving board.

My question is what to do with this junction/deck box. You can see that they broke apart the conduit that houses the wiring going down to the pool light. The lid to the box is also damaged. So am I safe just reconnecting the conduit back to the box and trying to find a replacement lid/cover? Should I replace the whole box? Is the conduit running along the ground back to the panel look to worn to take the box off without damaging the conduit?

I am also unsure if it's ok to have a deck box like this anymore. My intention is to have it flush with the new concrete as this type is intended to be I assume. It's not very far from the pool edge. Is that an issue?

Sorry for the long post. I am new to all this and have to have a solution by Friday or my pour gets delayed another week.

Thank you!

 

[kefjens]

I don’t know the answer, I’m sure some of the more experienced will chime in. It sure seems like a junction box that close to the pool edge is a bad idea. Assuming that is for your light, you’d need a new light since the cord is built into it. Probably want to dig down and replace the conduit where the first elbow is to avoid having to pull the light cord through too many 90 degree turns. There’s a special lighting junction box that has to be a certain height above the pool water too since the conduit can be full of water.

Just some things to think about while you wait for the pros here to chime in.

 

[dfahrion]

I'm not an expert but a quick google says this box must be at least 4ft from the pool and at least 4in above the deck/ground and 8in above the water as well. So code doesn't allow you to put it back where it was. I'd replace everything since you'll be digging to replace/relocate the conduit anyway, you really don't want to just add another two elbows as that would make pulling the light cord a lot of work. I'm not sure how long light cords get as far as how far away you can get from the pool, but there is probably a limit there too. Keep in mind typically this conduit does have pool water in it, so take care to make it water tight so you don't have a leak.

 

[danpik]

Per the latest NEC that I have (2014) (waiting on my 2017)

The junction box must be located not less than
4 in. above the ground or permanently installed pool deck, outdoor spa
deck, or outdoor hot tub deck, or not less than 8 in. above the maximum
water level, whichever provides the greater elevation.

And must be at least 4' from the pool edge. It looks like you may be redoing the entire circuit as the damaged box most likely in not repairable. If it was not damaged, you may get away with "grandfathering" it as the only time you are required to upgrade is at replacement time. The box is required to be at that height as the conduit is filled with water and you do not want pool water to invade the connection area of the box.
Dan

 

[Dirk]

I would use this opportunity to replace the pool light. A new one will come with a good long cable. It should be long enough to run through conduit all the way beyond your new deck, and come up a foot or two above ground into what I presume will be a landscaping area. You'll need to trench from the pool to the new location, and from there to meet up with the existing supply line conduit. You'll need to go deep enough to access the back of the light housing. As mentioned, the conduit to the pool is full of pool water, so it needs to be water-tight. And you'll need to either lower your pool level, or plug up the housing somehow, while you work on the new conduit. Try to minimize the number of elbows, which should all be sweep elbows to facilitate pulling wire though it. Be sure your new light's cord will reach before you finalize everything. And you need to leave 4 or 5 feet of slack in the cable, wound up inside the light housing, so that you can remove the fixture, and be able to lift it clear of the water to work on it (change a bulb, etc) in the future.

Don't forget about bonding (which is beyond my knowledge to advise about). If you have a pool-qualified electrician do the wiring, he should know what to do about that. The light housing might already be bonded, but that should be tested. Those two bare wires sticking out of the ground look a lot like bond wires, so that might be covered.

 

[tim5055]

I really like Dirks idea, move it back if possible.

The second choice as long as teh current location is back far enough form the pool is to purchase and mount a new box. But, it can not be flush as you desired, it must be raised as others have explained.

I guess teh big question I have (seeing those bare copper wires sticking out of the ground) is, has anyone mentioned "bonding" or "equipotential bonding" of the new concrete patio? Do you have an electrician who is knowledgeable of pool electrical requirements or have you just hired a concrete company to take out the old patio and put in a new one? Byy the way, between photo number 1 and photo number 2 someone broke the bonding lug off the side of that junction box, so as of this point it is toast. You can not use it any longer. You can't just run to Home Depot and pick up a box, it MUST be rated by the manufacturer as a pool lite junction box.

Equipotential bonding is a HUGE safety issue and once you pour the new patio you are kind of stuck if you didn't address it. Here is a brief description: Top 2008 NEC Changes; 680.26 Equipotential Bonding for Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs | Electrical Construction & Maintenance (EC&M) Magazine

 

[Dirk]

Good article, Tim. And good call, the deck has to be bonded, too! Maybe ya want a concrete contractor that knows all this stuff, as in a pool builder. This is stuff you can't afford to get wrong, in terms of both safety and budget. You can't later add bonding once the deck goes down. And it should all be inspected. Some things can't be short-cutted. Pool electrical is one of those things.