Need ideas how to fix this conduit with wires still inside

[infinkc]

Wire cannot be removed.

We have this pool light that the conduit got damaged and the contractor just cut a pvc coupler and glued it.

Problem with this pool light, it is not 100% sealed by design and water is ok to get into the conduit. (Yes have contacted the mfr)

So I need this repair to be water tight as it’s currently leaking water out the poor repair.

What are my options since I can’t take the wire out.

 

[infinkc]

Wire cannot be removed.

We have this pool light that the conduit got damaged and the contractor just cut a pvc coupler and glued it.

Problem with this pool light, it is not 100% sealed by design and water is ok to get into the conduit. (Yes have contacted the mfr)

So I need this repair to be water tight as it’s currently leaking water out the poor repair.

What are my options since I can’t take the wire out.

 

[PCustoms]

What kind of conduit is that?

Edit: what voltage?

 

[BillK]

Wire cannot be removed.

We have this pool light that the conduit got damaged and the contractor just cut a pvc coupler and glued it.

Problem with this pool light, it is not 100% sealed by design and water is ok to get into the conduit. (Yes have contacted the mfr)

Are you saying that this is a submerged light and the actual pool water is leaking through the light into the conduit ????
That does not sound right at all. Where does the water end up going ??

 

[4x4Pete]

That looks wrong to me. Done properly, the pool water can't continue down the conduit. How I see them done they all have the lights wired so the conduit from the light fixture is brought up above the water level to a ground level box beside the pool. Then the power is supplied to that box from another conduit. The whole thing is usually covered by a false paver or tile, etc... It prevents the problem you're having now. To do that correctly you'll have to drain the pool to below the light fixture, then install the conduit and box, then run the wiring from the light to the box and make the power connections. Of course the lights are all powered from a gfci breaker.

 

[fitter30]

Clean all that up sandpaper all of it. Pick up plumbers putty in the plumbing dept. Looks like a turd 4-5" long has consistency of clay 2 part epoxy mix it in your hands apply it can smooth it out with a wet finger. Might need a few tubes.

 

[mm08822]

Are you saying that this is a submerged light and the actual pool water is leaking through the light into the conduit ????
That does not sound right at all. Where does the water end up going ??

This is a typical installation method for wet niche pool lights. A box located at the end of the light conduit above the water level is used to provide an air break so the water does not continue further through the conduit. Obviously, the box has to be above the water level.

 

[Viper98912]

I don't exactly understand what's going on in the picture, but all I can say is be aware of the voltage and how it's all connected and sealed correctly, as there was that recent news story of the person who died when they were electrocuted in the pool/hot tub (and you can't jump in and save them, because you'd be electrocuted too).

 

[mm08822]

I don't know why the OP states the "wires" (better be a cable) can't be removed from the conduit.

Wherever the cable terminates, it needs to be pulled back to the light niche. The light should have several feet of cable within the niche to allow for bulb replacement w/o having to pull the cable back.

Pull the light and cable out of the conduit/niche. Plug the conduit at the niche with ductseal and repair the conduit. Remove ductseal and pull cable back in. Leave slack in the niche for bulb replacement.

 

[BillK]

This is a typical installation method for wet niche pool lights. A box located at the end of the light conduit above the water level is used to provide an air break so the water does not continue further through the conduit. Obviously, the box has to be above the water level.

Interesting. I wonder if his conduit is actually not supposed to be sealed. Maybe the large upper tube should hang down over the smaller tube and act like an air break ? What I dont understand is either way his looks to be above the pool level so how would water get pushed up that high to begin with ? The whole thing makes no sense to me. A larger picture or diagram would sure help matters.

 

[mm08822]

The cable should not have any splices within the wet conduit. Even the splice at the junction box can be optional.

If a 120VAC light, it must be on a gfci protected circuit.

 

[Jim greengo]

What kind of conduit is that?

Edit: what voltage?

Looks like pvc for plumbing to me.

 

[mm08822]

Interesting. I wonder if his conduit is actually not supposed to be sealed. Maybe the large upper tube should hang down over the smaller tube and act like an air break ? What I dont understand is either way his looks to be above the pool level so how would water get pushed up that high to begin with ? The whole thing makes no sense to me. A larger picture or diagram would sure help matters.

Water seeks its own level. The height of the conduit end @ the j-box has to be higher than the pool water level. If not, it is not installed correctly.

There is no need to seal the wet conduit.

Not sure anyone can tell the height of the conduit relative to the pool water level from that one pic. If water is leaking from the conduit, it's a safe bet to say the break/repair is below water level!

 

[PCustoms]

Looks like pvc for plumbing to me.

The OP states the coupling is

But the original conduit looks questionable too.

The more I look/read the more this seems like a danger

 

[dave*99]

I don't know why the OP states the "wires" (better be a cable) can't be removed from the conduit.

Wherever the cable terminates, it needs to be pulled back to the light niche. The light should have several feet of cable within the niche to allow for bulb replacement w/o having to pull the cable back.

Pull the light and cable out of the conduit/niche. Plug the conduit at the niche with ductseal and repair the conduit. Remove ductseal and pull cable back in. Leave slack in the niche for bulb replacement.

I've worked on a number of these for friends. They all looked like this diagram and worked exact as you described. The junction box said Hayward on it That's a well known pool equipment manufacturer. The junction box was usually beyond the pool deck either in the landscaping or near the pool fence. Well above the water line.

Note the coiled up wire around the lamp. That allows you to bring the sealed assembly above the water line for service. You can open the fixture and replace the lamp too.

 

[sparky 1971]

Looks like electrical PVC to me. Last fall a customer drove a post for a snow fence through an underground conduit for the parking lot lights, somehow without touching the wires. I may or may not have cut a coupling and installed it using two hose clamps to cover the hole in the pipe for a "temporary" fix since it was about five minutes to dark and the forecasted 8" of snow had begun about 30 minutes before I got there. I did go back in the spring and fixed it right using a Quazite box, but had to cut the wires to do it right.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

need more pics to really assess what you have and how it can be repaired

 

[dave*99]

Wire cannot be removed.

We have this pool light that the conduit got damaged and the contractor just cut a pvc coupler and glued it.

Problem with this pool light, it is not 100% sealed by design and water is ok to get into the conduit. (Yes have contacted the mfr)

So I need this repair to be water tight as it’s currently leaking water out the poor repair.

What are my options since I can’t take the wire out.

What is stopping you from taking the wire out? Is it stuck? Can't remove the light fixture? Can't find the junction box?

 

[walta]

Seems to me this light is not installed in accordance with the manufactures instructions likely to be similar to the one I have attached.

The junction box must be well above the pools water line to prevent the exact problem you are having.

Electricity mixed with pools is no place for amateur’s who refuse to follow directions.

Walta

 

[MJK]

I think if it were me, I would remove the wire and light fixture from the conduit, and when you are pulling it out attach a rope to the end of it. So, wire out, rope in. Cut the conduit AND rope to properly fix conduit. Re-tie the rope prior to gluing together. Use rope to pull wire back into conduit.

I'd had to do similar and it isn't fun. Silcone lube is your friend.

 

[infinkc]

What is stopping you from taking the wire out? Is it stuck? Can't remove the light fixture? Can't find the junction box?

 

[infinkc]

What is stopping you from taking the wire out? Is it stuck? Can't remove the light fixture? Can't find the junction box?

Well looked the light up, yes it should have had a junction box installed, I need to contact the pool contractor on that.

It is low voltage. The light cable is all one piece, no disconnect at the light.

https://cdn.fluidrausa.com/-/media/zodiac/global/downloads/jandy/lighting/h0622800.pdf?rev=3a9c2636d66949648b1e4cdb2467c6bf?force=1

 

[mm08822]

Well looked the light up, yes it should have had a junction box installed, I need to contact the pool contractor on that.

It is low voltage. The light cable is all one piece, no disconnect at the light.

https://cdn.fluidrausa.com/-/media/zodiac/global/downloads/jandy/lighting/h0622800.pdf?rev=3a9c2636d66949648b1e4cdb2467c6bf?force=1

You won't find one at the fixture end. The entire cable has to be pulled out towards the fixture. Eliminating such connections is how it remains waterproof.

Where does the other end of the cable connect to?

 

[infinkc]

You won't find one at the fixture end. The entire cable has to be pulled out towards the fixture. Eliminating such connections is how it remains waterproof.

Where does the other end of the cable connect to?

Goes about 50ft to a box with the pool equipment

 

[mm08822]

Goes about 50ft to a box with the pool equipment

There's your answer. Do as MJK posted above. Then repair the conduit. Add box if needed for water break.

 

[infinkc]

There's your answer. Do as MJK posted above. Then repair the conduit. Add box if needed for water break.

really not wanting to drain the pool. This light is about 1 ft down, but when i take it out and cut the pvc, water will be pouring out unless i drain it below.

 

[dave*99]

really not wanting to drain the pool. This light is about 1 ft down, but when i take it out and cut the pvc, water will be pouring out unless i drain it below.

Disconnect the wire at junction box.
Pull light out of pool.
As soon as wire slips into conduit have a helper plug the conduit.
Remove light completely
Plug light fixture. Even a plastic food plate with some Vaseline on may it may work. Or duct seal.
Extend conduit.
Push a snake through conduit and pull wire back.

 

[mm08822]

really not wanting to drain the pool. This light is about 1 ft down, but when i take it out and cut the pvc, water will be pouring out unless i drain it below.

Duct seal has been mentioned several times to plug the conduit hole in the light enclosure. You can also consider a sink drain cover - water pressure will help seal that.

If it still leaks after doing that at the repair site, plug the pipe with bread at the repair location just before ready to glue up. Wipe dry, swab with glue and couple up the elbow or coupling and hold together for a couple mins.

The bread will quickly get wet and be easy to push through with a snake.

 

[kngelv]

The reason you are in this mess is because the pool installer did not do the right thing. Don't exacerbate the issue by not doing the right thing yourself. Drain the pool so you can access the light and do it the right way.

James

 

[mm08822]

The reason you are in this mess is because the pool installer did not do the right thing. Don't exacerbate the issue by not doing the right thing yourself. Drain the pool so you can access the light and do it the right way.

James

The pool doesn't have to be drained to correctly fix it. Agreed, do fix it correctly.