Pool lighting: When pool lights have not been correctly bonded or grounded, they can send electricity directly through the water and shock those in the pool. In fact, faulty pool lights can send electrical currents through the water even when they are turned off.
You can get electrocuted by a pool light in a swimming pool. It can cause serious injury and even death. An experienced electrocution lawyer can help victims and families recover the pain and suffering compensation or wrongful death damages they are entitled to under the law.
Safety Precautions
Pool lights are sealed inside a protective waterproof casing which prevents water from reaching the light bulb. Water surrounds the unit, keeping it from overheating. For this reason, the light should not be operated outside of water. A niche behind the light stores several feet of electrical cord.
Low-voltage lighting systems are not permitted to be installed within 10 feet of the nearest edge of the water for a pool, spa or fountain, unless otherwise permitted by Article 680. With the acceptance of new text in 680.22(B)(6) of the 2014 NEC, many of these installations will now be compliant.
An electrician should ground the light niche, to protect against any stray voltage. Inside the wet niche there is a grounding lug that must have a bare copper wire connected to it, normally this a continuous ground around the entire pool.
To check if your pool is properly grounded, there should be an equipment-grounding conductor installed with the feeder conductors. It should be located between the grounding terminal of the pool equipment panel board and the grounding terminal of the applicable service equipment.
Always try to have the lights point away from the house. By doing this you will avoid the headlight effect of the lights shining in your face. If you build a spa with your pool you will want a light in it also.
Pool lights should be placed at mid-height, almost at the surface of the water. For practical reasons, this will make changing the lighting equipment easier. This position in the structure will give you the best effect, rendering well-lit contours and highlighting the depth.
How to test pool water for electricity? One way to test pool water for electricity is to use a device called shock alert. It will notify you if there is electricity present in the water. If it beeps and flashes red, it means there is a presence of electricity in the water and you should not swim in it.
There are many devices that you can use to test pool water for electricity which includes the Shock Alert. This device operates on three AA batteries and is placed into the pool. When the device flashes green, it means that there is no electricity and it is safe to enter the pool.
Because the lower the voltage, the less hazardous it will be. This makes LED lights the perfect option for pool lights. Even if you only install 12V LED pool lights, you get enough brightness in and around the swimming pool. You'll have enough visibility to keep safe while swimming at night.
Wet LED Strip Light Can Result In Electrocution
And we all know electrical shocks are never comfortable and can result in serious injury or death if you touch the water and a doorknob with wet hands.
* There were 23 deaths from electrocutions in pools and spas from 2002-2014. Two fatal incidents from 2013-2014 were received in 2015. No injuries or deaths due to electrocutions in pools and spas were identified in 2018.
Electrical shocks in the water can cause a swimmer to drown, as the shock can paralyze their body or stop the heart.
How many lights do I need? It depends on the type of light, but we currently use the smaller LED lights like the Globright or the Pal 2000 in our fiberglass pools and suggest that one light, at a minimum, will adequately illuminate a pool up to 30' long. Pools longer than 30' will require two lights.
The number of lights you need depends on the size of your swimming pool. 15' x 30' pools only require one light. 20' x 40' pools require two lights. 20' x 42' pools and up require three or more lights.
As this is being written, a full sized LED pool light usually cost between $450 and $650 installed. If you go for the smaller LED lights you're looking at $300 to $500 installed. When you have full-size incandescent pool lights they are in the range of $450 to $650.
Pool lights are worth it because they provide the necessary lighting for a pool especially during the night, which prevents accidents because you can see every area of your pool. Moreover, they are considered a necessity most especially if you want to get maximum usage out of your pool.
12V pool lights operate with the use of a transformer that steps down the voltage from 120V to 12V. 120V bulbs will not work in a 12V pool, and vice versa, and a 12V bulb will burn out if used in a 120V lamp. The first thing then, is know what voltage your pool light is, 12V or 120V.
VOLTAGE 12V vs 120V - Pool lights are designed to operate with 12V or 120V. In some areas of the country the local code requires a low voltage 12V light while in other areas it is fine to use a 120V light. Before installing a light, find out what your local code require.
Without a grounding system in place, people or pool equipment may become the conductor. Harmful electrical current may move toward people, pets, or equipment instead of moving away and to the earth.
Without bonding, there is a risk that stray currents will remain in the one conductive elements making it live with electricity. Alternatively, the current will be conducted by the water in your pool, which electrifies your whole pool and by default you!
The process of pool bonding, also referred to as equipotential bonding, works to connect all conductive elements in pools, spas, and hot tubs to create a single network that can evenly balance electrical voltage and reduce the risk of shock.