Receptacles for pumps and motors must be located between 6 and 10 feet from the pool walls, and they must be GFCI-protected and locked. Outlet receptacles for general use can be no closer than 20 feet from a pool or in-ground spa if they are not GFCI-protected, and no closer than 6 feet away if they are GFCI protected.
Only specific listed low voltage luminaires are permitted to be installed closer than 5 feet to the pool edge.
Author's Comment: Switches shall be located at least 5 ft horizontally from the inside walls of a pool, spa or hot tub, unless separated by a solid fence, wall, or other permanent barrier [680.22(C)].
Receptacles that provide power for water-pump motors or other loads directly related to the circulation and sanitation system shall be of the grounding type, located not less than 6 feet from the inside walls of pools and outdoor spas and hot tubs, and ground-fault circuit-interrupter protected.
As noted in Sec. 680.24(A)(2)(b), "The junction box shall be located not less than 4 ft from the inside wall of the pool, unless separated from the pool by a solid fence, wall, or other permanent barrier."
Unless otherwise permitted by Ar- ticle 680, Swimming Pools, Foun- tains, and Similar Installations, Section 411.4 requires all lighting systems operating at 30 volts or less to be installed not less than 3.0 m (10 ft) from pools, spas, fountains, and similar locations.
Having a set of lights fall into the pool and potentially injure someone is a risk you should avoid. Why even create the potential for an accident. Don't install string lights over the pool.
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.
In any case, the niche should be bonded from the back to the equipment, which is also grounded, which connects the bond grid to the grounding system. So, either way, the light is grounded.
A bonded pool balances the electrical pressure and keeps all currents flowing outward into a bonding wire or grid where they are safely dispersed. Pool electrical safety is the most important thing!
But with all these electrical components combined with the metal parts of the swimming pool itself comes the potential for great danger. Swimming pools must be properly grounded and bonded to prevent this danger.
The metal wiring of some solar lights could cause an electrical shock if someone accidentally got the wires wet or touched them while swimming. If your solar light has a wire coming out from underneath where it is placed in the water, then you should be very careful about where to position the light.
Can you get electrocuted by solar lights? There is almost no risk of getting electrocuted by solar lights. Most solar lighting is weatherproof, so the wires are insulated to prevent water from getting in. The current used by most solar-powered lighting isn't high enough to reach a lethal threshold.
Most of these lights are 120 volts and if they are not plugged into a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protected outlet, they are extremely dangerous. If one of these string lights falls into the pool, the risk of electrical shock for pool users is probable.
Most manufacturers of solar powered lights have faced criticism for manufacturing defective lights that cause the batteries to overheat and ultimately catch fire. So to answer the question, yes. Solar powered lights can catch fire because of the use of Li-Ion batteries that are extremely volatile and combustible.
A low voltage electric shock is dangerous because it can cause electrocution and fatal injuries even though there are no visible signs of external injury.
If you do not bond your pool equipment there is the risk that the equipment itself will become the anode in a galvanic couple with other metal components in or around your pool. If this happens, the anode metals will deteriorate at an advanced rate, a phenomenon called galvanic corrosion.
Plug in the pool pump and cover it with a weatherproof cover. With the main service off to the house, wire in GFCI circuit breakers to the electrical panel. Connect an 8-gauge wire to the metal posts of the pool, the pump, and the metal plate on the skimmer and then wire that to the pump to bond the entire pool.
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.
Why do you have to bond an above ground swimming pool? Bonding your pool is a safety measure to prevent accidentally getting electrocuted or seriously injured. You need to create a field around your swimming pool by attaching the bonding wire to the metal deck, pool equipment, metal pool wall, and even the water.
Look for an exposed copper wire attached to the motor and pumps, going into the ground. It should connect in a similar way as in the image to the left. If you live in a municipality, you can also contact the building and inspection department to see if your pool had a code inspection during its construction.
All pool water should be bonded. Your pool water must be bonded when you do not have any metal touching the water (ladder, hand rail, metal fixture or light). If you do not have bonded water, or you are unsure, a simple pool water bonding kit will do the trick.