Pool Light

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mvannevel

mvannevel

Senior Member
Location
Hesperia, Michigan
This is kind of long, but bear with me. Inspected a pool last week. The "conduit" extending from the forming shell of the wet niche fixture to the junction box was soft drawn copper tubing. The fittings on the ends were 1/2" slip by 1/2" MPT. And, of course, it contained the flexible cord. The electrician told me that this is what the pool installer puts in for all of his fixtures and no other inspector has ever questioned it. I don't claim to be an expert on pools, but I've inspected a few over the years and have never seen copper tubing run to a pool fixture. Only brass or PVC. I told the electrician that as long as someone could supply me with something that showed that's how the fixture was listed to be installed, I'd accept it. In checking with inspectors in neighboring jurisdictions, I find that they have been approving this installation. My understanding here is that metallic conduit (or the #8 insulated conductor in non-metallic conduit)is the equipment grounding conductor. When and how could copper tubing with fittings soldered on the ends be considered an equipment grounding conductor? This would seem to violate 250.8, since the fittings rely solely on solder. The pool contractor has a dozen different reasons for using the copper tubing. He says (alternately) that the #8 conductor and lug corrode, that PVC or any other conduit freezes and breaks causing the pool to leak, that rigid brass conduit doesn't exist, and on and on. He can't supply me with a listing that shows copper tubing as an listed wiring method for these lights. Bottom line is that the copper is cheap and quick to install. I intend to bring this question up at our Metro Inspectors meeting next week, but would appreciate your input on this. Is there something here that I'm missing? If I'm wrong about this, fine, I just want this to be a safe, code compliant installation.
 
Re: Pool Light

This guy is a complete joke! Copper tubing???

680.23(B)(2)(a) "Metal conduit. Metal conduit shall be approved and shall be of brass or other approved corrosion-resistant metal."

Anyone ever see copper tubing approved for electrical use?


The #8 corrodes inside the forming shell? Tell him not to use duct seal and use the proper potting compound.

Oh, and tell him rigid brass conduit does exist.
 
Re: Pool Light

My exact feelings. From what I gather in talking to some of the other inspectors in the area, I think they're under the impression ( and he's the one giving them this impression ) that this is the way the forming shell comes, as if it were a factory assembly, listed with the tubing already installed. So, basically, what you have is copper tubing being used as conduit, plumbing fittings ( which are soldered on ) used for grounding purposes, and to top things off, he used Teflon tape on the threads at the forming shell. A real classy installation, and he's telling me that safety is always his primary concern.
 
Re: Pool Light

I have built more than 3000 pools in Florida and have never used copper tubing as light conduit. Remember, we are talking aboout a wet niche where the pipe is filled with chlorinated pool water.The #8 bond wire must be sealed inside the niche with potting compound.
 
Re: Pool Light

Thanks for your response jnsh2. This pool contractor had so many different stories, I lost track. His claim was that the pool water would corrode the #8 copper equipment ground connection (I told him this was a potting problem, not a material problem), but wouldn't corrode the copper tubing. He also said that because of our Northern climate, anything other than copper tubing would freeze and break during the winter. As I said, the bottom line is that the copper is cheap and easy for him and that's why he doesn't want to use the proper methods.
 
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