How To Replace a Pool Light Fixture

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This guide shows you how to determine if you have a bad light fixture and, if so, how to replace the whole fixture including the wiring to the fixture.

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Video

Step by Step

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Step 1

DETERMINE IF LIGHT FIXTURE IS BAD - If your light continually trips the GFI circuit, there's a good chance that it has developed a short in the light fixture or wiring. At this point you will have to replace the whole light fixture and wiring. If you have two lights tied together than you will have to wire each light independently to test which light is tripping the GFI.


Step 2

TURN OFF POWER - Before working on your light fixture, be sure to turn OFF power to your lights at the circuit breaker.

Step 3

DISCONNECT LIGHT WIRES - Locate the power junction box for your lights. It will normally be next to the house close to the pool control box. Open up the junction box and disconnect the wires to your light  You may have several light cables coming into this box. Generally they are labeled on the PVC pipes. If not, you may have to disconnect each independently and turn the power back on and off to see which cable powers each light. Mark the pipes for the future.

Step 4

ATTACH CORD TO POWER CABLE - Once you have determine which cable you want to pull out, attach a cord or special fish tape to the wire. One way to do this is to bend back the white and black wires to form a loop. Leave the green ground wire out straight. Then attach the cord though the loop. The green ground wire will parallel the cord as shown.


Step 5

TAPE CONNECTION - Tape the wire connection on both side of the joint so that no wire ends are left exposed. A smooth connection will move around any bends in the pipe more easily.

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Step 6

UNSCREW LIGHT FIXTURE - Remove the light fixture off the pool wall. It is generally secure by one screw at the top of the light fixture.

Step 7

PULL FIXTURE OUT OF NICHE - Pull the pool light fixture out of the niche. You should have enough excess cable to be able to lay the light fixture on the pool deck. Note how the excess cable is stored in the niche so you can replace it the same way when you install the new pool light fixture.

Step 8

PULL LIGHT CABLE OUT OF WALL - Pull the light cord out of the pool wall. There is a conduit between the pool and the J-Box at the house. When you pull out the light cable at the pool, you will be pulling the cable out of the conduit and pulling through the cord that you attached to the other end


Step 9

FEED CORD AT THE J-BOX END - As you are pulling cable on the light fixture end, have someone else feed the other end of the wire and the attached cord down into the pipe.

Step 10

PULL_OUT_CABLE-CORD_CONNECTION - After you have pulled out all the old cable, you will expose the connection of the cord and cable created at the junction box.

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Step 11

TIE CORD TO NEW POWER LINE AT POOL - Once you have pulled the old light cable out of the conduit, take off the cord that was pulled though with the old cable and secure it to the free end of the new light cable. - like in Steps 4 & 5.

Step 12

PULL NEW CABLE AT J-BOX - pull the new light cable back into the conduit by pulling on the cord at the terminal box end of the conduit. Have someone feed the cable into the conduit at the back of the pool niche so that it doesn't bind as you are pulling on the other end.

Step 13

LEAVE 4' SERVICE LOOP AT POOL NICHE - Pull the cable through the conduit until there is 4' of cable left at the pool side. This extra 4' will allow you to place the light fixture on the pool deck when you have to service the light in the future.

Step 14

PLACE NEW FIXTURE INTO NICHE - Position the new light fixture in the niche by first recoiling and storing the excess cable as observed in Step 7. Then push the light fixture back into the niche.

Step 15

REPLACE PILOT SCREW - Replaced the single screw to secure the pool light fixture to the niche

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Step 16

REMOVE EXCESS CORD AT J-BOX - Go back to the J-Box end of the cable and cut off the extra length of cable, leaving about 7 extra inches.

Step 17

ATTACH WIRES TO J-BOX -Use wire strippers to strip 6" of the outer cable casing to expose interior wires. Strip about 1" of wire coating off each wire and attach the cable wires to appropriate wires in J-box.

Step 18

REPLACE J-BOX COVER - Replace the J-Box cover and secure it with the screws removed in Step 3.

Step 19

TURN POWER ON - Turn the power to the lights back on at the breaker box.

Step 20

CHECK LIGHT - Check the new light at the pool to see that it is operating properly.

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Comments

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(1 to 25 of 25)

Anonymous  Posted: 4/24/2022 

Hi, I am replacing LCSUS11100 with a SPO532CLED due to limited availability. The SPO532CLED has three wires while the previous model had two wires. How do I connect?
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 4/25/2022 

The best place to start would be to read the manual. It appears the SP0532CLED is Hayward's Canadian version of that light model. It appears to be different than what we sell here in the US. I'd contact the manufacturer or the company from whom you purchased it to see if they can offer installation instructions.
 Reply

 Posted: 9/20/2021 

Attempting to pull cord for new pool light , the copper conduit attached to the niche, running to the power riser broke loose from the niche. Of course, water started leaking from pool, but was finally able to get the cord out of the conduit. Big problem now. No physical conduit from power riser to niche. Likely shock/electrocution could occur. Considering adding a step-down transformer from 120v to 12v and replacing the LED 120v lamp with a 12v lamp reducing electrocution potential then eliminating the conduit altogether. I need to know if anyone has encountered a similar problem? How else can I fix?
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 9/20/2021 

You should call a certified electrician to look at this. Unfortunately, I am unable to inspect the equipment or the problem area myself. With the chance of electrocution being present, you need a professional onsite to inspect it properly.
 Reply

 Posted: 2/24/2021 

What keeps the pool water from draining out when the light fixture is removed?
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 3/1/2021 

The light niche's cable conduit should be plugged with a cord stopper or epoxy. Also, the niche has a conduit pipe connect to it that should terminate the waterline. Those two factors should prevent water from draining.
 Reply

 Posted: 4/19/2020 

Just an fyi to save someone some time. If you know that the old light is bad, you could cut the wire at the light, spice the new light wire with that and pull the wire through to the j box.
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 4/24/2020 

Yep, good tip.
 Reply

 Posted: 4/6/2020 

the website states that this fixture is not longer available, do you sell a replacement for it ? where i do not need to chance the niche, thx in advance
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 4/7/2020 

The J&J ColorSplash LED Light Fixtures will replace a Jandy WaterColors LED.
 Reply

 Posted: 7/2/2019 

Can I replace a 300 w, 120 v bulb with a 300 w, 120 v?
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 7/2/2019 

Yes, you can.
 Reply

 Posted: 7/2/2019 

Sorry, I meant a 300watts 120V with a 300watts 12V
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 7/2/2019 

To make the 12-volt bulb work, you would need to install a transformer like the Intermatic PX300
 Reply

 Posted: 10/11/2017 

Anonymous (cable stuck) - Sometimes the cable is sealed around the hole in the back of the niche with epoxy. You may have to chip that out around the old cable.
 Reply

Anonymous  Posted: 10/6/2017 

Followed listed instructions but cable wont budge from either end. Is cable clamped in Hayward niche and if so how do I unclamp? Hoping to not drain pool.
 Reply

 Posted: 8/12/2017 

Working on pulling the wire through the conduit. Very hard. Is there any type of cable lub that can be used that will not cause pool problems? Also, when I am done what should I seal the conduit hole with at the back of the light housing? I don't want to have a pool leak into the conduit.
 Reply

 Posted: 5/4/2017 

One thing not discussed on this video is when you remove the light fixture there maybe some white epoxy or caulking to stop water from going into the conduit. You can use a chisel/flat head screw driver and a small ball peen hammer to chip it away. After pulling the new light fixture you'll want to make sure to replace the epoxy putty or caulking to help keep water from getting into the conduit when the pool is full. The epoxy will even dry under water if you've detected a leak in the niche or performed the work under water.
 Reply

Anonymous  Posted: 4/8/2017 

Is there any kind of putty or epoxy that needs to be removed or replaced where the cord goes into the conduit at the back of the niche?
 Reply

Anonymous  Posted: 4/8/2017 

Is there any kind of putty or epoxy that needs to be removed or replaced where the cord goes into the conduit at the back of the niche?
 Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist  Posted: 8/31/2016 

Jason - Water will leak into the conduit. It is not sealed. The cable should be waterproof - no breaks. All electrical connections are made within the sealed light fixture and up at the circuit breaker near the house.
 Reply

 Posted: 8/30/2016 

How does the water not leak into the conduit when you pull the old cable out?
 Reply

 Posted: 8/5/2021 

Gravity. The level of water in the conduit will be the same as the level of the water in the pool. The conduit extends above the water line, and there is a dry junction box that connects to your circuit breaker box. There is a nice diagram how this works on the instruction pamphlet for the replacement lamp.
 Reply

 Posted: 5/30/2015 

My pool guy said it would cost me $1600 to replace the pool light and the spa light! Thank you for this easy step by step guide on how to replace them myself!... I will save myself $600 to do this job myself!!
 Reply

 Posted: 6/11/2014 

Took me about 1 hour to replace with a new fixture. By myself without
my electrician who wanted $125 for the job. I did spend $20. on a new fish tape from Lowes. Thanks for the great step by step instructions.

 Reply