When envisioning the american dream, one thinks of a beautiful house on a big piece of land with a white picket fence out front. Since this original take on the american dream, many things have changed in regard to what homeowners find appealing about a house. One amenity, in particular, that is considered a luxury is a pool.
But two responsibilities that come with owning a pool are regular maintenance and installing proper wiring for pool lighting. Proper wiring for lighting is extremely important, especially since the death of a seven-year-old boy in his swimming pool. A local newspaper first introduced this story and indicated that faulty pool light wiring may be linked to the child’s death. It also went on to cite two more examples of death by electrocution due to faulty wiring in order to show that this cause of death is possible.
A pool should be a fun haven to enjoy with friends and family. Wiremasters electric understands how crucial wiring is in regard to electrical aspects of your home. Therefore, we have provided some safety guidelines on swimming pool lighting to keep you and your family safe this summer.
1. Recognize local safety codes and the national electric code
If you decide to conduct any electrical work around your pool, it’s imperative that you are aware of local safety codes and the national electric code. For instance, low-voltage lighting systems must not be less than 10 feet, horizontally, away from the nearest edge of the water.
2. Use a 12-volt lighting system
When installing pool lighting, it’s recommended that you choose a 12-volt lighting system as opposed to a 120-volt system, because it is less hazardous and the latter requires a 5-star rated electrician to install it. Keep in mind that a 12-volt pool light can only be 300 watts.
3. Pay attention to the quality of the equipment
The quality of the equipment is important, especially those that are used for applications near water. For diy projects, avoid investing in inexpensive, plastic fixtures because of their unsuitability near water. Instead, purchase equipment made out of quality brass or other non-rusting metal alloy fixtures.
4. Be safe rather than sorry by installing wiring in a conduit
installing wiring in a conduit is not necessary; however, it does add safety and durability for wiring installed next to water.
5. Prevent any part of the lighting system from being submerged in water
The lighting system includes fixtures, transformers and wiring. None of these should be submerged in water at any time. To prevent this from happening, transformers should be properly grounded in accordance by both manufacturer and national electric code, and every component of the system that could come into contact with water must be protected with ground-fault circuit interrupters.
wiremasters electric has been providing residential and commercial electrical services in south florida for years. Our goal is to operate above industry standards and provide quality services to meet your needs and surpass your expectations. Contact us today to find out more information and to set up an appointment with one of our miami electricians.