Hello Mike, Your up to date articles are great except for one thing; In order to view the article we need real player which is not what you think.First it says free download,in order to do this they want a complete profile and most of all your credit card number. If you forget to cancel after 14 day trial your billed $39.95. Why not give your customers two choices for downloads, real player and windows xp which I have. Frank

Mike, looking at this illustration it seems each piece of equipment needs its own bonding wire to the metal grid, is it possible to run 1 bonding wire and loop between different components, like bonding in series.

Mike, I am hearing that submerged pool lights need to be deeper than previous requirements. Top of lens depth from 18" changed to 20" Is this so?

1) Since I am writing, if I may express my other electrical concerns: Cheap plastic shrouds on time clocks easily break and clients get shocked from exposed terminals. Firmer shrouds should be mandated.

2) As a means of disconnect for a pool pump, since our client could be standing in water or on moist soil, just a "plug" to pull for constant on-off control, should be banned as an acceptible installation. A separate switch should be required to control this receptacle.

3) Low voltage under water lights that are tied to ul approved swimming pool transformers do not need raised jucntion boxes. Aren't shorts across the transformer still possible? Wouldn't it be best to have the 8" requirement on these jucntion boxes too?

4) Not to be a wise guy, but did anyone actually test that 8" rise as significantly safe for junction box heights?

Thanks,

Stephen Toff Pool Inspector

Mike, The drawing of the bonding circuit indicates, by perspctive, that a pool junction box can be less than 8" height from the overflow of the pool. A higher box in the drawing wouldn't mislead the many electricians that think that 4" is okay.

very good point.thank you

Make sure to download only the FREE version of Real Player. Sometimes the download link of the Free version in the web page is small to notice.

I hear that in New York on Residential pools that the the Equipotential Bonding Grid is not required. It is only required on Commercial Pools. is this true???

Based on the illustration it appears as if you are showing the structural steel of the pool as the equipotential bonding grid. Just to be sure, the bonding grid is also required underneath the pool patio deck for a minimum of 2 feet from the water's edge around the perimeter of the pool also ? Please also explain the value of this as many of my customers are balking at the additional costs associated with this. While i'm all for saftey and not cutting corners I myself wonder how many times a bonding system and grounding electrode system can be tied together before it becomes futile Thanks in advance, you advice is invaluable !

One item that was not properly handled in the Code is underwater louspeakers. There are several brands currently offered, such as the University UW-1's.

These speakers are made entirely of plastic, are sealed structures, and have no exposed metal parts. The input connections are 2 conductors with a balanced connection to the driver coil inside- the entire housing acts as a transducer.

They are typically installed in a "wet niche" made for pool lights, with the attached cable run to a suitable point for connection to an amplifier.

With no exposed metal parts, what is supposed to be grounded?