Electrical Connections
ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS
Licensed Electricians
Work on electrical installations and equipment requires specialist skills and must only be carried out by approved or registered electricians. Consultation with a Licensed electrician is considered essential prior to the purchase or installation of any electrical equipment.
Communicate prior to reaching agreements with your pool builder your requirements that the work be carried out by a Licensed electrician if the pool builder is supplying this service as part of their contract.
Electrical Equipment Location
Electrical equipment that is not part of the structure should be kept a clear distance to avoid frayed wires or any similar incidents.
General Purpose Outlets (GPO)
In instances where electrical equipment is to be used near swimming pools the following points should be given careful consideration:
- General purpose outlets should be installed at least 3.0 metres distance from the nearest pool or where this cannot be provided and at least 1.0 metres above the floor level.
- Water proof covers should be provided over the general purpose outlets (GPO) especially where exposed directly to the elements.
- GPO should be connected to an earth-leakage protection device.
- Some three (3) phase outlets may not be connected to an earth leakage protection device. Outlets should not be used to power equipment when people are in the water.(ie Flotation Toys, Inflatables etc)
Feature Lights
Feature lights are commonly used in planter beds/boxes, under water and behind water features eg. water falls. In all situations special precautions are required, such as:
- Feature and Underwater lights should be of an extra low voltage.
- Lights in planter boxes should be insulated so that heat emissions as a result of prolonged use do not burn probing hands or fingers, or do not heat mulch or plants to the verge of ignition (flame).
- Lights located under or behind water should have access for maintenance or repair.
Surface Reflection/Glare
As far as practical, lights should be positioned to throw illumination over the water from directly above. The angle at which light is directed toward the water surface can have a dramatic affect on effective supervision and safe activity.
Care should be taken where the light is thrown directly over the concourse but not the water surface as this can cast dark shadows into the edges of the pool.
Lights over concourses are the ideal location for longevity of globes and fittings, installment, maintenance and repair. Where located over concourses, underwater lights should be provided to neutralise the light source from above and wash out any shadows. This is highly recommended for pools with depths of 2.0m or deeper.
Lower angles of illumination increase reflection of light off the water surface giving it mirror like qualities. The ability to see below the water surface can worsen where a combination of surface reflection and surface disturbance are combined. Reflection and disturbance create the effect of a shinning/shimering star affect.
Reflection can limit the ability to see below the water surface or impede user ability to adequately judge water depth. The awareness of light reflection is especially significant for those acting in a supervising capacity.
Light should be positioned to illuminate from behind chosen supervision points. This will assist to reduce the silhouette affect suffered by observers of activity when looking directly in the path of a light source.
Suspended Electrical Features
A solution to the points raised in 4.4.1 and retain the preferred qualities of light sources from directly above is to design suspended features into the feature of the pool, especially those indoors. The following points should be considered if designing such features:
- Electrical features suspended from ceilings or structural framework should be securely fixed with fasteners that have an appropriate rating for the weight it is expected to retain.
- Stainless steel fasters should be used to avoid accelerated corrosion caused by chloramines especially for indoor pools.
- The electrical connecting cable should be of a short length to restrain the feature should it become loose and assist to restrict entry of the fitting into the water.
- Consideration to regular access and maintenance of the light feature should be given priority and any mechanics to operate the movement of the light should be located to limit child access/operation.
Electric Pool Cleaners
While electric powered pool cleaners are not yet common place in the home pool where used as the automated cleaning device they should not be operational when the pool/spa is in use for human activity.
Electrical cleaners are commonly used in Local Government type pools and should not be confused with the more common pool pump operated system that is connected to the home pool filtration system (ie skimmer box) and not directly to a power source.
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