Pool light out

[Area Man]

I have a Hayward light and niche in my inground pool. The light & niche - and I believe bulb - are from the original installation in 1982. What is the typical life span of the bulb? Is there a way to determine if a bulb is bad BEFORE going and spending the money on a new one? We hardly ever used it. I don't want to buy a new one for nothing.

Our pool and light are about the same age as yours. When we bought the place three years ago, the light was not working. A replacement bulb didn't work. Thinking it may have been defective, I bought another bulb - still no light.

For some reason I had never thought about the junction box for the light - a plastic box, built in the pool deck about 3 feet away from the light. This is where the light's wiring connects with wiring from the switch. When I opened the box I could tell that water had seeped in. With the circuit breaker off, I disconnected the wires, stripped new ends, reconnected, and sealed it all back up. We've been enjoying the light ever since!

[KirstenHW]

Thanks all - I will first call dad about where the junction box is, then see if I should replace it with a funky new one.