January 21, 20206 yr Hi Guys. I have always been fearful of pool lights. I have just moved into a new home and found that this is the transformer powering the DC pool light. It does not have any connections to earth. Simply Live and neutral on the 230V side. I feel an isolation transformer would be ideal here to curb my OCD. But how come no earth wire? It doesn't look healthy and I'm scared to use the light. Sincerely Jay
January 22, 20206 yr 7 hours ago, Energy said: ... this is the transformer powering the DC pool light. It does not have any connections to earth. Simply Live and neutral on the 230V side. I feel an isolation transformer would be ideal here to curb my OCD. That is an isolating transformer. As long as there is no way to touch the transformer's metal, there is no need to earth it. The parts connecting to 230 V need to be waterproof, of course. No need for earthing the extra low voltage (12 or 24 VAC) after the transformer, although earthing one side would not hurt, and may soothe your OCD 🙂
January 22, 20206 yr Author Aaaah. OCD almost soothed :)) Dont want to electrocute the wife....just yet. Does one get these gizmo's in a plastic housing such as a normal AC adaptor? Thanks for you response. Jay
January 22, 20206 yr 16 hours ago, Energy said: Does one get these gizmo's in a plastic housing such as a normal AC adaptor? Yes. An AC adapter is exactly one of those transformers (as pictured) inside, essentially nothing else. They are less common than DC adapters, and it's even harder to find them in a form actor that is screw-to-a-wall friendly, but they can be found. It's likely a 12 VAC transformer, which fortunately is a common voltage. In fact, maybe garden light transformers (a bit of overkill on the size and cost) might fit the bill well.
January 22, 20206 yr ? My response seems to have gotten lost. In essence: yes, perhaps hard to find, try a small garden light transformer.
January 22, 20206 yr Author 23 minutes ago, Coulomb said: ? My response seems to have gotten lost. In essence: yes, perhaps hard to find, try a small garden light transformer. Sorry for my 101. Plastic enclosed transformers for appliances have a earth prong that is connected? Would feel much less OCD for some reason to have one of those plugged into a socket and then to L N and earth on the DB at the pool. I know it sounds silly. Haha
January 23, 20206 yr Solution 4 hours ago, Energy said: Plastic enclosed transformers for appliances have a earth prong that is connected? Oh. No, probably not, sorry. So it might be a long search... For what it's worth, transformers are double insulated. There is the resin coating the wire (both primary and secondary), and the plastic bobbin separates the two windings. As long as the winding wires are physically separated to they can't touch even plastic to plastic, it's pretty safe.
January 23, 20206 yr ? My reply to the above was lost too. In essence: oops, no, likely no earth lead to a garden transformer. So could be a long search. But transformers are double insulated, so really should be safe. Edit: you could probably just earth one of the outputs from the transformer separately, for added peace of mind. And not have to search for another transformer. Edited January 23, 20206 yr by Coulomb
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