I'm trying to change a pool bulb, but the faceplate's screws are stripped. How can I back it out?

Question

Changing a pool bulb

I would like to solve the problem without having to drain my pool as I live in the desert and water is very expensive. I cannot use an electric drill. This is a job to be done under the water level.

The part of the screw that is stripped is the head. I think the previous owner of the house tried to change the light bulb using the wrong screwdriver. The screw didn't move, but the screw's head got totally damaged in such a way that screwdrivers don't have a foothold to turn the screw.

Any more ideas? I liked the idea of applying outward pressure using a screwdriver or something as a wedge between the faceplate and the pool's wall, or having someone helping me. Tomorrow I'll try that.

Details: Pool uses a 400 Watt (130V) bulb.

Answer 1

If you described which light it is, I can help. Is it for a vinyl pool (aqua lamp 12 V) or is it a concrete pool with a 110 v Sta Rite, or Jacuzzi fixture? All these other methods that people are describing could ruin the housing and smoke the new bulb.
Edit: Nobody can possibly change ANY pool bulb underwater. You can swap out the housing and thread the new cable up through the conduit, but not the bulb itself. The water you introduce into the housing will short the bulb, resulting in a 150 dollar 500 watt Jacuzzi bulb popping or a 30 dollar aqua lamp bulb either not working, blown or a blown fuse on the control box, Son of Brunh.

Edit: I aasume then, that you're describing the the single screw, that holds the housing into the niche. If the head is indeed useless, you've two options, both of which I've resorted to. You can use a hand cranked drill (bit brace) to remove the head only, get the light out of the way and get a grip on the remaining screw shaft with some vice grips and turn. If you cant remove it this way you'll have to go the extractor route and drain the water to at least just below the niche and use an electric drill. Be VERY careful using that drill so close to the water. I've done it, but I don't endorse anyone else doing it. You can ID the light by the markings on the deck box (right above the light, set into the deck) A jacuzzi will be clearly marked with the name brand or a polygon. If that's a jacuzzi light, that screw will thread into a flimsy, spot welded "nut" attached to the copper niche. If it gets broken, that's not good news. If this is a Sta Rite (they're rather large ( 10 inches or so) and they fasten with a small tapered screw, directly into the housing. It's fairly robust. If you need to break off the head or drill it off, no big issue, but getting the replacement screw may be difficult, not all pool shops will carry them. In any event, you're likely looking at dropping the water, if good old, over the deck edge wrestling won't do it.
When you do manage to get the housing out of the niche, unwrap the cord around it, haull it up to the deck , ensure all power is off to it. The black marks the cord makes on the wall can be removed with brushing, but try to avoid letting the cord contact the pool. Same goes for your hands. If you really plan on swapping out the bulb yourself, make sure that new gasket you put in there is solid and not pinched or you'll be buying a new bulb fairly fast. Even most pool pros will send contract this part out as the liability of a failure can exceed the insurance the business has. If you plan on sending it out, disconnect the wires in the deck box, undo the compression nut and pull through to the pool side. When you get it back, install in reverse (tape the end wires together to make getting it through the conduit easier) and reconnect everything. Don't forget your ground. If the deck box was filled with wax or dux seal, save it to use when re installing.
Don't forget to vac the pool, especially under the light. Those metal shavings you created, depending on the screw, can rust and leave marks in no time.

Answer 2

Chuck C has the right idea. Trying to drill a straight center hole in a screw is tough. But instead of a screwdriver, get a small punch and put a sharp point on it. Then as close as you can get to the outside of the screw without hitting the glass or frame, punch a good indentation in the screw head. Then using that as your foothold, as it were, hold the punch at an angle and start tapping lightly in a counter clockwise direction. This will get the screw started. Once you have enough out you can use your fingers or pliers to remove it. Be sure to buy the correct replacement screw.

Answer 3

I presume you mean changing it under water (as I've done)......if that's the case, then obviously the idiots that tried to answer this question didn't think that you can't bring an electric drill with a screw extractor into the friggin' water. What part is stripped? The threads? So you're able to turn the screw but it's not backing out? If that's the case, what you need to do is apply pulling pressure on the face plate. Either have someone help you and pull on the face plate as you turn the screw OR wedge a screw driver behind the face plate and apply outward pressure. You turning the screw counter clockwise along with pressure on the face plate will probably be enough for the threads to catch again or the screw may just pull out entirely.

Answer 4

drill a hole in the screw and use an appropriate sized easy out.that is what it is called. Another method is to use a strait screwdriver or small chisel and with hammer put on edge of screw and try backing it out.

Answer 5

You need an extracter bit. You drill a hole into the screw and then insert the bit which has a reverse screw.

Answer 6

out of water spray the screws with wd40 to loosen thee m and try again

Answer 7

you can get at tool to take out stripped heads at ace hardware