| How to Change a Pool Light Posted: 19 Oct 2018 05:00 PM PDT Typically, backyard swimming pools are equipped with 1 or more underwater lights. Just like any light, the bulb can burn out and will need to be replaced. There is no need to lower the water level in your pool to replace the burned out bulb. Instead, you can remove the light housing from the side of the pool, pull the fixture up onto the side of the pool, and change the light bulb there. EditRemoving the Pool Light Fixture - Shut off all power to the pool lighting. You'll do this at your home's circuit breaker box. One of the breakers should be marked "pool." Switch this breaker into the "off" position to turn off all electricity to the pool.[1]
- Some swimming pools have been equipped with their own breaker boxes. If you don't see a "pool" breaker in your main electrical box, look around near your pool to see if there's a second box nearby.
- Check to make sure power is off by trying to turn on the pool lights. You don't want to risk possible electrocution, so flip the pool lights on and off to make sure the pool isn't receiving any electrical power.
- If you only have one pool light, try switching the pool pump on and off. If the power is truly off, the pump won't turn on.
- Remove the single screw at the top of the fixture. This screw, called the "screwlock," is the only thing holding the light fixture to the pool wall. In nearly all cases, this will be a large Phillips-head screw, so you will need a Phillips screwdriver to remove it. Roll up your sleeves, stick your arm beneath the surface of the water, and unscrew the screwlock.[2]
- If the light is low on the side of your pool, or if your arm is too short to reach, you'll have to get into the pool to unscrew the screw-lock and remove the fixture.
- Once you've unscrewed the screwlock, place it someplace where it won't roll away and get lost. A shirt pocket is a good option.
- Pry the light fixture out of the niche box with a flat-head screwdriver. Most light fixtures will have a tab at the bottom which allows you to pull the fixture away from the wall. Work this tab loose with the flat-head screwdriver. Also use the screwdriver to loosen the fixture in a few other locations.[3]
- Once it's loose enough, work your fingers in and pull the light fixture out of the wall.
- Pull the pool lighting fixture up onto the pool decking. There should be plenty of cord coiled up in the niche box to allow you to lift out the fixture and move it to the deck. Slowly draw the fixture and the cord behind it up onto the pool deck and set it on the concrete surface.[4]
- If the cord isn't unraveling, reach into the wall behind the light fixture and give the cord 2-3 sharp tugs.
EditReplacing the Light Bulb - Remove the cover and lens from the light fixture. The method will vary based on the age of your pool. Older pool models will have screws that need to be removed to allow you to pull out the lens. Newer pool lights will most likely have tabs that need to be pried loose. Remove the lens and set it aside in a safe place. Do the same with the rubber gasket that sits between the lens and the metal fixture.[5]
- Make sure that you don't splash any water into the fixture when you remove the lens and gasket.
- Purchase a replacement bulb identical to the bulb in the light. Consult your pool's handbook or user manual to find out the exact type of bulb the fixture requires. Then, pay a visit to a local pool-supply store and purchase the corresponding bulb. Make sure that the size, brand, and serial numbers of the 2 bulbs match.[6]
- If you can't find the exact bulb you need in a pool-supply store, purchase the bulb online. You can purchase replacement pool bulbs through major online retailers or through the pool manufacturer's website.
- If you're worried that the light fixture may be leaking, you can also purchase a new rubber gasket to seal the fixture and prevent water from getting in.
- Unscrew the old bulb and screw the new one into place with a towel. Once the lens and gasket are out of the way, you'll be able to reach in and grasp the bulb. Twist the bulb counterclockwise to unscrew it. Once you've removed it, hold onto the new bulb with a towel. Place the bulb in the center of the fixture and twist it clockwise.[7]
- Never directly touch the lightbulb. The oils on your fingers can damage a halogen bulb and cause it to burn out quickly.
- Dispose of the old bulb safely by throwing it in a trash can.
- Turn the power on for 2-3 seconds to test the light and see if it works. Go back to the circuit breaker or pool electrical box and flip the switch back to "on." See if the light turns on. If it does, immediately turn the switch back to "off." This will save you the hassle of installing the new bulb only to find out that it doesn't work.[8]
- If you leave the pool light on for longer than 5 seconds, the bulb may burn itself out. Halogen bulbs like those used in pool lights are extremely hot. If you turn the light on without cool water surrounding it, it will quickly overheat and burn out.[9]
EditReinstalling the Pool Light Fixture - Replace the lens and reassemble the fixture. Place the gasket and the lens back in place covering the bulb.[10] As you're putting the parts of the light fixture back together, use the edge of your towel to dry any water that's dripped into the fixture.
- Replace all screws and lock in all tabs to close the light fixture. You'll simply reverse the disassembling process to re-assemble the pool light fixture. If you removed small screws from the fixture while you were taking it apart, now's the time to screw those back into place. Tighten them so that the gasket is pressed flat between the lens and fixture cover.[11]
- If you're dealing with a newer model pool light fixture that doesn't have screws, make sure that the tabs are all firmly pushed into position so that the fixture is sealed shut.
- Place the fixture back into light niche and screw in the top screw. Hold the fixture in your hand and reach below the surface of the water. Insert the fixture back into the niche that you withdrew it from earlier. Take the screwlock screw and insert it back into the hole at the top of the fixture. Then, use your Phillips head screwdriver to tighten the screw into position.[12]
- You'll also need to feed the cable back into the wall if you had to tug it out. An easy way to do this is to wrap the cord 3-4 times around the base of the fixture before you insert it into the wall.
- Turn the power back on by switching the circuit breaker to "on." This will restore electricity to the pool light. Once the circuits are connected again, turn the light on to make sure it is working correctly.[13]
- If the light still isn't working correctly, you may be dealing with a more serious electrical problem. In this case, contact the pool's manufacturer and ask them to send a repair specialist to inspect the pool.
- Do not reattach the lens when you test the replacement bulb. Leaving the lens off will allow heat to dissipate so as not to crack the lens.
- Do not attempt to change the light until you are absolutely sure the pool lighting circuit is disconnected. If the circuit is still active, you could be seriously hurt by the electrical current.
- After you have replaced the bulb, make sure you don't bump or drop it. The filament in the bulb is fragile and might break.
- If your lens is equipped with tabs, take care not to damage the waterproof gasket when prying up the lens.
EditThings You'll Need - Replacement bulb
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Flat-headed screwdriver
- Towels
EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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| How to Photograph the Night Sky Posted: 19 Oct 2018 09:00 AM PDT If you have a cell phone in your pocket or have access to a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR), you can easily take gorgeous photos of the night sky. To improve your astrophotography, avoid shooting in the automatic setting. If you're using a DSLR, program a wide aperture, keep the shutter open for a long exposure, and increase the ISO sensitivity. If you're using your cell phone, download a low-lighting app and consider photographing through a telescope. Once you've captured your pictures, edit them with software until you have the image you want. EditAdjusting the Settings on a DSLR - Mount the camera to a tripod and adjust the f-stop to f/2.8 or wider. Attach your DSLR to a sturdy tripod so it won't move or shake. Open the aperture (f-stop) of the camera to at least f/2.8 or wider so you let in a lot of light.[1]
- The aperture refers to the hole through which light enters the camera. To let more light into the camera, adjust the aperture to a wider f-stop like f/2 or f/1.4.
- Consider using a cable release to capture the image, especially if you're leaving the shutter open for more than 30 seconds. This will reduce the chance that you bump or shake the camera.
- Set the ISO high. Check your camera settings to determine its range of light sensitivity. By dialing up the ISO, your camera will pick up more details in the low light of the night sky. Try photographing with as high of an ISO as your camera has such as 1600 or 3200.[2]
- Keep in mind that shooting at a higher ISO can increase the noise (make the photo grainy), so you'll have to edit in post-production.
- If you're using a film camera, you'll need to load it with high ISO film.
- Turn the white balance to tungsten white. Because your eyes have a hard time seeing the true color of the night sky, it can difficult to set the color for your camera. Don't leave your white balance setting set to daylight or automatic, which will make the night images come out too warm. Instead, set the camera to tungsten white balance to get a more accurate color read.[3]
- To give you even more control over the white balance, shoot the images in RAW mode instead of JPG.
- Choose a manual or slow shutter speed. Since it's hard to get enough light for nighttime photographs, you'll need to leave your shutter open and manually close it or set it for a slow speed. Keep in mind that slow shutter speeds will blur any action taking place in the picture such as shooting stars.[4]
- The manual shutter speed might be bulb on your camera.
- For example, set the shutter speed to 1/30 or 1/15.
EditSetting Your Cell Phone for Astrophotography - Download a night photography app. Make space on your phone to download an updated night photography or long exposure app that works with your operating system. These photography apps are designed specifically for taking great low-light shots. Try one of these night photography apps:[5]
- NightCap Pro (for iPhone)
- Camera FVV-5 of Camera FV-5 Lite (for Android)
- Slow Shutter Cam (for iPhone)
- Average Camera Pro (for iPhone)
- Night Camera (for Android)
- Turn off the flash and high dynamic range (HDR) setting. If you leave the flash on, the image won't capture the brightness of the stars and you'll only see the black sky. It's also important to turn off the HDR because it will actually make the images blurry and dull.[6]
- Avoid using the zoom feature on your phone's camera because it will make the image look grainy and out of focus.
- Secure your cell phone to a tripod. To get high quality photographs of the night sky with your cell phone it's very important to reduce camera shake. Purchase a small tripod that has bendable legs and a base for attaching your cell phone. Once you attach the camera, bend the legs if necessary so the phone is pointed at the part of the sky you want.
- If you don't have a tripod handy, set your phone against any flat surface nearby such as a railing, wall, or pillar.
- Consider attaching your cell phone to a telescope. Some of the best photographs can be taken by photographing through the eyepiece of a telescope. Set up a telescope on a a tripod and look through the eyepiece to adjust the magnification. Once you're looking at the part of the sky you'd like to photograph, attach your phone so it's over the eyepiece.[7]
- To take the photo, just tap the shutter on your camera screen.
- Using the telescope will give you magnified and detailed images.
EditTaking Incredible Images - Compose each photograph with an interesting focal point. Decide if you'd like to capture the stars, moon, or unique clouds in the night sky. To photograph the stars, try to shoot on a moonless night so they appear brighter. For moon photos, check the calendar to determine which phase the moon will be in.[8]
- For example, if you'd like a full moon, you only have 1 to 2 nights each month when you shoot the full or almost full moon.
- To photograph stars, plan if you'd like them to be bright pinpricks of light or if you want a longer exposure that shows star trails.
- Adapt to your situation. Even if you adjust your composition and camera settings, you may have to deal with unexpected variables. Embrace the challenges and find ways to make them work in your photographs. Try different things since you never know what may work out.[9]
- For example, if the sky becomes cloudy or overcast, you might be able to photograph the moon surrounded with an unusual haze.
- Take lots of photographs using a variety of settings. Once you've chosen camera settings for a night sky situation, start taking pictures. Keep making adjustments to the shutter speed or aperture as you shoot to achieve a variety of effects.
- Play around with using your camera's timer to reduce the risk of shaky images.
- Edit your photos in post-processing to get the desired look. Most photos of the night sky have been heavily edited to get high-quality images. Use your favorite photo editing software to crop the image, adjust the balance, and play with the contrast.[10]
- For example, photos of the night sky often have tiny specks of color or grainy pixels that are a result of shooting in low light. Most photo editing software has tools to reduce this noise and make your images crisp.
- Stack the photos in processing to make the image you want. If you're still struggling to show the intensity of a constellation or the trail of a star, use editing software to stack several images. Since you control the layers in the image, you can include planets, stars, clouds, or the moon.[11]
- Some camera apps may allow you to photograph in a rapid fire mode. These images are great for stacking.
- Unfortunately, point and shoot cameras lack the capabilities to capture great shots of the night sky. Instead, use film or DSLR cameras to take shots of the night sky.
EditRelated wikiHows EditThings You'll Need EditUsing a DSLR Camera - Digital single-lens reflex camera
- Tripod
EditPhotographing with a Cell Phone - Cell phone
- Cell phone tripod
- Telescope, optional
EditTaking Incredible Images - Photo-editing software
- Images from your camera or phone
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Make a Paper Football Posted: 19 Oct 2018 01:00 AM PDT You might not be able to play football in the office or classroom, but you can probably get away with tossing around a paper football—its unique triangular alternative. And you can make a paper football right from your desk in just a minute without a pair of scissors. Just portion and fold your paper and then create your football by folding a series of small triangles together. EditCutting and Folding Your Paper - Find an sheet of paper. Ideally, you should use a sheet of printer paper or tear out a piece of ordinary paper from your notebook. This is the best size of paper for a paper football, although if your paper is a bit smaller or larger it will still work. Notebook and printer paper works better than thicker paper or construction paper because they're easier to fold. They're also lighter and easier to use in a game of paper football.[1]
- Use a fresh sheet of paper so the football looks nice. This will also make it easier for you to decorate it later if you'd like.
- Fold the paper in half lengthwise and then unfold it. Either fold the right side of the paper to the left, or the left side of the paper to the right. Make sure the edges of the paper match up so that you create a neat vertical crease down its center. Unfold the paper once you've made a defined crease.[2]
- Pinch the crease with your thumb and index fingers and run them along it to make it more firm.
- To make the crease even firmer, you can unfold the 2 halves, turn the paper over, and fold them again. This will create a defined crease along both sides of the paper.
- Cut or tear the sheet along the vertical crease. Use scissors to cut along the vertical crease. You can also tear the paper in half by holding the left and right sides and gently pulling them in opposite directions. Either way, the end result should be 2 tall strips of paper that are wide and tall.[3]
- You will only need to 1 strip to create 1 paper football. If you like, you can use the other to create another football later.
- Use scissors to cut your paper into 2 pieces whenever possible.
- Fold 1 of the strips in half lengthwise. Start by folding the top left corner about halfway down toward the bottom left corner. Afterwards, bring the top right corner down to the same halfway point toward the bottom right corner. Pull both corners down to their respective opposing corners.[4]
- Press the crease down after lining up the corners.
- Place the half horizontally in front of you when you're finished—the piece should now be half as wide and twice as thick.
- Fold the lower right corner toward the opposite edge of the paper. This fold should form a triangle. The left side of the triangle should run parallel to the width of the horizontal paper. The top edge of the triangle should run perpendicular to the left side of the triangle.[5]
- The left and top sides of the triangle should form a 90-degree angle, creating a right-angled triangle (the other two angles should be 45 degrees each).
- Flip the triangle toward the left side of the paper. Use the thumb and index finger of your right hand to grab the triangle by its top right corner. Hold down the bottom left corner of the triangle with your free hand as you begin to flip the triangle to the left. Move your fingers out of the way at the halfway point of the flip and create another thicker triangle.[6]
- Press down on the top and right creases of the new triangle.
- Continue folding triangles along the paper until you've reached the end. Move toward the left side of the paper, pressing down on the creases of your new triangles as you go.[7]
- Give the last creases a good rub once you're left with 1 triangle.
- Undo the last 2 folds of the paper. With the point of the triangle facing up, pull the first fold downward to make a square. Now, pull the second fold outward from the square.
- The end result should be a square (or rectangle) attached to a right-angled triangle.
- Fold the right-angled triangle downward. Afterwards, you should have 2 connected right-angled triangles that form a larger one.[8]
- Don't worry if it's not a perfect triangle—it takes practice to get it right.
- Trim about off the outer point of the righthand triangle. With the tip of the paper facing downward, draw a line to mark off the corner piece. Use a pair of scissors to make a cut parallel to the height of the triangle (the line from the bottom corner straight upward). You can also tear off the extra paper with your hands.[9]
- Another option is to fold the right tip of the triangle toward the height so you don't have to remove any paper.
EditShaping and Coloring Your Football - Tuck the right side of the new triangle into the pocket on the left. Hold the 2 outer sides of the left small triangle with your thumb and forefinger. Gently squeeze it to widen the opening. With the point of your paper facing downward, take the tip of the small triangle on the right and tuck it into the pocket that is created by the left.[10]
- At the end of this step, your larger right-angled triangle (created from 2 smaller triangles) should now be the same size as the smaller ones but with double the thickness.
- Flatten the paper football with your fingers. Smooth down the creases of the triangle until you have a flat paper football. Now that it's ready, you can start being a champion paper football player.[11]
- Decorate the paper football if you want to get creative. If you'd like to give your paper football a personalized touch, use a marker or pen to draw stitch marks and other defining features of a football.[12]
- Brown markers make a great color for football leather, and white or gray works well for the stitches.
- If you don't have the right size of paper for the job, you can cut off the extra pieces or make a smaller football
- To make a second football, repeat this process using the remaining half of your paper.
- Always use scissors when you can—you'll get better creases and smoother throws when playing games of paper football.
- To make a thicker football, don't rip the paper in half after folding it lengthwise. This means you'll only get 1 football for every 1 sheet of paper.
- You can also add 2 to 3 sheets of paper to thicken your paper football.
- Do not flick the paper football at other people's eyes.
EditThings You'll Need - Paper
- Scissors or paper cutter (optional)
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Colored markers or pens
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations __ EditQuick Summary
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