First Home (Foreclosure) With Pool, Need Help

[Mattitude]

Hey guys, complete pool noob here. I've got the chemicals set up and all within normal ranges, which is great, but now I'm trying to tackle some other issues with the pool:

• Pool lights don't work. we have a breaker that is constantly tripped and we believe that it's the one for the pool lights. Two pool lights. A new flat roof was installed just prior to purchasing the home so I'm wondering if the pool lights are on the same circuit as the outside ceiling fans, which are also dead at the moment. alternatively there may be a short in one of the assemblies causing the whole thing to short.
  
• Not sure what to do about skimmer assembly. The pool area is enclosed (pictures below), and the enclosure frame blocks the skimmer top. It's been like this for a long time i suspect, since the top is cut in such a way you can open the uncovered portion. Do I need a skimmer basket in here, or anything else in there for that matter? If so, is there a flexible solution that can be squeezed in there?
  
• Air bubbles in two of my jets. No sign of leaks, pool level has not been an issue, and water seepage anywhere. Once I hooked up the pool vacuum, I What gives?
  
• Just bought an automatic pool vacuum. I just hook it up to the skimmer intake, right? This is what I bought..
  

I'd really appreciate some help with some of these issues.

HERE IS A PHOTO ALBUM OF THE SETUP

[dlcramer]

I am a noob too, only had my pool since September of last year (foreclosure fliped house) so take what I say with that percaution because I probably don't know what I am talking about.

With my pool, the line you have labled dead end goes to the main drain ( I have only 1 drain). To get mine to work I had to buy what the pool store guy called a check valve that went in the skimmer. It allowed me to adjust suction between skimmer and drain. It was about $25 for the one I got. It fit right under the skimmer basket. The basket gets all the big debris and will help your pump in my opinion because to much crap at the pump basket makes it work harder and need to clean the pump basket less often.

Now after getting the valve and basket, I got a in pool vacuum which runs off the skimmer line. If that is what you are doing as well it make the valve, skimmer, and drain not needed. I keep the valve and basket handy for when I dont want to use the cleaner but want to run the system for the aerator or just circulation.

Not much help on the jets or light. My light is on the same breaker as the pool pump or so whoever maked the breaker pannel wrote. I need to replace mine too so I can only hope its correct.

[Mattitude]

Thanks for the reply. The part I have labeled dead end appears to be a pvc cap of some sort. I will vacuum it out just to make sure, though. I installed an automatic vacuum yesterday and wow what a difference!

[Bugman1400]

My pool light at the deep end has a junction box in a bush a few feet from my diving board. If you have one, I would try disconnecting the wires and try to reset the breaker. If the breaker still trips then, it is not the pool light.