Anyone upgrade the bulb in a Fiberstars fiberoptic light tower?

[NeedCoffee]

Hey all,

Like most people who have these, my fiberoptic lighting system has always been pretty dim. This is despite my best efforts to clean the lens. And now it looks like the bulb socket had an arc in it as the bulb I just removed had a melted pin. Looks like I need to cut off the bulb socket and rewire another. So since I need to wire in a new socket anyway, I thought I'd attempt to find a brighter bulb type, maybe LED if that's possible. Has anyone tried this? Thanks!

 

[NeedCoffee]

And I should mention, I'm aware of the available upgrade kits. But I'm looking to avoid swapping out the fiber optic cables and draining my pool just to install the new lights. I just want to wire a stronger bulb into the control tower.

 

[DrewLG]

Like most people who have these, my fiberoptic lighting system has always been pretty dim. This is despite my best efforts to clean the lens. And now it looks like the bulb socket had an arc in it as the bulb I just removed had a melted pin. Looks like I need to cut off the bulb socket and rewire another. So since I need to wire in a new socket anyway, I thought I'd attempt to find a brighter bulb type, maybe LED if that's possible. Has anyone tried this?

Probably everyone who owns one of those systems has tried to find a compatible LED bulb. Unfortunately, there's no LED replacement that produces anywhere near the halogen bulb's 900-lumen output.

If your lights seemed dim, it might have been from the corrosion on the socket contacts. So you may find that the lights are brighter after you replace the socket.

It's also possible that you were using an 800-lumen bulb; those trade brightness for longer life (800 hours vs 500 or so).

 

[Bperry]

I wired in an automotive LED headlight bulb on my light tower. It worked ok, but not sure it was any brighter than the halogen bulb it replaced. I’ve since pulled the fiber around the pool but still have two side lights. Was debating on replacing them with LED.

 

[1poolman1]

Hey all,

Like most people who have these, my fiberoptic lighting system has always been pretty dim. This is despite my best efforts to clean the lens. And now it looks like the bulb socket had an arc in it as the bulb I just removed had a melted pin. Looks like I need to cut off the bulb socket and rewire another. So since I need to wire in a new socket anyway, I thought I'd attempt to find a brighter bulb type, maybe LED if that's possible. Has anyone tried this? Thanks!

One of the most often overlooked issue with fiber optics is the fibers themselves. You can take the bundle in the tower (if you have enough slack in the conduit), tightly wrap the very end with electrical tape, use a very sharp utility knife to cut (break) off a very small portion and your brightness will increase greatly. The ends seem to get clouded over by the heat from the bulb and this very often helps.

 

[NeedCoffee]

One of the most often overlooked issue with fiber optics is the fibers themselves. You can take the bundle in the tower (if you have enough slack in the conduit), tightly wrap the very end with electrical tape, use a very sharp utility knife to cut (break) off a very small portion and your brightness will increase greatly. The ends seem to get clouded over by the heat from the bulb and this very often helps.

Thanks for this tip. When you wrap it in electrical tape, do you then cut through the tape, or do you want to make the cut below the tape? I think the fiber cable is coiled up in the tower so should have plenty.

 

[NeedCoffee]

Probably everyone who owns one of those systems has tried to find a compatible LED bulb. Unfortunately, there's no LED replacement that produces anywhere near the halogen bulb's 900-lumen output.

If your lights seemed dim, it might have been from the corrosion on the socket contacts. So you may find that the lights are brighter after you replace the socket.

It's also possible that you were using an 800-lumen bulb; those trade brightness for longer life (800 hours vs 500 or so).

How do you know the difference in the bulbs? Nowhere I've seen the bulb advertised has the lumens been specified.

 

[DrewLG]

How do you know the difference in the bulbs? Nowhere I've seen the bulb advertised has the lumens been specified.

900 lumens, <500 hour life (for units built after 1998, or for any unit operated at ambient temperature below 100F): PF220 PF220/1 19.7V 220W Fiberstar Pool Replacement Light Bulb, Lamp
800 lumens, ~800 hour life (for any unit): HI-111 19.7V 200W Fiberstar Fiber Optic Pool Lamp, Replacement Light Bulb

 

[NeedCoffee]

900 lumens, <500 hour life (for units built after 1998, or for any unit operated at ambient temperature below 100F): PF220 PF220/1 19.7V 220W Fiberstar Pool Replacement Light Bulb, Lamp
800 lumens, ~800 hour life (for any unit): HI-111 19.7V 200W Fiberstar Fiber Optic Pool Lamp, Replacement Light Bulb

Thanks. I reached out to an online bulb specialist in parallel and found the PF220. Also, in speaking with them I learned that they offer the complete socket. They claim that the socket is bad if the bulb burns out easily, which mine have. So I ordered it and a PF220 and I'll report back once these are installed.

QLV-1 TP41 TP40 Replacement Lamp Socket for MR-16 Lamps, GX5.3, GU5.3

QLV-1 Lamp socket lampholder for GU5.3, GX5.3, MR16

www.replacementlightbulbs.com

 

[Woody007]

FYI, I found that you can use a 24v lamp instead of the specialty 19.7v bulb. They are significantly cheaper and seem to work just as well.
I think mine could do with the ends of the fiber trimming, but being >20yrs old I feel like I could do more damage messing with it than it's worth.

 

[NeedCoffee]

So the PF220 finally worked. I had to replace the socket, but the bulb that arrived with it was faulty. After the supplier sent another I have light again, and it does seem brighter.