I currently have a 500 watt incandescent light in my 20x40 inground. I have a sand bottom and every imperfection shows. Would a colored LED bulb or blue lens help with that? I can only see them at certain angles but I am pretty OCD.
Softer pool lighting
- Thread starter wco1970
- Start date
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,999
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Embrace your pool's personality! 
I was shocked when I first saw my brand new pebble surface at night, cross lit by my pool light. I was all "Hey, why isn't this perfectly smooth?!?" I pinged someone here, they said that's just the nature of the finish, and the best that can be done by hand troweling. Much the same, I'd guess, as can be done with a sand floor.
My LED can cycle though a handful of colors. The darker colors, red and blue, only obscure the bumps by nature of the lower light level, not anything to do with the color itself. A shadow is a shadow, and that's what you're seeing, the elongated shadows of the bumps. The colored lights will solve for this the same way you'd see less shadows in your living room by turning down the dimmer of the an overhead light. Just darker, not less bumps.
The only thing that would solve that is by changing the angle of the light. The higher the light, the shorter the shadows. Or by adding a light at the opposite end, but those aren't practical options for an IG pool.
You can see for yourself on the cheap, before you spend any money on a light or lens. Find something colored and hold if over the light. Ummm, ummm... A t shirt? A green Sprite bottle cut and flattened? A thin plastic bowl. You get the idea. Not exact, but a close approximation perhaps, if you find the right thing.
I do like the LED though. I'm not so much into the colors, but being able to dial down the light, from a bright-ish white to a subtle blue or green, down to a romantic red.
But beware, my particular LED on it's brightest setting is no match for a 500 watter. Not even close. Mine's a Pentair. Not sure how bright the other multi-colored LED brands get. But I don't want a bright pool light, so mine works for me...
I was shocked when I first saw my brand new pebble surface at night, cross lit by my pool light. I was all "Hey, why isn't this perfectly smooth?!?" I pinged someone here, they said that's just the nature of the finish, and the best that can be done by hand troweling. Much the same, I'd guess, as can be done with a sand floor.
My LED can cycle though a handful of colors. The darker colors, red and blue, only obscure the bumps by nature of the lower light level, not anything to do with the color itself. A shadow is a shadow, and that's what you're seeing, the elongated shadows of the bumps. The colored lights will solve for this the same way you'd see less shadows in your living room by turning down the dimmer of the an overhead light. Just darker, not less bumps.
The only thing that would solve that is by changing the angle of the light. The higher the light, the shorter the shadows. Or by adding a light at the opposite end, but those aren't practical options for an IG pool.
You can see for yourself on the cheap, before you spend any money on a light or lens. Find something colored and hold if over the light. Ummm, ummm... A t shirt? A green Sprite bottle cut and flattened? A thin plastic bowl. You get the idea. Not exact, but a close approximation perhaps, if you find the right thing.
I do like the LED though. I'm not so much into the colors, but being able to dial down the light, from a bright-ish white to a subtle blue or green, down to a romantic red.
But beware, my particular LED on it's brightest setting is no match for a 500 watter. Not even close. Mine's a Pentair. Not sure how bright the other multi-colored LED brands get. But I don't want a bright pool light, so mine works for me...
A darker busier liner pattern helps considerably, as would a cement based pool floor.
Do you have a light pattern or old washed out liner?
Do you have a light pattern or old washed out liner?
Its a new dark grey liner with a mosaic pattern. Its much better than my lighter liner but since its new it bothers me more. Mostly on the sides of the slope down.
- - - Updated - - -
- - - Updated - - -
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,999
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Your last comment sparked a brain cell. I think my light is somehow adjustable. Can't remember now, something about how wide it shines. Like a spot to flood feature. I doubt it would matter too much in my pool, but you said your most bothered by things on the sides? If your light happens to have such a feature, maybe playing around with that might do the trick.
I am going to try and adjust the lighting. The shallow side is not getting much light so the slope must be getting blasted. I will try and test some colors also.
You are right about the shadows. I only see it from one side. A light on the other side probably would have done the trick. Then again I need to send my kids to college eventually!
I have an old vacuum line on the side of my pool that is doing nothing. I wonder if i can install an extra light in there and would it get rid of the shadows? I could use some more light actually. My lighter liner was extremely bright at night. This one does not give off nearly as much light. It would be only one on the side and could look uneven though.
This might sound crazy but if you have a powerful waterproof spotlight you can experiment to see if the opposing angle kills some of the shadow issue.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,999
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Hmm, only know a little about this. There's a bunch of components and electrical codes for a pool light. Conduit, junction box, bonding. Other stuff too, maybe. It might be possible, but it's more involved than just running a wire. You'd need a qualified electrician for that. And I think you'd need to drain your pool down below the fixture.
Does your deck or coping overhang the pool? You might be able to add LED lighting under the ledge that could help, though I'm not sure this can be added to an existing pool. It would certainly get rid of your shadows. If you had it on a separate circuit, then the main light and coping lights could work together or separately for some interesting effects. Something like this:
Google "pool lighting" or "pool coping lighting" for some other ideas. They've come along way in pool lighting. Not just big, single bulbs in the sides any more...
I kinda want this for my pool, now that I see it!
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,999
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
There you go. I also just read here that there are colored lens covers available that some how snap on to existing pool lights. Google "pool light lens covers".
No overhang. Trying to keep it simple and cheap. That old line that was intended for cleaning is my only easy hardwiring option without lifting the pavers and digging. I see they have return jet lights powered by the water. Not sure if they are any good though.
- - - Updated - - -
Looking into those also.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,999
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Keep us posted with what you come up with! With all the zaniness that some members here get into, it'd be nice to hear about a simple issue solved with a simple solution!
Keep us posted with what you come up with! With all the zaniness that some members here get into, it'd be nice to hear about a simple issue solved with a simple solution!
Will do if I actually find a solution!
I ended up just adjusting my return jets for more water movement on top. Can barely make out the imperfections with the pump running. I bought a blue snap on lens cover which also helps but the extra water movement really did the trick.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,999
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
