Pool landscape lighting...... photocell, timer, switch??

[Wadeod]

If you lived in Michigan area and used pool basically half the year. How would you do your landscape lighting by the pool to turn on and off?

its basically 6 LED path lights and about 10 or so built into retaining walls.

At first, we decided photocell. But now I’m thinking we would probably need those lights about 50 times per year. So now I’m thinking a timer or even some kind of light switch like we have when we turn on our patio lights?

what would you do?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

We have some LED lights set into a retaining wall. They're hooked up to turn on automatically every night for 12 hours. They provide a nice glow even to the landscape.

Maddie

 

[Dirk]

If you lived in Michigan area and used pool basically half the year. How would you do your landscape lighting by the pool to turn on and off?

its basically 6 LED path lights and about 10 or so built into retaining walls.

At first, we decided photocell. But now I’m thinking we would probably need those lights about 50 times per year. So now I’m thinking a timer or even some kind of light switch like we have when we turn on our patio lights?

what would you do?

This can be wired into a regular light switch location. Dial on up to 12 hours. Simple, easy. Analog, no programming. Go to bed knowing the lights will shut off later. Or dial off manually if you change your mind. So it's both a light switch, and an on-the-fly timer.

Intermatic Timer, Spring Wound FF12H | Zoro.com

They also have models that fit in switch boxes that are everyday-same-time-on-and-off timers, that you can override manually when you want to.

Intermatic Timer, Elect., Wall Switch, 120-277V, 20A, WH EI400WC | Zoro.com

There are dozens of types and styles. Analog dials, or digital that can have different schedules for different days of the week, etc.

 

[PoolGate]

Do you have automation? I recently wired in my landscape low-voltage lighting to my Jandy iAqualink automation. I can now fully control the lights from my automation (phone). I set the lights to be on from dusk to 11:00pm through the lights low voltage transformer and then I can turn them on or off through the automation or put them on a schedule. So even if I forget to turn them off they will turn off at 11:00pm. It was very easy to do if you already have automation.

 

[Wadeod]

We are not automated

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Are they hardwired or plugged in? If a plug, is it indoors or out. Are they controlled by a wall switch? There are lots of options out there for wifi controlled switches and plugs that you can control with an app on your phone, Alexa or Google Home, or by timer. I have my Malibu transformer plugged into a simple $20 wifi plug that comes on at sunset and off at midnight.

 

[Meadow]

If you are in search of a simple set and forget timer, then you will not get disappointed with this 7-day timer from Home Depot for $20. All you have to do is move over the existing wires from your existing wall light switch. It automatically adjusts to DST and follows the preset dusk-dawn time based on your region or you can change it manually. I had mine set to turn on at dusk and off at 11:00 pm. Basically, a set and forget and I have not disturbed it since installed 3 years ago! The only problem I may have in the future is locating the literature that came with it if I need to change the programming.

 

[jza1736]

Your can always do both.
Have a photocell or timer to turn them on and off every night

And run a switch in parallel to turn them on when you want them on. I would use a timer switch. That way if you forget to turn it off, it will time out and revert back to the photocell or timer

Best of both worlds without automation

 

[PoolGate]

If you lived in Michigan area and used pool basically half the year. How would you do your landscape lighting by the pool to turn on and off?

its basically 6 LED path lights and about 10 or so built into retaining walls.

At first, we decided photocell. But now I’m thinking we would probably need those lights about 50 times per year. So now I’m thinking a timer or even some kind of light switch like we have when we turn on our patio lights?

what would you do?

I am curious what type of transformer you have for your low voltage lights? This could be as simple as getting one of the below. It has a ton of programming features. This is the same one I have.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Low-Voltage-200-Watt-Landscape-Transformer-SL-200-12A/206286485

 

[PoolGate]

If you lived in Michigan area and used pool basically half the year. How would you do your landscape lighting by the pool to turn on and off?

its basically 6 LED path lights and about 10 or so built into retaining walls.

At first, we decided photocell. But now I’m thinking we would probably need those lights about 50 times per year. So now I’m thinking a timer or even some kind of light switch like we have when we turn on our patio lights?

what would you do?

I am curious what type of transformer you have for your low voltage lights? This could be as simple as getting one of the below. It has a ton of programming features. This is the same one I have.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Low-Voltage-200-Watt-Landscape-Transformer-SL-200-12A/206286485

 

[Dirk]

I am curious what type of transformer you have for your low voltage lights? This could be as simple as getting one of the below. It has a ton of programming features. This is the same one I have.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton...tt-Landscape-Transformer-SL-200-12A/206286485

Keep an eye on your watts. Whether you use a switch-type timer, or replace your transformer, whatever, the components need to be rated to cover the total watts used by your lights (or by those you might add someday), plus a buffer (75% is a good safe number). So, for example, if you use the transformer/timer suggested by PoolGate, you really shouldn't plug 200 watts of lights into it. More like 150 watts max. LED lights are generally low-wattage, but you should check to be sure they don't total more than your transformer or new timer can handle.