Need advice for pool light

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Bob/335

Active member
Jan 1, 2020
32
Florida
My contractor included a 100 watt light for my 16x32 pool (3.5’ to 5.5’) I don’t understand in this day and age he didn’t include LED. I want to “upgrade” and he says it’s about a $500 upgrade with the controller. Sounds like a lot to me.

So, how many lights? Just one at the deeper end? Two in the sides (lower wattage) facing away from the sitting area? I don’t want to go crazy with this but don’t want regrets later.
 
Hey Bob congrats on your new pool build. Ask your pool builder if you purchased one on your own if he would install it and remove the cost of the light. This is what we did and saved some money. Just a thought :cheers:
 
The pool industry has always been behind when it comes to new technology. LED lights are no exception...
LED lights for pools are still expensive, however, you shouldn't need a controller if you want just a straight white LED light.
You would want the controller if you dont have automation, and wanted to select a specific color.
You wouldn't need the controller if you are OK with flipping the switch on and off multiple times to cycle to the color you want.
 
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Bob,

Welcome aboard and congrats on the new pool! You're also at the perfect place for a soon to be pool owner. We sell absolutely nothing so all you get here is totally objective, non-conflicted advice. We have experts on everything pool. I'd also invite you to peruse Pool School, Pool Math and the forums here. TFP methodology for maintaining your pool is the best it gets. I've been a convert for 5 years. Perfect pool with dirt cheap generic chemicals. If you're interested please do get one of the recommended test kits well before they turn the pool over to you. We find pool store free testing to be the most expensive free thing you can buy.

I agree with the comments about pool industry slow to adopt new technology especially builders. On LED lights I think part of the reason is they were so unreliable when they were more heavily marketed several years ago. The attraction is obvious, low power, all kinds of features, 20 year life. They've quit talking about the last item since so many fail way before the LED fails. Seems to be due to water intrusion and heat buildup that damages the electronics. My Jandy nicheless all failed within days of each other after 3 months. My PB (Jandy authorized rep) replaced at no cost with the next generation. These seemed to implement better technology of a 3rd party the had recently bought The newer ones were much better and are now close to 6 years old but they are now failing. So if I had to replace what would I now do? I have the smaller nicheless LED's so I can't really go back to the larger fixtures. I wish I had the larger niche so I could just try a retrofit LED bulb. So I'll probably go with a J&J brand. They have pretty good reviews and do seem to have a technology based on an improved heat sink. Also, I'd be doing this DIY. Most major brands severely limit DIY warranty and Jandy eliminates it. With so many failures and the pretty high cost I would not DIY these without warranty. I can't find any limitations on the 3 year J&J warranty. In your case the PB would do the work and warranty them so you'd probably have more choices than I would.

Another consideration in picking the LED lights is automation. It's easier to get full control with the same brand but some automation systems will work with other brands. That's the case for my Pentair Intellicenter automation. It doesn't work perfectly with my Jandy lights since the color chosen is not always the same as the lights display but it is easy to learn which one is our preferred or choose the right kind of light feature.

I hope this helps and please do keep us all posted on your pool progress. Good luck to you!

Chris
 
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I don't view LED lights as an upgrade on a pool. We have yet to see a reliable and reasonable cost LED light from the major pool equipment manufacturers. If you just want basic white lighting for safety in the pool at night your PB is doing the right thing for you.
 
ajw22 said:
I don't view LED lights as an upgrade on a pool. We have yet to see a reliable and reasonable cost LED light from the major pool equipment manufacturers. If you just want basic white lighting for safety in the pool at night your PB is doing the right thing for you.
Click to expand...

Wow!!!! Didn’t expect THIS answer! To be honest, I have tried to keep this project simple. Simple rectangle with cut corners. No curves. Wanted a pool to swim. No water features and 1 simple light. I assumed an LED as other estimates included some kind of led (although I don’t know specifics) My contractor probably got the impression that I was concerned with price and simple. I questioned the light and I think since he thought I wasn’t concerned with fanciness that he suggested a regular light. Even if I wanted just a plain light, I thought LED as I have changed every light in my new home to LED to that I don’t freak everytime a light is on! Lol!

However, recently checked my finances and am re-thinking a few things and a changing light sequence LED in the pool “seemed” like a good idea in the deep end. Now wondering if 2 in the side facing away from the sitting area is better. Trying to find pics showing lights.

Also looking into this water feature:
 
There are many differences between a pool light and a house light...

- Pool lights live in a harsh environment. They get wet and don’t have good ventilation or cooling.
- Pool LED lights are much more expensive then house LED lights
- Pool lights are difficult to repair or replace
- House lights can be on for many hours every day so LEDs give significant energy savings. You will not use your pool light much in comparison.
 
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My light input-do NOT put it at the end of the pool especially if you plan on doing "real swimming" in it. You will be swimming straight into the light at nightAND if you do a flip turn you may put your foot on the light when you push off or graze it with your foot.

Party trick-that is what I call those water features. While they are neat and all, they will not get used often as they make a lot of noise PLUS the use of them will push your pH up with their use. Now that is not a really big deal as a bit of muratic acid will push it back down. You will need to run them for a bit each day to keep the water in the pipes "fresh" and filtered.

Kim:kim:
 
Bob,

Allen hit the nail on the head. The problem with pool service for LED's is exactly the same as LED's for boating. The more you try to seal the water out the more you seal the heat in. There's a whole new generation of technology that uses circuitry designed to reduce heat buildup and components more resistant to heat. Problem is we really don't know if it will work and we don't really know who's trying to improve and who's just selling the old stuff (I suspect most fall into the latter group).

There are some people (like me) that always want to try the new stuff and take on the high failure rate and cost risk knowingly. When I was sailing a failure meant a trip up the 63' mast in isolated places so I got rid of outside LED's but the pool is only lack of lighting 'till I get the approval from Sr Management to repair. But for most people, especially new pool owners that have just spent a LOT to get the pool, LED's are a mistake. Maybe this will change in a few years.

My $.02

Chris
 

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My wife if just hearing all of your replies. I can’t thank all of you enough! We are both so surprised at the LED thing. A few other prices I had included them and thought LED was the way to go. (btw I am a retired electrician) Still so surprised!!!

And I was really considering not having the light at the end so now I will definitely need 2 lights if I go on the side wall so now I am even MORE worried about burning TWO 100 watt bulbs every time I put the light on!!!

The light feature comment I fully understand as I have had a similar conversation concerning water jet lines in an indoor jacuzzi tub where water always sits collecting bacteria from never being fully dried out. It wouldn’t be difficult to run the water features everyday to keep the water from becoming stagnant but they surely wouldn’t run if we were away for a week or two!

And I thought water features and LED light features was the “in thing”!
 
Are the 100W lights 12V?

I have one 300W 120V light in the middle sidewall of my 50’ pool and it lights it all fine.
 
HI Bob's wife! SO nice to meet you! :hug:

We are not "into" the in thing. What we are into is making sure you get the best bang for your bucks AND to make sure the pool is as Trouble Free as possible.

Look at our post counts and join dates. You will notice most of us have been around for a while. We have seen MANY pools built. We have seen/heard what is good and bad short and long term. You get to benefit from our collective ideas and thoughts.

Now saying all of that If you really want one of those oh so pretty things like.........say a lighted water fall or lighted bubblers or anything like that we will help you pick which one and how to make sure it is as easy as can be to take care of.

We strive to help pool owners to know what is what in the pool world!

Kim:kim:
 
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We have 2 GloBrites lights in a 16x34 pool. If we had to do it over again, we would add a light to the tanning ledge and have the lights staggered on opposite walls for better light coverage.
 
ajw22 said:
Are the 100W lights 12V?

I have one 300W 120V light in the middle sidewall of my 50’ pool and it lights it all fine.
Click to expand...

Why do you ask if it’s 12V? (I don’t know what it is.)

One light in the middle lights that WIDE? I would not have thought that! How wide is your pool? And the lighting is pretty evenly distributed? Any pics?
 
Bob/335 said:
Why do you ask if it’s 12V? (I don’t know what it is.)
Click to expand...

100W is low wattage for a 120V pool light. You can get more light out of one bulb then that.

Bob/335 said:
One light in the middle lights that WIDE? I would not have thought that! How wide is your pool? And the lighting is pretty evenly distributed? Any pics?
Click to expand...

Pool is closed right now and I don't have any night pics. My pool is 20'x50'.

Water acts as a lens and the whole pool glows nicely with one light in the middle. You don't need the light evenly distributed, you are not going to be reading with it. The main reason for a pool light at night is safety. You need to be able to see anyone or anything at the bottom of the pool. As long as the light is sufficient to light the bottom of the pool then it is good enough.

This Pentair incandescent light comes in 300W, 400W and 500W sizes:

www.pentair.com

Amerlite® Underwater Incandescent Lights - TradeGrade

Add lighting to your pool with Amerlite, the world standard of reliability for underwater pool lights. Shop the Amerlite collection from Pentair here.
www.pentair.com www.pentair.com
 
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I have one 500w bulb under the diving board pointing at the shallow end. As old skool as it gets. When i flip the switch, i'm not sure if the pool makes the lightsaber sound, or if i do, but for sure the lightsaber sound gets made. It lights the pool, the backyard and the neighbors's backyards. But for as bright as it is, you can look at it fine from outside the pool and its not even tad while swimming. I wouldn't look at it directly for 15 minutes, but for regular swimming purposes with an occasional glance, its not blinding.
 
And I was worried about burning a 100 watt bulb! 300 and 500 watt might cause me to keep the light off! Lol ?. So I gather most here don’t think one 100 watt light will be good for a 16’ x 32’ rectangle. This PB has been around the longest in this area. I wonder why that is what he included if there was a chance I wouldn’t be happy with it.

I still like the idea of the light in the side rather than at the end. (I think?)
 
The idea is great for many reasons but the draw back with it pointing on the skinny side is it won’t hit the far ends well. So you would need more lights. Rectangles in general are much easier to light lengthwise. The free form pools generally have to be lit from the sides because the inward curves create dead zones / dark areas on the back sides of them if lit from end to end.

Also, for most people, the cost of using the light never matters. Here and there occasionally won’t ever add up to much. Some people use theirs all the time even when not by the pool so for them it would matter.
 
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