- Nov 5, 2008
- 2,598
The waterfall lighting is controlled by the Aqualink system and comes on when the button inside is pushed or programmed. The old lighting fixture was removed, it was a halogen light submersed in the waterfall pools, as it required replacing constantly (hot bulbs held underwater as they cool will leak eventually). When the prior owner removed the halogen lights, they also removed the outlet at the junction and disconnected the control line at the Aqualink panel outside. We have located those lines and the wires are identified and we have all the parts to get this set up again.
I found online and bought an LED light set, made for fish ponds, totally submersible with its own very tiny tranformer to go from 120v to 12v which happens at a junction just behind the waterfall. I have an enclosed cover for the junction box, so it is rain and sprinkler proof.
My question.... I know that the systems sold for use in swimming pool waterfalls are much more expensive than similar items sold for fish ponds. I suspect that it has to do with the transformer used. I don't mind spending $60 to upgrade the transformer, if I need to. I know that the Aquallink system is already GFI protected, not sure if it has any other extra protection that you want for a swimming pool beyond a fish pond that you may stick your hand into. The swimming pool type transformers seem to all be high capacity, like 300 watts, which is overkill for these 3 low watt LED lights, maybe 4 watts total usage. There is some direct-fault protection that I do not really understand and do not know if it is as important for waterfall lights as compared to pool lights or other lighting.
So, do I need a fancy swimming pool type transformer, for extra shock protection? If so, will the 300 w size blow out my tiny LED lights?
I found online and bought an LED light set, made for fish ponds, totally submersible with its own very tiny tranformer to go from 120v to 12v which happens at a junction just behind the waterfall. I have an enclosed cover for the junction box, so it is rain and sprinkler proof.
My question.... I know that the systems sold for use in swimming pool waterfalls are much more expensive than similar items sold for fish ponds. I suspect that it has to do with the transformer used. I don't mind spending $60 to upgrade the transformer, if I need to. I know that the Aquallink system is already GFI protected, not sure if it has any other extra protection that you want for a swimming pool beyond a fish pond that you may stick your hand into. The swimming pool type transformers seem to all be high capacity, like 300 watts, which is overkill for these 3 low watt LED lights, maybe 4 watts total usage. There is some direct-fault protection that I do not really understand and do not know if it is as important for waterfall lights as compared to pool lights or other lighting.
So, do I need a fancy swimming pool type transformer, for extra shock protection? If so, will the 300 w size blow out my tiny LED lights?