How many lights should I install?

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liteclay

0
Jan 1, 2019
10
Utah
Been lurking for a year since we commited to putting in a pool. It was a whole lot of wait and now decision after decision with little time. Most I prepared for from reading on here, some I'm guessing :)

Below is the build plan. Pool is 18x38 with white plaster. Most measurements are on the attached image, but feel free to ask follow up questions. Only significant change is the slide is shifting to the left 3-4 feet.

Where I'm stuck - we're doing three Pentair LED lights on the same side as the slide (house side). I'm worried there won't be much/enough light on the stairs and if we should add two (or one?) small LED light for the stairs.

Thoughts?
 

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Can you space out the two most outer lights more? I think the two smaller ones on the drawing would be nice though, and GP2 has a good point about his being separately powered. You will certainly have *light!* :)

Maddie :flower:
 
GP2 said:
Pintair microbrites on the shelves, on a separate circuit from the main pool lights so I don’t turn them on all the time.
Click to expand...

That is helpful, thank you. I was actually thinking about putting them on different circuits but wasn't sure if that would impact any of the color scenes or synchrozation. I take it that's not an issue?

YippeeSkippy said:
Can you space out the two most outer lights more? I think the two smaller ones on the drawing would be nice though, and GP2 has a good point about his being separately powered. You will certainly have *light!* :)

Maddie :flower:
Click to expand...

The three main light locations are actually a bit guesstimated. I haven't considered yet exactly where they should be...

We've decided on at least one on the same side as the rest of the lights. My wife is reluctant to add another because she doesn't want it to be too bright. I'm probably going to be debating this with myself constantly until concrete is in and it's too late :)
 
Just measured. The outer lights are 10' in from the side. Should we push those out a bit?

We've also debated adding a 4th large light. Maybe even putting them on 2 different circuits as well so I can have just two on at a time if we wanted it dimmer.
 
I think you should add at least 1 on the steps as they would be hard to see in the dark. Here is a pic of mine. I have 2 in the pool, 1 in the spa, and 1 in the tanning ledge. For reference, I'm standing in the tanning ledge and it would be very dark without its own light, even though there is a pool light 5 feet away.
Night4.jpg
 
If your proximal side wall is going to be 38' long, space the three lights aprox 12.5' apart. Then the entire wall is even covered.

Perhaps one smaller light on the short right side wall facing into the pool would assure coverage of the steps area.

Maddie :flower:
 
liteclay said:
I was actually thinking about putting them on different circuits but wasn't sure if that would impact any of the color scenes or synchrozation. I take it that's not an issue?
Click to expand...

No expert here, but with the same manufacturer and automation, it should not be a problem. With our Easytouch automation, no issues synchronizing our lights on 3 separate circuits (Pool/Spa/ledges). All lights and the control panel are the same brand. Even before we sync'd them on the Easytouch, I was able to switch them on/off manually to step through the colors and get them to match.
 

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GP2 said:
No expert here, but with the same manufacturer and automation, it should not be a problem. With our Easytouch automation, no issues synchronizing our lights on 3 separate circuits (Pool/Spa/ledges). All lights and the control panel are the same brand. Even before we sync'd them on the Easytouch, I was able to switch them on/off manually to step through the colors and get them to match.
Click to expand...


This was my assumption, but hadn't ran it by the builder yet. Great to hear since we'll have the automation as well. Thanks!
 
JJ_Tex said:
I think you should add at least 1 on the steps as they would be hard to see in the dark. Here is a pic of mine. I have 2 in the pool, 1 in the spa, and 1 in the tanning ledge. For reference, I'm standing in the tanning ledge and it would be very dark without its own light, even though there is a pool light 5 feet away.
View attachment 120298
Click to expand...
What is the size of your shelf? Any regret not putting two on there? I don't think I want yep, but don't want to regret it :)
 
What I'm trying to suggest is even spacing... with a smaller fourth light on the right short wall, so that its light spray doubles up on to the steps where you were concerned with adding more light. My measurement image may be wrong but the idea is still the same.
 
liteclay said:
What is the size of your shelf? Any regret not putting two on there? I don't think I want yep, but don't want to regret it :)
Click to expand...
I dont have the exact dimensions on hand, but it is plenty big for 2 loungers with a table between them and space to walk around them. You could probably ditch the table and squeeze 3 loungers in there.

No regrets on not putting 2 there. Good luck.
 
I have two lights on the same wall of an 18 x 38' pool. Our plaster is light grey. I have never noticed that our steps are dark though they are darker than the rest of the pool. Your pool being white will reflect a lot of light around the pool. I would say the extra light is not needed, but would even the lighting out some. Just one more thing to have a problem with over the years though. The big decision for me on that pool would have been 2 or 3 lights but you've already tackled that one.

The picture below is somewhat overexposed but you can get the gist of how bright/dark the stairs are by comparing them to the steps on the opposite side which are in the direct path of the light. Also note that the front of the steps are bright. Your pool will be brighter than mine due to more lights and lighter plaster.

2018-08-16 21.31.27.jpg

2018-08-16 21.31.27.jpg

 
That's a good point about his finish being brighter. And your picture, Bmoreswim, assures that two lights are good so his desired three lights will be fine!
Less is more in this instance. Fewer wires to deal with and less trouble in the future.
 
bmoreswim said:
I have two lights on the same wall of an 18 x 38' pool. Our plaster is light grey. I have never noticed that our steps are dark though they are darker than the rest of the pool. Your pool being white will reflect a lot of light around the pool. I would say the extra light is not needed, but would even the lighting out some. Just one more thing to have a problem with over the years though. The big decision for me on that pool would have been 2 or 3 lights but you've already tackled that one.

The picture below is somewhat overexposed but you can get the gist of how bright/dark the stairs are by comparing them to the steps on the opposite side which are in the direct path of the light. Also note that the front of the steps are bright. Your pool will be brighter than mine due to more lights and lighter plaster.

2018-08-16 21.31.27.jpg

2018-08-16 21.31.27.jpg

Click to expand...
This was really helpful. I've wondered how our white plaster would impact the color and saturation. Most pools I see pictures or have dark plaster.

It might be too late to take any of the lights back out, but I'll for sure put them on different circuits so I can have different levels of light as desired.
 
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