Does an LED Bulb need to be "Pool Certified" or will the equivalent LED bulb with the proper specifications as to dimension and input voltage work as well? In other words, is there any difference between an pool/spa bulb and a standard bulb? Somehow I think the only real difference is between the two is the fixture (i.e. niche for a pool) that in the case of the pool, waterproofs the bulb. Am wanting it replace my halogen pool/spa lights with LED's and there seems to be a tremendous difference in price as to whether they are called regular or pool/spa.
LED Bulb Requirements
- Thread starter prpowers
- Start date
CJadamec
TFP Expert
The bulb needs to be the correct size to fit in the housing and have the right voltage input requirements. Generally finding a LED bulb to meet both those things is tricky for pool lights particularly if your niche is 12v.
Also not all LED bulbs like being in a sealed housing the electronics in the bulb (the capacitors on the circuit board specifically) will have a shortened life span when operated about 120F. Those temps are well below what the fixture can handle. The more expensive bulbs typically have better built and tougher circuit board components.
What size bulb are you looking for?
Also not all LED bulbs like being in a sealed housing the electronics in the bulb (the capacitors on the circuit board specifically) will have a shortened life span when operated about 120F. Those temps are well below what the fixture can handle. The more expensive bulbs typically have better built and tougher circuit board components.
What size bulb are you looking for?
Thanks for the response. The durability requirement of the LED bulb makes sense.
I'm looking for 2 LED bulbs (white daylight) to replace the existing bulbs:
- Spa bulb - 60W, 120VAC, Par 16 for a 4" Dia. SpaBrite fixture, bulb part no. 650139Z.
- Pool bulb - Floodlamp, med. base, 500 watt, 120 volt for an 8 3/8" Dia. Amerilite fixture, bulb part no. 79102100.
I'm looking for 2 LED bulbs (white daylight) to replace the existing bulbs:
- Spa bulb - 60W, 120VAC, Par 16 for a 4" Dia. SpaBrite fixture, bulb part no. 650139Z.
- Pool bulb - Floodlamp, med. base, 500 watt, 120 volt for an 8 3/8" Dia. Amerilite fixture, bulb part no. 79102100.
CJadamec
TFP Expert
When shopping LED bulbs lumen output can't always be compared apples to apples with halogen wattage equivalents. LED bulbs maintain more than 90% of their rated lumen output for the life of the bulb. Halogen bulbs rapidly lose lumen output as you use them. Generally they only maintain about 75% their rated output for the most of their life.
Your spa light is a PAR 16 medium base bulb most any LED PAR 16 should work, better made bulbs will last longer.
Something like THIS should work but you should measure your existing bulb as LED replacements have a tendency to be longer sometimes.
The big flood light is a lil harder because of the high wattage of the original bulb. Something like THIS is what you should be looking for.
Your spa light is a PAR 16 medium base bulb most any LED PAR 16 should work, better made bulbs will last longer.
Something like THIS should work but you should measure your existing bulb as LED replacements have a tendency to be longer sometimes.
The big flood light is a lil harder because of the high wattage of the original bulb. Something like THIS is what you should be looking for.
I replaced my 500 Watt bulb in the Pentair with this:
Shop Utilitech 120W Equivalent Dimmable Daylight Par38 LED Flood Light Bulb at Lowes.com
It's been on 4 hours every night for over 4 1/2 years now. If the the electronics would have gotten too hot if would start to flicker and I would be out $25...it never even blinked and the glass front didn't even come close to feeling warm when it runs even in the Texas summer heat. There is a little more "hot spot" of light as the LED shines through the front cover than might be likeable to some, but I was happy with it.
Any bulb I looked at said it wasn't rated for a fully enclosed fixture, so I bough the one at that time that was more heat sink that plastic since the bulb is really just cooling out the front of the fixture into the pool water.
Shop Utilitech 120W Equivalent Dimmable Daylight Par38 LED Flood Light Bulb at Lowes.com
It's been on 4 hours every night for over 4 1/2 years now. If the the electronics would have gotten too hot if would start to flicker and I would be out $25...it never even blinked and the glass front didn't even come close to feeling warm when it runs even in the Texas summer heat. There is a little more "hot spot" of light as the LED shines through the front cover than might be likeable to some, but I was happy with it.
Any bulb I looked at said it wasn't rated for a fully enclosed fixture, so I bough the one at that time that was more heat sink that plastic since the bulb is really just cooling out the front of the fixture into the pool water.