Sorry, I can't answer most of those questions. I chimed in regarding the control of the lights, not on the lights themselves (obviously, I didn't even recognize they were low voltage). A quick look on Pentair's site doesn't show any model choices for microbrites other than color and the length of the cord. Nothing about lumens. So to go brighter, you'd have to go with another brand, which then may or may not be compatible with the color syncing Pentair lights can do with each other.
So step one would be to find out, maybe from Pentair tech support, what the lumen output of the microbrites is. Then shop around to see if there are any other brands available that have a higher output (that fit in the same fitting). Then check if that brand is compatible with Pentair's color syncing, if you're considering something other than a white light.
The only other way I can think to assure you have enough light is to add one or two more now, of the color-changing type, and then reduce the light if that many is too much. One way to reduce is the individual control I suggested earlier (turn on one, or two or three, as needed), or to use color: white for when you need it bright, blue or green for a less obnoxious light level, or red when you want it dim. Or a combination of the two (number of lights on, and which color). I was projecting when I suggested the home-run wiring earlier, because that is the level of control I would want: from barely there to aircraft-landing-lights bright, and everywhere in between.
I can sympathize with your dilemma, because you have no idea at this point how many lights it's going to take to light your pool the way you want, and if you don't guess right, there's limited ways to change things out later. Going big and reducing later is all I can suggest, since adding more later won't be an option.
Here are some of my "standard warnings," some of which you already know:
- No light niches (or fixtures) that won't accept other styles, colors, sizes, lumens and/or brands of other lights, forever if possible, or for at least the foreseeable future. Nothing proprietary, as you mentioned. Seems like the 1.5" standard fittings the microbrites fit satisfies that issue.
- Home run each light back to the controller. You can always tie them together as one, if that's all you need. Or you can separate them, sooner or later, to allow more control. Home-running leaves all the options open, even if you don't think you need them.
- Don't point any lights at your house. Don't point any lights towards where you will most likely sit around the pool at night. When possible, light fixtures should not be within your line of sight from where you will most view the pool.
Your shelf light might not meet that last criteria. Another reason to be able to turn that one off individually. Light it up for night time swimming, but turn it off when you just want to light the pool while sitting outside. Sorry to keep harping on that, but I know how annoying my light is, pointed straight at the house and where I like to sit at night. I wish I had two, at each end of the pool, on two switches. Then I could control amount and direction of light.
If individual control of the shelf light is not in the cards, you might consider moving it to the side. It won't light the shelf as evenly from there, but I think that isn't worse than having it pointed at the house. If the large area to the left of your pool is the primary sitting area, I would consider moving all the lights to that side of the pool, shining away from it, rather than pointing them to that side.
. I think I am going to just suck it up and argue with the builder that I want the microbrites because as several have mentioned here at least its an easy fix in the future. But I have a question. My Florida pool will not have a screen and when I was reading about globrites on Pentairs website it says you can't dim them, but can't dim microbrites. Is that true? I am not sure what the purpose of diming but saw someone say in the pentair website review it can help with mosquitos. I think I also read some colors are better at not attracting mosquitos. Does anyone know about this? My pool will not have a screen so not sure if that is something I should take into consideration. @JayRi @usfbull Maybe you have an unscreened pool in Florida and know?
