Underwater Lighting for Your New Swimming Pool and Spa

The decision has been made to build a new swimming pool and or spa and you have decided on many different options.  One question to ask is what type of underwater lighting would be best for my new swimming pool? 

Up until just a few years ago the only option regarding underwater lights was how bright do I want my lights and how many do I need.  If you are currently planning to build a new swimming pool think about the many different lights which are available.

Today’s lighting include simple white lights (both standard incandescent and quartz halogen) white lights with plastic color lens, color changing lights (rotating color wheel inside unit) LED color changing lights and fiberoptic pool and spa lights.

Which light would be the best one to use?

 Standard incandescent and quartz halogen lights are the most cost effective and produce a clear white light. These lights are available in wattages ranging from 100W to 500W. Many building departments require 12 volt lights and a transformer as per code, if this is the case 100W and 300W lights are available in 12 Volt.  High Watt lights such as 400W and 500W are only available in 120 volt and may not be allowed by code. Check with your local codes and building officials for the lighting requirements which will be accepted.  These lights typically have available, plastic color lens which snap on over the glass lens to produce a nice underwater effect.

Fiberoptic pool lights are also available to light your pool or spa.  These units have a small wall fitting (usually about 2” round), which have the fiberoptic cable attached.  Most pools will require multiple light fittings to illuminate the water. 

The fiberoptic cable is run back to a light generating box which is placed away from the pool or spa.  The light in the box sends a beam of light through the fiberoptic to the end of the strands located inside the pool or spa.  One fiberoptic light box will typically operate many wall fittings, but, this will depend on the total amount of fiberoptic strands the box will operate.   

            Color changing lights are perhaps the most exciting item to become available for swimming pools and spas in the last few years.   Lights are available that have a built in color changing wheel controlled by a tiny circuit board. Many newer style color changing lights are now available in LED.  LED lights have no moving parts and offer many different light shows for your use.  Typically these lights are controlled by turning off and on the lights to locate the light pattern or “show” which you would like to have.