What voltage are swimming pool lights? Pool lights can be used with 12V or 120V. In some areas of the country the local code requires a 12V light while in other areas it’s fine to use a 120V light.
What voltage do inground pool lights use?
Click Here to View Our Full Range of Inground Pool Lights Step 2 VOLTAGE 12V vs 120V - Pool lights are designed to operate with 12V or 120V. In some areas of the country the local code requires a low voltage 12V light while in other areas it is fine to use a 120V light.
What is the difference between 12V and 120V pool lights?
VOLTAGE 12V vs 120V - Pool lights are designed to operate with 12V or 120V. In some areas of the country the local code requires a low voltage 12V light while in other areas it is fine to use a 120V light. Before installing a light, find out what your local code require.
What do you need to know about pool light options?
Understanding pool light options and how each will benefit your pool experience is vital. Voltage – The first thing to consider is the voltage of the light. There are 12V and 120V lights. Putting in the wrong one could result in irreversible damage to your light system.
Can you have electrical wiring in a swimming pool?
The exception was always to allow wiring in that location if it supplies electrical equipment incidental to the pool, such as an underwater light fixture. Now, everything has changed.
Are pool lights 12V or 120V?
12v is the safer option for outdoor lighting, whether it is run near a body of water, under water or in ground. With 120v applications, we recommend using a licensed electrical contractor as there is some danger installing 120v systems from electrical shocks.
Will a 12V pool light work on 120V?
12V pool lights operate with the use of a transformer that steps down the voltage from 120V to 12V. 120V bulbs will not work in a 12V pool, and vice versa, and a 12V bulb will burn out if used in a 120V lamp. The first thing then, is know what voltage your pool light is, 12V or 120V.
Are pool lights 240 volts?
Pool lights might use different voltages such as 36V, 32V, 24V, 22V and 12V, however most new LED lights are 12v, anything above 12v requires an electrician for installation.
Can a 12 volt pool light shock you?
Pool lighting: When pool lights have not been correctly bonded or grounded, they can send electricity directly through the water and shock those in the pool. In fact, faulty pool lights can send electrical currents through the water even when they are turned off.
Are pool lights AC or DC?
Pool lights come in two varieties: AC and DC. Most pool lights are AC, and they run on a typical household current.
Can I replace my pool light with LED?
Most of the older incandescent and halogen pool lights can be changed to the newer LED color changing lights by replacing the entire light fixture. But there are a limited number of old lights that can be converted to LED light by simply replacing the old light fixture bulb with a color changing LED light bulb.
How many amps does a pool light draw?
Pool Heat Pump: 240v, 50 amps. LP/NG Pool Heater: 240v, 3 amps. Pool Lights: 12v, 3.5 watts each. Self-Contained Hot Tub: 240v 50 amps.
How do I know what kind of pool light I have?
When your pool or spa light fails and you need to replace the bulb, the first question you have to answer is what kind of light do you have. You will need to know the manufacture name, model #, voltage and wattage of your light. This information is generally on a label on the backside of the light fixture.
How many watts should my pool light be?
Incandescent light bulbs used to illuminate swimming pools are traditionally 300-, 400- and 500-watt bulbs. A typical 30-by-70-foot commercial pool, for instance, might use up to six lights to illuminate the water for nighttime swimming.
Are low voltage pool lights safer?
Because the lower the voltage, the less hazardous it will be. This makes LED lights the perfect option for pool lights. Even if you only install 12V LED pool lights, you get enough brightness in and around the swimming pool. You'll have enough visibility to keep safe while swimming at night.
Do LED pool lights need to be grounded?
Just as devices such as electric motors and in-pool lights must be grounded and steel structures bonded, so too lighting around bodies of water be installed following basic safety guidelines. Ensuring that lighting systems used near water are safe starts with the equipment, which means using 12-volt lighting systems.
Does a 12V pool light need a GFCI?
With a GFCI circuit breaker AND a 12-volt transformer, pool lights are rendered much safer, as 2 separate systems would have to fail for a danger to occur. Note: It is important to make sure your pool equipment has GFCI outlets to the pump, pool light, and electrical outlets that are within 20 feet of the pool.
Are low voltage pool lights safer?
Because the lower the voltage, the less hazardous it will be. This makes LED lights the perfect option for pool lights. Even if you only install 12V LED pool lights, you get enough brightness in and around the swimming pool. You'll have enough visibility to keep safe while swimming at night.
Do low voltage pool lights have to be GFCI protected?
You do not need GFCI protection on pool lights operating at 15V or less. That said, you probably need GFCI protection for the receptacle the xfmr is plugged into since it's outside, in a crawlspace, etc. You dont have to use a GFCI breaker; a GFCI receptacle is fine.
Is 12V safer than 120V?
The Safest Voltage For Residential Landscape Lighting Hands down, 12V is the safest option to power your residential landscape lighting. Exposure to 120V can kill a person. That's a huge electrical current. Exposure to the much lower 12V will give just a slight shock if you or a family member come into contact with it.
Do low voltage pool lights need to be bonded?
As far as code requirements go for lights around an outdoor pool: Any lights outside of 5ft from the pool wall are outside of the bonding area and you may use any voltage (under 750v) with no bonding needed. If you are within 5-10ft from the pool wall all lights and shall be protected by GFCI.
How many screws does a light fixture have?
Older model lights have 8 brass screws around the fixture, which tighten down on tabs. Newer models have a clamp band with only one screw or bolt/nut. Remove the screws with a #2 or #3 Phillips screwdriver, and for clamp bands use a 5/16” nut driver.
What is the niche in a pool?
The lamp or light fixture sits inside of a "bucket" turned on its side, towards the pool, called the light niche. The niche is larger than the fixture itself to allow room for several feet of cord coiled up behind the lamp. The excess cord makes it possible to bring the lamp up on deck for service and repair.
What type of light do pool lights use?
At first, all pool lights used an R-40 bulb, a large incandescent flood lamp. In the 80’s, halogen pool bulbs began to gain favor, as well as fiber optic lighting that can run above or below water. The most popular pool lights in use today have LED bulbs. Now in their fifth generation, LED lamps are bright and colorful.
How long do LED pool lights last?
Prices for LED pool lights have also come down in recent years, even as the number of LED’s and light output has increased. Your pool lighting should give you few problems overall. Most incandescent bulbs will burn for 1,000 hours before bulb replacement is necessary.
What is the electrical work required for a pool?
Most local electrical codes require that pool electrical work be performed by a licensed electrician. The electrician adds a circuit to the home breaker box or pool sub-panel, and runs power to a junction box, where the wires from the breaker join the wires from the pool light.
Where is the junction box on a pool?
The junction box is usually located off the deck, about a foot high {except on very old pools} near the light. It’s a small box, about 4" x 3", with conduit pipes running up into the bottom. Many times they are behind or under the diving board. This box is the junction of the pool light wires, and the power wires.
When did swimming pool lights come out?
Swimming Pool Lights. 1968 was the year that the National Electrical Code (NEC) finally decided to include swimming pools in their standards and regulations (article 680). It has been modified and updated many times since, with the most recent revisions being 2011. If your pool was built prior to 1968, there likely exists some sub-standard ...
Why is 12V not recommended?
Some manufactures do not recommend using a 12V light if the cord of the light is going to be longer than 100' feet because you may have a voltage drop . Note: Brightness, discussed more below, is a function of light wattage not voltage. The brightness of a 12V or a 120V light will be the same.
How much power does an LED light use?
The higher the wattage, the higher the cost to run a light. Incandescent lights generally run from 100W to 500W; LED lights from 30W to 90W. LED lights as much more efficient. For a rough comparison a 45W LED light will generate as much light as a 300W incandescent light – an 85% reduction in operating costs. This will vary by manufacturer, but the newer LED light designs are continually increasing light efficiency
What are the different types of pool lights?
LIGHT TYPES - Pool lights come in three types: INCANDESCENT, HALEGON, and LED. The older style INCANDESCENT lights have light bulbs much like the standard bulbs used in your house before we went the newer more cost efficient CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs. They only provided white light. HALEGON lights came next.
What is a niche in a pool?
NICHE COMPATIBILITY – Generally when a pool is built, the contractor installs permanent fixtures into the side of the pool wall to hold the light fixture. The most common niches are made by Hayward, Pentair and Sta-Rite. Some lights are compatible with any of these niches, but that is generally not the case.
What is the face ring on a light?
FACE RING – Most lights have two options for the Face Ring around the face of the light: STAINLESS STEEL (SS) and PLASTIC. Most Plastic Face Rings are white but they can be offered in gray and black.
Can you replace an incandescent bulb with a color changing bulb?
If you want to replace an incandescent light bulb with a color changing light bulb, see our guide on "How To Convert to a LED Color Changing Light by Changing the Light Bulb”. Only a few incandescent light fixtures can be converted with a bulb change. The rest will require a complete light fixture change. There is no bulb color light conversion for halogen lights.
Can an incandescent bulb be replaced with an LED bulb?
This is important when you are trying to replace an existing light bulb with a new one or when replacing an old incandescent bulb with a LED light bulb. If an Incandescent bulb has as standard Edison base, it can only be replaced with an Edison based LED Bulb.
Why is article 680 important?
To reiterate, for decades, Article 680 has gone to great lengths to eliminate voltage gradients around the pool area. Eliminating voltages around the pool is the entire reason that pool bonding was created, and the reason we go to such great lengths to achieve a Code-compliant swimming pool bonding grid. Introducing additional wiring ...
How far away from a pool can you put a low voltage luminaire?
This sounds simple enough, but at present, I do not know of a low-voltage luminaire that does not require grounding and is listed to be within 10 feet of a pool. It is important to point out that, for low-voltage landscape lighting, secondary circuits are not permitted to be grounded (Section 411.6). But all of the listed, low-voltage fixtures that I can find have installation instructions that state, “Do not install within 10 feet (3 m) of pools, spas, or fountains.” I have searched through the numerous low-voltage luminaires on the market today, but I am unable to find one that is specifically listed to be above ground and next to a pool. Does such a luminaire exist?
Why is there no shock in a new type of luminaire?
There is no shock because the person is at the same potential as all metal parts (the bonding grid). Now assume that he or she reaches out and comes into contact with the voltage source for this new-type luminaire. Remember the grounding requirement—the luminaire must not require grounding.
What is required for a swimming pool luminaire?
One requirement is that the special luminaires be supplied by listed transformers or power supplies that comply with 680.23 (A) (2) . These transformers must be listed for swimming pool and spa use. The transformer or power supply must incorporate either a transformer of the isolated winding type, "with an ungrounded secondary that has a grounded metal barrier between the primary and secondary windings, or one that incorporates an approved system of double insulation between the primary and secondary windings." This is an easy requirement to comply with since these transformers are widely available on the market today.
Can low voltage fixtures be used in conjunction with a transformer?
I would not be surprised if some interpret this Code to mean that any listed low-voltage fixture can be used as long as it is used in conjunction with a transformer that complies with 680.23 (A) (2). I do not feel that this would comply. Incorrectly using the ordinary "malibu-style" low-voltage fixture commonly sold in a local home center could prove to be hazardous in this instance. These luminaires use "quick-connect" type wiring that could very well leave an exposed voltage source. Also, low-voltage landscape lighting systems are required to be listed; NEC 110.3 (B) mandates that the product shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling. As previously mentioned, all of the listed, low-voltage fixtures that I can find have installation instructions that state, “Do not install within 10-feet (3 m) of pools, spas, or fountains.” I'm not convinced that taking components from different systems and putting them together in a way that they were never intended to be used is a good thing. And I don’t even want to think about the implications that this new code may have for work done without a permit. As we all know, most jobs go uninspected; permits do not always get pulled.
Where can I put lighting in a pool?
For decades, the National Electrical Code (NEC) prohibited underground wiring to be located under a pool and wiring for lighting fixtures in the zone that extends 5-feet horizontally from the inside wall of a pool . The exception was always to allow wiring in that location if it supplies electrical equipment incidental to the pool, such as an underwater light fixture. Now, everything has changed. With the adoption of the 2014 NEC comes a change that allows certain light fixtures to be installed around the water's edge—outside of the pool if installed a certain way. That's correct; these luminaires may be located where one can just reach out and touch them. The applicable code is Section 680.22 (B) (6) in the 2014 NEC, and these low-voltage lights can be located within arm's reach. Below, I briefly discuss each requirement and then discuss the possible benefits and pitfalls of this new Code article from my point of view.
Do luminaires need grounding?
Remember the grounding requirement—the luminaire must not require grounding. So, if wiring were to become exposed or some other mishap were to occur, it is now possible to have a transfer of voltage, and the person can get a shock. It is logical to conclude that the potential for an accident has increased.
How close can Low voltage lights be to a pool?
If you want to use a landscape power unit other than a listed swimming pool transformer or any other power source other than a listed landscape power unit, you’re out of luck.
Are low voltage pool lights safe?
The National Electrical Code has put in place a number of safeguards to prevent 120-volt incandescents from emitting current into water, but low-voltage lights are still considered to be an additional safety measure. The lights operate at a very low voltage, which makes them less dangerous when taken on their own.
Can you get electrocuted from low voltage lighting?
Children can’t be harmed by low voltage lighting, pets can’t be shocked, and people can’t be killed by electric shocks. There is a safety issue with 120 or even 480 watt lights. A moon lighting effect can be achieved with large high voltages in trees.
Does a 12V pool light need a GFI?
There is a barrier between the primary and secondary windings. There is a transformer that needs to be transferred to 12v for the led pool light to work.
Should 120-volt pool lights be protected by a ground fault interrupter?
There are underwater light circuits that operate at more than 15volts.
Are 12V pool lights safe?
There are some 12V products that have been recognized as intrinsically safe because of their all-plastic, permanently sealed construction. The lights in all-plastic niches that are listed by the NEC do not need bonding or grounding anymore.
Does a pool pump need GFCI protection?
All pool pumps have to be protected with a GFCI. A pool builder or electrician can’t install power to your pool pump if they don’t have it.
How Many Lights do you Need?
The most straightforward calculation is about 4.5 watts per square meter. This means that a pool of about 8.5 by 4.5 meters requires 200 watts of light. This means two 100-watt lights will do the trick.
What type of light bulb is used for a Hayward pool?
This is another excellent white bulb option. It is a 6000K white bulb that features an E26 standard Edison light socket base. It is suitable for Pentair and Hayward pool fixtures bulb replacement. Therefore, you can easily upgrade your pool to LED lighting for more money savings.
What voltage do you need for a light?
Voltage – The first thing to consider is the voltage of the light. There are 12V and 120V lights. Putting in the wrong one could result in irreversible damage to your light system. Before you decide which you prefer, check with your local code, as some require low voltage 12V lights.
What size is the E26 Edison base?
It features a simple screw-on E26 Edison base, 6.7” diameter, and 5.5” height standard size suitable for Hayward and Pentair fixtures.
What is the best light bulb for a pool?
The first product on this list is a white light bulb suitable for pool and spa installations. This 15W LED bulb is proper to replace 100-300W halogen or incandescent bulb. You will immediately notice its high brightness LUMINUS chip feature and be impressed by the power of this small bulb.
How many gallons of water can a bonbo light pool light burn?
You will experience 80% more savings by replacing your standard pool light with this Bonbo LED bulb. It can be installed for any pool up to 10,000 gallons and will burn less electricity, paying for itself. The manufacturer honors a 12-month warranty with a refund or replacement.
How long does an OSRAM LED last?
With an OSRAM LED rating for +10,000 hours of operation, it is a durable and long-lasting option at an affordable price. It has a built-in heat overload protection technology to prevent overheating and longer life. This very environmentally healthy option has zero UV emissions and doesn’t have any toxic chemicals as most others on the market do.
What Types of Swimming Pool Lights are Available?
There are three main types of pool lights to choose from, and each option offers its own unique benefits:
What is Hayward lighting?
Create the ultimate backyard experience with Hayward lighting. Pool, spa and accent lights are designed to completely transform the ambiance of your backyard with a variety of vibrant colors that can illuminate any new or existing pool or spa. Unlock more options when paired with Hayward automation, so it's easy to set the mood for any occasion.
What is the best light for a pool?
If you’re looking for a “green” choice, you can’t go wrong with energy-efficient LED lights or solar-powered pool lights. If you’re looking for the lowest purchase price, halogen lighting is the way to go (although halogen lighting will cost a little more over time to operate).
How do fiber optic pool lights work?
Fiberoptic pool lights offer an easy solution to one of the most common headaches associated with pool lights: changing the bulb (s). This is because the power source and even the light bulbs are housed out of the water – and far away from the swimming pool in a dry power box. The light travels from the dry power box to your pool via a slim, flexible cable that comprises tiny fibers (the cable connects to a fitting in the pool wall, which is where the light appears). As a result, when you need to, say, change out a faulty bulb or do anything else related to maintenance or repair, it’s as simple as opening a box – no worries about mixing electricity and water.
What is a floating solar pool light?
Floating solar lights are a fun, easy way to add a playful splash of color to your next pool party. Unlike their LED and halogen counterparts, solar swimming pool lights aren’t meant to light up your whole pool – but they are a great option if you’re just looking for a little something extra.
What is LED pool lighting?
LED swimming pool lights are, hands-down, our most-requested type of pool lighting. Most pool owners give LED lighting high marks for the combination of bright light and high efficiency (fun fact: LED swimming pool lights are around 80 percent more efficient than other types of pool lighting).
How many lights do I need for a pool?
You might be wondering how many pool lights do I need? The number of lights you need depends on the size of your swimming pool. 15’ x 30’ pools only require one light. 20’ x 40’ pools require two lights. 20’ x 42’ pools and up require three or more lights.