What Should You Consider When Selecting Swimming Pool Lights?

A qualified swimming pool shouldn’t just be about swimming; it should also exude a cozy and inviting ambiance. Visually, it should be pleasing to the eye. To achieve this effect, besides a unique design, underwater lights are indispensable. However, choosing the right underwater pool lights involves more than just aesthetics. Several crucial factors deserve consideration to ensure safety, efficiency, and the perfect illumination for your aquatic haven. Let’s dive into the key considerations that will help you make the best choice when selecting underwater swimming pool lights.

Because of the unique nature of indoor swimming pools, the lighting in this area has some specific requirements. This includes how the lighting is designed and the types of fixtures used.

In indoor swimming pools, the lighting system is often limited by the building’s structure. Electrical lighting in indoor pools typically complements natural daylight. When there’s not enough natural light or none at all, electrical lighting ensures the best visibility for swimmers, staff, referees, and spectators. However, electrical lighting cannot eliminate the natural light’s glare or reduce the reflection of natural light on the water surface. The lighting fixtures should also be able to adapt to the environment and be easy to maintain. It’s worth noting that official competitions generally don’t permit the use of natural light for illumination.

• Direct Lighting

1. Using High-Intensity Gas Discharge Lamps or LED Lights:

Usually, we go for high-intensity gas discharge lamps or LED lights paired with reflectors, grids, or prism plates. These lighting setups act like point light sources, offering a mix of medium and wide beams and tightly controlling brightness at angles above 50 degrees from vertical. They are quite efficient, emitting light with a small beam angle that results in intense illumination within that space, creating a beautifully bright pool due to high refraction in the water. This setup also keeps the reflected light on the water surface minimal, thus maintaining a low brightness level there. However, there are some downsides to consider. The strong downward light intensity might cause glare for swimmers looking up. If we aim to reduce the fixture brightness, we’d need more fixtures to maintain the same level of brightness, which could increase the number of reflections on the water surface.

In reality, it’s recommended that the ceiling should have a reflectance of at least 0.6 to soften the contrast between the lights and the surrounding area. The walls should ideally have a reflectance of no less than 0.4 to prevent a dreary atmosphere. If there are large glass windows that reach up to the ceiling, using curtains and blinds is advised. Since the water area is already brightly lit, there is no need for extra underwater lighting in this setup.

2. Using LED Linear Strip Lights:

When setting up linear strip lights, it’s best to arrange them in rows and cover a large area with these fixtures. This approach maintains a high level of refracted light and casts a broad area of reflected light, albeit with lower brightness. These lights are notably dimmer than high-intensity gas discharge lamps, and it’s important to regulate the intensity of light above 50 degrees. If the underwater brightness is sufficient, additional underwater lighting may not be necessary. In smaller swimming facilities, especially those with low ceilings where controlling brightness above 50 degrees can be tricky, underwater lighting can be a great solution to enhance underwater visibility.

When the walls and ceiling reflect at 0.6, swimmers usually won’t face glare problems, making it possible to hold competitions at night using blinds and curtains. For this setup to work, the lights must be arranged precisely parallel or perpendicular to the pool’s long axis. Backstroke swimmers would look to the lights for direction rather than relying heavily on the lane markers during races. This arrangement is suitable only for public fitness and recreational swimming facilities.

• Underwater Lighting

Installing underwater lights serves two main purposes: brightening the pool floor and reducing reflections on the water’s surface, while also ensuring that coaches and spectators can clearly see swimmers’ movements. However, the top priority for underwater lighting is addressing safety concerns.

When setting up underwater lighting in a pool, consider the following guidelines: aim for indoor lighting levels of 1000-1100lm/m2 on the pool surface. Place the underwater lights about 0.3-0.5m below the water’s surface, spaced 2.5-3m apart for shallow pools and 3.5-4m apart for deeper pools. Ensure that the lights are well-protected and have reliable safety grounding. Opt for underwater lights that operate on safe low voltage (not exceeding 12V) and are rated as Class III for electrical safety.

Underwater lighting typically uses LED lights or high-intensity gas discharge lamps. These lights are usually placed along the sides of the pool, with their beams directed parallel to the shorter edges of the pool. This setup ensures that the light travels the shortest distance underwater, minimizing any disturbance to swimmers. Floodlights are angled about 10 degrees from the horizontal line to prevent glare for swimmers and spectators. It’s important to have highly reflective indoor surfaces for the best lighting effects. Due to water’s absorption properties, high-intensity gas discharge lamps work better than incandescent bulbs in underwater environments.

As a part of the pool lighting system, underwater lights play a significant role in brightening up the surroundings and setting a cozy nighttime ambiance. Given their direct exposure to pool water, it’s essential to be meticulous when selecting these lights. When making a purchase, one should consider various aspects such as installation methods, types of light sources, desired lighting effects, waterproof capabilities, operating voltage, and the materials used for the light housing.

1. Installation Methods

Underwater lights can be categorized into three types based on how they are installed: wall-mounted, recessed, and modular.

When it comes to wall-mounted lights, they are installed on the pool wall without the need for pre-drilled holes, preserving the structure of the pool wall. This type is a great choice for both new pool installations and upgrades to existing pool lighting systems.

Recessed underwater lights, on the other hand, have a built-in design that requires pre-planned installation holes in the pool wall. These lights offer excellent sealing performance, enhanced waterproofing, safety features, and a sleek appearance due to their flush installation.

Modular lights are ideal for steel structure modular pools and fiberglass pools, providing easy installation, convenient replacement, and reliable sealing properties.

2. Types of Light Sources

The light source is like the heart of underwater lights, influencing their performance and design. Underwater lights commonly use halogen, PAR, or LED bulbs. Among these options, LED lights are the most popular choice in today’s market. LEDs are celebrated as the fourth-generation lighting source or eco-friendly option, known for their energy efficiency, long lifespan, compact size, and overall sustainability.

3. Creating Ambiance

Lighting systems do more than just brighten up spaces and offer visibility; they have the power to transform the pool and its surroundings into a dazzling spectacle. By playing with light, you can turn a simple backyard or deck into a vibrant stage for evening relaxation and fun, adding a touch of enchantment to the ordinary. One of the magical aspects of underwater lights is their ability to produce a variety of colors, using solid-state semiconductor chips to emit vivid hues like red, green, blue, and more. By harnessing the principles of these colors and modern computer-controlled technology, LED lights can create a dynamic and adaptable lighting experience, allowing you to control the mood and atmosphere with ease.

4. Waterproof Performance

The waterproof standard requires reaching the highest international waterproof testing standard, IP68. This involves using standard waterproof power lines, high quality waterproof seals, and employing multiple waterproofing techniques such as resin filling inside the light body. Opting for sealed underwater lights helps prevent water damage and related safety risks, enhancing both the safety and lifespan of your pool lights. The sealing process is an innovative manufacturing technique for underwater lights. It involves encasing the LED light source and electronic components in a transparent material, much like a precious object preserved in amber, providing complete protection against water infiltration.

5. Operating Voltage

The rated operating voltage of a lamp is a crucial electrical specification that directly impacts where and how the lamp can be used. It’s vital that the actual operating voltage matches the rated voltage to avoid issues like damaging the light source with high voltage or not achieving the desired brightness with low voltage. When it comes to underwater lights, they are designed to work with low voltages for safety reasons. For instance, the international safety standard for low voltage is set at 36V or lower. Remember, when setting up pool lights, never directly connect them to your home’s standard electricity supply (220V). Instead, always use a transformer to prevent any damage or safety hazards that might occur, especially with lower-quality underwater lights.

As swimming pools are often found outdoors, it’s essential for transformers to be waterproof too! The level of waterproofing needed depends on how and where the transformer is installed. If it’s inside a distribution box, that box needs to meet outdoor waterproofing standards. For transformers installed independently outdoors, they should have a protection rating of at least IP65 to meet outdoor usage standards. An outdoor waterproof transformer, like a fully sealed one, can be discreetly buried in the landscaping around the pool area.

6. Lamp Casing Material

When it comes to the materials used for lamp casings, they are mainly categorized into stainless steel, engineering plastic, or a blend of stainless steel and plastic. Engineering plastic stands out for its corrosion resistance, insulation properties, and the perfect balance of being lightweight yet robust. On the other hand, stainless steel is valued for its ability to withstand pressure, resist deformation, and its overall durability. For instance, 316 stainless steel, with the added molybdenum compared to 304 stainless steel, excels in anti-corrosion and anti-rust capabilities. This makes it an excellent choice for environments with higher acidity or alkalinity, such as saltwater pools and aquariums.

Installing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection for pool lighting circuits is a crucial safety measure that helps prevent electric shocks and electrical hazards in and around swimming pools. GFCI protection is essential for pool lighting circuits because it helps to quickly detect any imbalance in current flow, such as in the case of electrical faults or water contact. When a fault is detected, the GFCI device shuts off power to the circuit within milliseconds, reducing the risk of electric shock to swimmers or individuals in the pool area.

Selecting the right swimming pool lights involves a blend of safety, aesthetics, and functionality. By considering factors such as energy efficiency, brightness, color options, and installation requirements, you can illuminate your pool in style while ensuring a safe and enjoyable swimming experience for all. As a professional LED pool light manufacturer, Luminouslite provides a wide range of underwater lights for different projects and pool types. Whether you’re building a pool for your home, or you’re working on a large commercial pool project, we will offer versatile lighting solutions to meet your needs.