Pool and Spa Lights

Standard Pool Lights

Halogen pool lights are the entry-level lighting solution. While they are not as energy-efficient as LED's, halogen lights offer a warm tone that many of our customers love. In addition, halogens represent a low upfront cost when compared to LED.

Expect about 1,000 hours of usage before a halogen bulb needs replacement.

Halogen Pros

•  Inexpensive
•  Some prefer the natural light tone of halogens

Halogen Cons

•  Inefficient/expensive to operate
•  Short lived at about 1,000 hours per bulb
•  Color-changing is not an option

LED Pool Lights

LED’s are fast becoming the industry standard. An LED operates by passing a small amount of electricity to a "light emitting diode". Not only is this diode extremely efficient and bright, but it’s also very flexible; by passing current through varying materials, an LED is capable of outputting an unlimited spectrum of colors.

When combined with a light control system, an LED system can be fully controlled via an easy-to-use interface. Turn your pool lights on and off, change colors, even cycle through pre-programmed light shows to add some extra "wow factor" to your pool – all from a handheld remote control.

The initial investment for LED pool lighting is somewhat higher than standard lights. The good news, however, is that they are so efficient that you’ll get your money back (and then some!) over the life of your light. LED's are capable of converting an amazing 80% of consumed electricity into light. And when you consider that they need far less wattage to produce the same brightness, you’ll see how the savings can add up!

An average LED light is rated for about 50,000 hours of use before needing replacement, so they are also much longer-lasting than standard light.

LED Pros

•  Very efficient
•  Can last up to 50,000 hours before needing replacement
•  Can output a wide range of colors to change the mood of your pool
•  Energy rebates may be available in your area

LED Cons

•  Higher upfront cost

Choosing Voltage

Pool lights are available in both 12V and 120V. Many areas require 12V lights for new pool installations due to the inherent safety benefits. To work with the 120V coming out of your household, a 12V lighting system requires a transformer to drop current from 120V to 12V.

Considering the safety benefits and the equivalent brightness, there is little reason not to choose 12V if you are performing a new lighting installation.

Wattage & Cost Consideration

A watt is simply the power required for a light to produce a certain brightness (usually referred to as lumens). The lower a lights wattage, the lower it’s energy consumption…and obviously the lower your electric bill!

Incandescents range from 100W all the way up to 500W. For comparable LED wattage, please refer to the following table: