LIGHTS, uh camera, what is next?

[GatorWayne]

Being a newbie here and to the world, it has been interesting getting design ideas from six different contractors. So I need some advice.

Pools come with a light and maybe more than one. We are also adding a spa to our plan. Another light. So far this comes to either included but not sure what lights or an $800 add on. At least one PB said nearly most of their employees have LED but it is so cheap for them to do this.

Does anyone recommend this as an upgrade to a new pool? We have only one personal recommendation and it was to not even bother with color LED.

[waterbear]

LED lights will be the most energy efficient in the long run and color changing lights can really set a mood if you use the pool at night or as an entertaining backdrop at night. Spas tend to get a lot of use at night and lighting in the spa can really set a relaxing mood. I have color changing lights in my pool, spa and fiber optic water features that can synchronize with each other (but they are not LED since LED lighting was not available when my pool was built) and I am not sorry I spent the extra money for them. If I had it to do over today I would most likely have LED lighting instead to lower energy costs.

Your most inexpensive light would be an incandescent white one and that is usually what many builders include but they are not always the most aesthetic. The color of the surface of your pool and spa need to be taken into consideration. If you are going with a dark or strongly colored pool surface then color changing LED lights are a waste, IMHO, and you will probably be better served by an incandescent or halogen light that puts out more lumens to better illuminate the dark surface. LED lights just don't have the light output to match an incandescent or halogen. Colored lights lose much of their effect on anything but white or light blue or grey surfaces, IMHO.

[kelemvor]

I just replaced my pools "regular" incandescent light with a color changing LED light last year and I love the new light. Not only do you get a "real" white, but you get all sorts of groovy colors to choose from. With a standard light, it's actually yellow rather than white making your pool appear slightly green at night. I wish I had a niche in my spa to put one in there, too.

I posted a thread about it here: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?10645-Pentair-Intellibrite-vs-Hayward-Colorlogic

My opinion is if you have the money, it's a great upgrade for a pool. At least, that was my experience.

Either way you go, you should get a niche in both if you can since they're tough to add later without serious construction. I've tried several variations of floating lights in the spa and they've all been big letdowns so far.

My only complaint is something Waterbear mentioned, it could stand to be a little brighter.

[GatorWayne]

Thank you very much. We have gone back and forth about whether we should get the lights or not. I'm pretty sure we are going to get the lights. I think it will make the pool much nicer at night.

I liked the pics you posted.

[GatorWayne]

Two followup questions, one of our desingers said he would run the lights to where the pool equipment is installed. he said this would avoid having a j-box by the pool. He said this j-box is a metal box about a foot above ground.

1. Is it common to have a j-box? It does not sound all that great to me but I suspect it could be hidden with landscaping.

2. IS the j-box just for lights?

[kelemvor]

The j-box is just a place where the wires (which cannot be disconnected) from the light meet the wiring from your house so they can be disconnected in the event you need to service the light or something. Mine is near my pump and valves which is hidden by some landscaping. In my case the box is just for the light.

Local code might even require the j-box, but the bottom line is you have to have something to house the connection between the wiring on the light to your power source.

[GatorWayne]

Thank you for your response. A j-box makes sense but I will ensure we have it near the pool equipment and not amongst the landscaping near the pool.