19 / 12 / 19

Installation of Inground Pool Lights for an Existing Pool

A beautiful pool can make your home the envy of your neighbourhood – and a well lit and expertly landscaped surrounding area can make it even more striking. In fact, with some clever lighting, your pool can be safer and more attractive with the flick of a switch. This way, your swim time will no longer be limited to daylight hours, and you’ll be able to use your water whenever you choose. If you’re wondering how to install inground pool lights into an existing pool, then you’ve come to the right place. This basic guide will share everything you need to know, so you can DIY or call in the experts, depending on how confident you feel.

Inground Pool with Lights
 

Installation Guide

Whilst you should always refer to your manufacturers guide, these steps can generally be followed with most inground pool lights.

  • Choose a light: With a huge range of lights on the market, you may need to spend some time choosing the best option for your needs, taste and budget. Choices include incandescent, halogen, LED and fibre optic – and each come with their own strengths and drawbacks.

  • Assembly: Once you’ve picked the best option for you, assemble the light according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Check all the seals for water tightness by submerging it in shallow water and watching for bubbles.

  • Power Supply: Some lights are batter powered – if that’s the case with your option, simply add the batteries and move on. This is the ideal solution for those who want feature lighting or an interesting effect.

  • For those who truly want to light up the pool, you will need to set up a power source. We recommend a GFCI outlet, and you can mount the light transformer next to the outlet and plug it in. If that’s not possible, you’ll need to install a waterproof junction box on an existing power line. If you have limited electrical knowledge, it may be best to contact a licensed sparky.

  • Installation: Before installation, check to make sure it works properly. Then, you can mount the light on the pool wall according to the manufacturer’s instructions.If you’re using a corded light with a hard wall, you’ll need to remove the edging in that particular area, run the cording, then replace the edging. If you have a soft wall, anchor the cord to the pool railing according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Adding a new light to an existing pool that has never had any lighting source under the surface is a bit of a process – you will need to empty the pool and install a wire within the pool wall and back to where you want to turn it on and off from. For this reason, we always recommend considering all your options (especially whether or not you want to have lighting in the future) before you begin your build. This will save you plenty of time, hassle and money down the track.

Swimming Pool with Lights

Tips and Tricks

For easy maintenance, here are our favourite tips to ensure your lights work at optimal standard for years to come.

Install your inground pool lights in an accessible area, with enough cable behind them for easy servicing. Have them installed around 300-400mm from the top of the coping – any deeper and they’ll be hard to service.

Use your pool light for at least fifteen minutes each week – even in winter – as this will help remove any access moisture within the cavity and increase the lifespan of your globe.

Government regulations

Similar to fencing, there are a number of regulations you’ll need to keep in mind when it comes to lighting your pool – especially if these lights will be under the water level. All underwater lights must have a waterproof rating of IPX8 (meaning they can be continuously immersed under water) and new installations can’t exceed 12V A/C or 30V D/C. It needs to be water cooled at all times, and should never be turned on unless completely submerged, as this can cause damage.

With these steps, you’ll find it easy to install your own inground pool lighting – even if you’ve already had your pool for a number of years! Choose your lighting, have a careful read of the specifications, and then get to work. Just make sure you follow the government regulations, and you’ll have a beautiful and safe pool to use day and night!

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