What are the Different Types of Pool Lights?

Most pool lights are used so that swimmers can see well at night, but some have the added benefit of making the pool a little more unique and exciting. For example, traditional pool lighting is often the cheapest option, focusing solely on illuminating the night. On the other hand, LED lighting has the option of changing colors frequently, adding a little fun to traditional pool lights. Floating lights can often do the same, while solar powered lighting is usually considered both environmentally responsible and inexpensive to maintain.

The traditional pool lights tend to use either halogen or incandescent light bulbs. Of course, the bulb needs to be sealed inside a waterproof enclosure in order to remain safe, which often means that changing a burnt out bulb can take some time. Additionally, traditional lights usually need to be installed at the same time as the pool since it is much more difficult to add one to an existing pool. While this type of pool lighting needs to be low voltage to remain safe, it is typically quite effective at illuminating the area at night.

Some people want more than the traditional lights for their pool, so they opt for LED lighting, which often features several colors. In fact, this type of light can create every shade of the spectrum, allowing the pool water to change to various colors when a switch is flipped. Not only does this type of light tend to last much longer than the traditional pool light does, but it also typically uses a lot less power than most types, and there are no bulbs to be replaced. Therefore, it can often be considered both environmentally friendly and inexpensive, despite its slightly higher upfront cost.

Those who seek a fun atmosphere in their pool may also be attracted to floating lights, which sit on top of the water instead of being installed into the pool wall. The light given off by these pool lights is often slight, but pool owners can purchase several of them to increase the overall illumination, allowing them to easily change the amount of light given off. They may offer the traditional look of yellow or white light, or they may be colored. Furthermore, some floating pool lights run off batteries, while others are solar powered, harnessing the day's sunlight so that they can automatically glow at night.

In fact, solar powered lighting is popular among those who wish to keep the maintenance costs for their pool lights low. Their energy comes from the sun, charging a battery within the light rather than taking electricity from the home. These pool lights come in many varieties, as they may be colored or traditional, floating or fixed. Of course, the light they provide is often subtle, and areas with frequent cloudy days may not allow this type of lighting to glow very often.