What wattage should you choose for your poolside recessed spotlights?

 

The swimming pool is a place of relaxation and conviviality. Properly lit, it allows you to enjoy midnight swims in complete serenity, and also becomes an aesthetic element in its own right. Poolside lighting therefore has a number of advantages, but it must also meet a number of criteria if it is to be both safe and effective.

To light your poolside, you'll need to study the various lighting fixtures available for the purpose, and comply with safety standards, but you'll also need to take into account the lighting power of the luminous flux.

So, how do you light your poolside effectively? What wattage should you choose for recessed spotlights for pool surrounds? We take stock in this guide.

 

Step one: Check and comply with current standards

 

We all know that water and electricity don't mix. To light your pool safely, you'll need to take into account the standards in force, which will protect pool users as well as your electrical installation and lights.

It's important to remember that the devices installed must be powered by very low-voltage current, i.e. 12V alternating current and 30V direct current. Your pond lighting should therefore not exceed 300 watts and a voltage of 12V. You can also opt for luminaires with reinforced insulation protected by a 30mA differential circuit breaker.

 

"By opting for Lumihome luminaires, you also benefit from specific, ultra-tight connectors that plug in easily thanks to the patented Easy Fix system, for reliable, long-lasting installation."

Christophe Coelho

 

But to ensure perfect safety for bathers and guests, poolside lighting must also have a sufficiently high protection rating, protecting it from dust and water. To determine this IP rating, it's important to differentiate between :

• the surface-mounted luminaire, used to illuminate the pool or stair treads, for example. Its IP rating must be greater than or equal to 68, and the voltage supplying it must be 12V. Lumihome also offers submersible LED spotlights capable of creating an attractive 90° beam.

• the luminaire positioned at the edge of the pool. To determine the exact IP rating, it's a good idea to find out which zoning your luminaire falls into. To find out more, read our article on "How to choose the right poolside lighting". You'll find all the details you need to know about zoning. But for simplicity's sake, and to avoid risks as much as possible, we generally recommend that you choose a 65 index for your poolside lighting.

Once the safety aspect has been satisfied, you can move on to the luminous flux and the aesthetic effect you wish to bring to your water feature. 

 

"For poolside lighting, we recommend 12V outdoor LED spotlights. They provide ideal lighting for your outdoor area while consuming very little energy. This makes them an environmentally-friendly solution, since they also have the great advantage of being long-lasting. Last but not least, they also give off very little heat, for an ideal level of waterproofing for damp environments."

Christophe Coelho

 

Lumihome offers both Warm White LED Fountain spotlights with COB LED technology for even more power, and 12V recessed LED poolside spotlights. Designed in stainless steel, these elegant poolside lights are sufficiently powerful thanks to their 144 LEDs and 700 lumens.  

 

White or multicolor RGB lighting?

 

When it comes to illuminating the edges of your pond, you can choose between two types of lighting: monochrome, for a natural, classic look, and multicolored, for a touch of originality. It all depends on your expectations and the mood you want to create.

White lighting 

Monochrome lighting is the most widely used type of pool lighting. If you opt for this solution, you'll have a choice between cool white, warm white and the more unusual ultramarine blue, whose main purpose is to give the water in your pool a lagoon-like appearance. There are also different types of white. Lighting color is characterized by its temperature, which ranges from around 1,000 to 22,000 and is measured in Kelvins. Warm white is close to yellow, at around 2,500 - 3,000 Kelvin. It is particularly used to create a warm ambience. Cool white is around 9,000 Kelvin. Characteristic of LED lighting, it's quite close to a bluish light that gives water a natural appearance. 

 

RGB and RGB CCT lighting

If you want to add a touch of originality to your pond, you can opt for multicolor lighting. This LED lighting mixes colors for a unique, contemporary look. For this purpose, Lumihome offers 12V LED recessed spotlights, which allow you to choose the shade of white you prefer, but whose traditional RGB system also allows you to obtain other colors. Fully controllable by remote control, these poolside LED spotlights will enable you to create a unique atmosphere. You can speed up or slow down the color fade, opt for flashing or fixed mode, and choose the lighting to suit your mood at the touch of a button.

So now you've got everything you need to light your pool effectively and create the ideal luminous flux. The advantages of successful poolside lighting are undeniable. In addition to providing an effective response to safety concerns, it allows you to enjoy evening sessions in your pool, making it a real feast for the eyes!