Are all pool lights 12v?

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VOLTAGE 12V vs 120V - Pool lights are designed to operate with 12V or 120V. In some areas of the country the local code requires a low voltage 12V light while in other areas it is fine to use a 120V light. If you have transformer then you have a 12V light.



Hereof, are 12v pool lights safe?

The 12V lights are safer when installed properly by a licensed electrician. ALWAYS get a permit when performing electrical work in your pool, pool lamp replacements included. A permit may cost some money, but it means that someone will have to check your work and be sure that it is safe.

Additionally, can a 12 volt pool light kill you? Pool and spa lights make an easy culprit because they are immersed in the water. Some believe the 120 volts generated by an incandescent light can introduce a fatal charge, whereas the power from low-voltage lights, generally 12 volts, can injure but not kill.

People also ask, are 12v pool lights AC or DC?

Swimming pools and spa's always need 12 Volts of AC power. Most people hear 12 Volts and immediately think of DC which is used in cars and also outside landscape lighting. If you hook pool LED's to 12V DC, sometimes they work, but not correctly.

Can I put a regular flood light in my pool light?

Hayward, Jandy and Jacuzzi also make underwater pool lights. At first, all pool lights used an R-40 bulb, a large incandescent flood lamp. Your pool lighting should give you few problems overall. Most incandescent bulbs will burn for 1,000 hours before bulb replacement is necessary.

34 Related Question Answers Found

Can you get electrocuted by a pool light?

Pool lighting: When pool lights have not been correctly bonded or grounded, they can send electricity directly through the water and shock those in the pool. In fact, faulty pool lights can send electrical currents through the water even when they are turned off.

How long do LED pool lights Last?

All the marketing hype would have you believe that your new LED light will last for 50,000 to 100,000 hours (up to 12 years). This is a half truth really. Yes the LEDs themselves will normally last that long.

What is the difference between 120v and 12v?

What is the difference between 12v and 120v? 12v: known as low voltage, this voltage is acheived by "stepping down", reducing/converting standard 110/120v high voltage into 12v low voltage with the aid of a transformer. 120v: known as high voltage, line voltage, standard voltage or 110v/120v/130v.

Are pool light niches universal?


It's universal, because it will fit into most any other pool light niche. And, unlike other lamps that void the warranty or remove the UL listing when installed in other niches, the Hayward Universal LED pool light is UL listed as safe for use in nearly any light niche.

Should Pool Light have water in it?

As we all should know, water and light sockets do not mix. A leaky pool light stems from a bad lens gasket. A fixture filled with water can also cause a breaker to trip, so be mindful of that when troubleshooting. Replacing a pools light lens gasket is pretty simple and even the more novice pool owners can do the job.

How many amps does a pool light draw?

Pool Lights: 12v, 3.5 watts each. Self-Contained Hot Tub: 240v 50 amps.

How do you fix a low voltage transformer?

How to Troubleshoot a Low-Voltage Transformer
  1. Identify the transformer's terminals, using its label as a guide.
  2. Turn a multimeter to its VAC function.
  3. Test the transformer's input voltage with the multimeter, using the transformer's label as a terminal guide.
  4. Test the transformer's output voltage with the multimeter.
  5. Disconnect the electricity to the transformer.

How is a pool light wired?

With the pool at least half full of water, water level up to the bottom of the light, float the light in the shallow end, and walk the other end of the cord to the deep end. Tie and tape the end of the light cord to a fish tape, or to a wire that you have pushed from the junction box into the light niche.

Is it safe to hang string lights over pool?


There's a reason the 2014 NEC (National Electric Code) states that you must have at least a 10-foot clearance above water level- it's dangerous to have power lines, extension cords, Christmas lights/ string lights above the water ! Don't install string lights over the pool.

How does a pool light work?

Pool lights are designed to minimize risk of injury from electricity—the whole light fixture is tightly sealed against water entering for exactly this purpose. Pool lights also usually have a ground fault circuit interrupter, GFCI, which means even a very tiny leak will shut the power off.

Are pool lights safe?

In short, yes they are extremely safe, so long as they are installed according to manufacturer's specifications and compliant with local building codes. Modern pool lights, installed correctly, are virtually risk free.

What size pool light do I need?

The number of lights needed properly to illuminate your pool is obviously going to depend on the size of your swimming pool. As a rule of thumb, the generally recommended requirement is to aim for 5.4 watts per square metre (0.5 watts per square foot).

Why does pool light dim?

Here are some common causes for dim or faulty, pool lights. Loose Fixture – A very common cause of dimming pool lights is simply wobbly housing. Leaky Housing – Your pool light is housed behind a lens and a housing gasket, which keeps the waterproof seal. Over time, the heavy rubber of the gasket can break down.

How much does it cost to replace a pool light?


A new pool light gasket for the fixture is about $25. Labor for the repair would be $100-150. Profit on a successful job would be about $120. The cost of a new fixture is about $200 (wholesale).

How do you ground a swimming pool light?

Just float the wire nut joining all equipment grounding conductors size 12 ga. [green] in the air and inside the pool light box. Then I would run the #8 green bonding grid wires coming from the inside of each wet niche into that box and connect them to that grounding bar found inside that pool light box.

Does a pool light need a GFCI?

The National Electrical Code – Article 680-20a1 states that a pool light fixture over 15 volts must be GFCI Protected.