Do you have a pool? And now you want pool lighting? Retrofitting is not a problem! We will show you what technical options you have to illuminate your pool afterwards and how to retrofit the pool lighting that suits your pool.
Even a pool in the garden is a dream: on hot summer days it offers you the longed-for cooling off with a dip in the refreshing water. Whether you go into the pool alone, as a couple or with the whole family, dive in there only briefly, play extensively or swim your laps disciplined, the pool fulfills dreams of all ages. Are you interested in a pool?
With the right lighting, you have the opportunity to enjoy the water in the pool even after the sun has set. This extends the usage times for your garden pool. The pool lighting provides atmospheric light in and around the pool at night. In the meantime there are so-called mood lights, the light of which shines in different colors or, as if by magic, automatically changes from shade to shade.
But the pool lighting is not just something for the eye: it also ensures a high level of safety in the otherwise dark of the night. A well-lit pool area reduces the risk of accidents and thus protects your well-being and your health.
Our tip: The good news for all pool owners who only need the right lighting for a nightly pool party or a romantic bath in the moonlight: You can retrofit pool lighting at any time. We explain how this works and what you need to consider in the following:
Retrofitting pool lighting – the technical possibilities
Basically, you have various options for lighting your pool. These are the common pool lights for retrofitting:
Floating pool lighting – the very quick and inexpensive solution
Floating pool lights lie on the water of your pool like blooming water lilies. Modern variants of the floating lights are battery operated or run on solar energy, so there is no need for a power supply via cable. Some models can also be controlled remotely via WLAN.
Our tip: When purchasing your pool lighting for retrofitting, it is best to opt for the latest generation of LED lamps. They save energy and do not heat the water even after a long period of operation. LEDs emit white or colored light and require little maintenance during their long lifespan.
The batteries are in a watertight compartment and the light from the floating pool light often switches off automatically after a certain period of non-use of the lamp. Such floating lights are available in large numbers in different designs and with varying functionality. Decisive for the purchase should be on the one hand the tested structural safety: When buying, pay attention to the protection class (for example: IP68) of the floating pool lighting specified by the manufacturer. On the other hand, it depends on the radiance of the light: Pay attention to the manufacturer’s information on the range of the light, both with regard to the illuminated area on the water surface and into the depth of the water. Your future pool lighting for retrofitting should also be insensitive to the chlorine often used in the pool (manufacturer’s specification: resistant to chlorine vapor).
The advantages of floating pool lighting are obvious: you can put it on the water at any time and immediately bathe and swim in its glow. The disadvantage is that you always have to have full spare batteries on hand in order to supply the pool lights that have lost their luminosity with fresh energy.
Simply hang up – retrofit pool lighting under water
Steel wall pools, also called steel wall pools, can be set up in no time (hence the alternative name “above ground pool”) and can be used extremely flexibly and are therefore very popular in the garden. They consist of the eponymous steel jacket, an inner tank made of plastic film (PVC), a handrail (depending on the model made of steel or plastic) for more comfort and matching floor rails. Round steel wall pools can be set up at ground level, whereas oval pools are usually partially or completely embedded in the garden floor for better stability. If you want to retrofit pool lighting for such a steel tub, the best way to do this is with hanging lights (also known as hanging lights). The type designation is the order of the day for these lamps: You can simply hang these pool lights on the pool edge and, if necessary, simply fix them there. Unlike the swimming lights for the pool described above, you have to connect the hanging lights to the mains. Commercial hanging lights for retrofitting pool lighting often come with a several-meter-long power cable and a plug-in transformer, so you only need an outlet within easy reach.
Our tip: A practical alternative to the subsequent pool lighting of a steel wall pool is pool lights, which you can fix to the pool wall with the help of a magnet. The external magnet is placed on the outside at the desired location and held on the inside by its counterpart, the underwater spotlight. Models with a suction cup are already available.
For retrofitting: underwater spotlights for your pool
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Recessed underwater spotlights are, as can already be deduced from the type designation, for fixed, i.e. permanent underwater installation in the pool (e.g. made of concrete). There are models for installation in the pool floor as well as for installation in the pool wall. The pool stairs are often particularly illuminated with the headlights to prevent accidents as much as possible.
Our tip: In case of doubt, you should definitely consult a specialist when installing the pool lighting for retrofitting.
Compared to the two options for retrofitting pool lighting already presented, the installation effort for these underwater spotlights is significantly higher. In order to retrofit the pool lighting, it must be inserted into the pool wall using suitable installation rails and then connected to the lamp cable. The niche required for installation, to which the lamp cable embedded in a protective tube leads, must be available.
Also think of adequate lighting for the paths between the house, garden shed or garden sauna and pool, so that going to the pool is not a trip hazard!
Additional accessories for pool lighting for retrofitting
When choosing your pool lighting for retrofitting, pay attention to the possibility of functional expansion. For example, remote controls (also wireless via tablet and smartphone) for switching on and off, for activating various lighting effects such as pulsating light or changing colors. A timer can also be a practical function, as it ensures that the pool lighting only works when it is night.
