The Future is Here with Fiber Optic Pool Lights

Fiber optic pool lighting came from the ability of the optics to remove the light source from a possibly hazardous environment. While there were watertight lights for pools long before fiber optics, they were bulky, and it was always difficult to change a burned-out bulb. Fiber optics made it possible to not only distance the electricity from the water, but also made changing the bulb a much simpler proposition.

The liquid environment of the swimming pool or spa has always presented certain problems to the designer. Using electricity near water always does, but that is not the only concern. All lights generate heat and the brighter the light the higher the heat.

The nature of the electricity demands that a bulky fixture be used to separate the light source from the water so that a connection can never be made. This usually involves some sort of glass lens held by a metal frame, and then the light has to be of a rather high wattage to shine through the water. It is only natural that a great deal of heat builds up in the lens and frame. The problem here is that if too much heat builds up anyone using the pool is in danger of burning themselves on the fixture.

From a design standpoint, the difficult frames also make it difficult to add or change lighting for the pool lights. The most common method involves changing the bulb with one of the desired colors.

Fiber optic pool lights answer all these problems efficiently. The nature of the fiber optics allow for the source of the light to be not only centralized, but removed much farther than the sides of the pool. Fiber optic pool lights can operate off of one light, and that be distanced from the water so not only is less electricity used, but there is much less chance of it coming in contact with the water. By separating the source fiber optic pool lights automatically separate the heat as well, eliminating the chances for pool patrons to be burned. Designers like the fiber optics because by changing a simple light filter, the colors of the pool lights can be changed, often done by a color wheel attached to a simple electric motor. The color can often be changed at the push of a button.

These benefits are working to integrate fiber optic pool lights into the very basics of pool and spa design, so as the future develops the old style of lights will surely be relegated to the past.