how long should pool lights last?

[crackers8199]

our pool was built in late 2014 and started operation in 2015, and we are on our third or fourth set of pool lights (i can't remember if it's 3 or 4 at this point because i'm so annoyed with it). tonight while i was in the hot tub, our pool light went out and so i guess will need to be replaced, again.

is this normal? what should i be looking for in terms of what could be causing these things to keep blowing out so often? i was under the understanding that these things should last years and years and years, not having to be replaced basically once a year...

 

[mguzzy]

What kind of lights do you have?

 

[crackers8199]

What kind of lights do you have?

at this point, i think they replaced with multi plus something or other. i'm pretty sure they were originally pentair, but after 3 or 4 replacements already in six years i honestly have no idea. i know the most recent replacement (which was almost two years ago) they said they were putting something different in since the other ones kept going out...

they are color lights that i can control the program on by flipping the switch a certain number of times.

 

[mgtfp]

That was my experience so far:

They also specify to operate them at least once a week, which I do. I have three of them, and not long after the official warranty period the first one failed. Luckily, I bought them at my local pool store, so I didn't have to deal with a quality claim myself, and I got a free replacement. A few weeks ago (about a year after the first one failed), the second light failed. Again, via the pool store I got a free replacement. Despite turning them on regularly, it did look like condensation on the inside, so that seems to be the likely cause of failure (but I didn't open them to verify).

 

[crackers8199]

That was my experience so far:

so basically there's no reason to replace these with expensive color lights, since they're going to fail repeatedly anyway, and just get regular basic white ones with a bulb i can change myself?

 

[mguzzy]

That is what I would do. I have old school halogen lights.. the bulbs are a buck a piece and I have to replace them every few years... I looked around at replacing them with fancier LED and colored light show types. I just don't think they are bomb proof enough. You will have to match whatever kind of bulb/light your light enclosure will accommodate. That's why I asked what kind you had.

 

[mgtfp]

Theoretically, LEDs are supposed to be a lot more robust than halogen and a lot cheaper to run. Main problem seems to be that they need electronics, which is on a cheap PCB. Once there are condensation droplets connection two tracks, this happens:

In that sense, old fashioned halogen lights are more robust, not as sensitive to a bit of condensation. I guess they need to get flooded to fail (apart from bulb failures which is an easy fix). But they draw a lot of current.

There must be robust designs around, but I haven't really done research on that, and bought the same brand LED retro fit lights to replace the decades old halogens after one flooded.

Certainly not worth saving a few bucks by buying the cheapest option on eBay. I generally buy my pool hardware at the local pool shop, quite happy with the customer support they provide, and I don't have to deal with convincing the manufacturer that a pool light is supposed to last more like ten years and not just one.

 

[crackers8199]

Theoretically, LEDs are supposed to be a lot more robust than halogen and a lot cheaper to run. Main problem seems to be that they need electronics, which is on a cheap PCB. Once there are condensation droplets connection two tracks, this happens:

In that sense, old fashioned halogen lights are more robust, not as sensitive to a bit of condensation. I guess they need to get flooded to fail (apart from bulb failures which is an easy fix). But they draw a lot of current.

There must be robust designs around, but I haven't really done research on that, and bought the same brand LED retro fit lights to replace the decades old halogens after one flooded.

Certainly not worth saving a few bucks by buying the cheapest option on eBay. I generally buy my pool hardware at the local pool shop, quite happy with the customer support they provide, and I don't have to deal with convincing the manufacturer that a pool light is supposed to last more like ten years and not just one.

cheapest option on ebay isn't where i was going with this...just not worth spending $1000+ on new pentair intellibrites if they're going to fail in a few months to a few years is what i meant.

would rather get a light fixture where i can at least pull it out and replace the bulb if that fails...is that an option? do those still exist? would prefer LED, too, if possible...and would prefer colors over standard white. but again, not interested in spending $1000+ to replace them every year or two either...

 

[DLip]

I had a Hayward color logic led fail recently - it developed a leak and was filled w/ water. Not sure how long it lasted as we bought the house last year.

Replaced it w a Florida Sunseeker pool tone 16 last month. They are filled w/ a polymer resin so there is no hollow space for water to leak into. Don’t know if there are other led’s that use the same design.

I’ve only had it a month so can’t speak to longevity, but so far so good.

 

[mgtfp]

I’ve only had it a month so can’t speak to longevity, but so far so good.

Let us know how it's going over time. Promising concept.

 

[crackers8199]

is there any reason not to get something like the pentair ameribrite and then the florida sunseeker bulb to put in it? seems much more cost efficient and easier to replace when the bulb goes out than having to replace the whole fixture every time...