2 big vs 3 small lights

[Blueskies21]

So we're getting ready to build an 18 x 36 ft vinyl liner rectangle pool. We've built a similar pool before and we did 2 of the large colorlogic lights (maybe they're 6 inch? )... one of the bidders for the new pool is suggesting 3 of the smaller colorlogic 320's.

I think our 2 big lights were plenty of illumination (builders last time told us 2 was overkill, it felt about right though), will 3 little lights be equivalent illumination? It might be cool to have them more spaced out for a more even illumination without hot spots, but I'm not sure the smaller ones will be as bright.

Thoughts?

 

[ajw22]

Look at the specs in…

https://hayward.com/media/akeneo_connector/asset_files/L/I/LITLEDWF21C_Lighting_WaterFeature_DesignGuide_bilingual_9fab.pdf

You have about 700 sqft of surface area and Hayward says you need 8 lumens per sq ft.That is 5,600 lumens.

Two Universal ColorLogic 10” lights gives you 5,200 lumens.

ColorLogic 320 lights are 640 lumens each and CrystalLogic 320 lights are 1100 lumens each.

Note that Pentair guideline is 4 lumens per sq ft. Half what Hayward recommends.

Jandy has an excellent LED Lighting Design Guide.

Your eyes adjust to different light levels.

 

[Blueskies21]

Look at the specs in…

https://hayward.com/media/akeneo_connector/asset_files/L/I/LITLEDWF21C_Lighting_WaterFeature_DesignGuide_bilingual_9fab.pdf

You have about 700 sqft of surface area and Hayward says you need 8 lumens per sq ft.That is 5,600 lumens.

Two Universal ColorLogic 10” lights gives you 5,200 lumens.

ColorLogic 320 lights are 640 lumens each and CrystalLogic 320 lights are 1100 lumens each.

Note that Penatir guideline is 4 lumens per sq ft. Half what Hayward recommends.

Jandy has an excellent LED Lighting Design Guide.

Your eyes adjust to different light levels.

Thanks Ajw!

So HUGE difference... 5,200 lumens for 2 big vs 1,920 lumens for 3 small (3 x 640)... notably to get the same lumens output from the 320's you'd need EIGHT...

Even if you say Pentair is right and you only need 4 lumens per sq ft, that's 2800 lumens, so using 320's you'd need 4.5 (I think we'd round that up to 5)...

On the other hand... when builders told me "1 is good enough"... 2600 lumens from one large colorlogic is awfully close the the 2800 lumen goal pentair sets... I think that'd be pretty dim.

Plus with the failure rate I experienced on the previous ColorLogics, if you have two, you might have one working at a time...

 

[ajw22]

I would consider four 1100 lumen CrystalLogic lights if you want the smaller ones spread out.

 

[Blueskies21]

I would consider four 1100 lumen CrystalLogic lights if you want the smaller ones spread out.

I'm whiney, I want the color.

It's fun to have a green or red pool for Halloween or Christmas.

Otherwise the teal color is our favorite.

White is too bland for our party lifestyle ;-)

I'm going to look at the pricing, 2x big vs 5 little.

 

[ajw22]

Color LEDs have less lumens then white LEDs.

 

[Blueskies21]

Considering using Spa Electrics Lights in my upcoming vinyl pool build.

I looked at their documentation online and couldn't find a lumen output for the various styles they sell, has anyone seen specs for their lumen output?

Also, it's a new build, but everyone around here uses Hayward equipment (Middle TN), would I be crazy to use a normal Hayward niche and put a Spa Electrics "Retro 10" in it vs using the purpose-built "new construction" Spa Electrics Lights?

My thought would be to "future-proof" the niche.

Any downsides to the "retro" Lights?

 

[Parac]

Retro R10 — Spa Electrics Inc. lists the specs for the 10 inch retro specifically. 3200lumens for white or multi color. 1000 lumens for blue.

Maybe a little extra wiring for the connector, but shouldn't really be any difference once installed.

 

[Blueskies21]

Retro R10 — Spa Electrics Inc. lists the specs for the 10 inch retro specifically. 3200lumens for white or multi color. 1000 lumens for blue.

Maybe a little extra wiring for the connector, but shouldn't really be any difference once installed.

You're absolutely correct... It lists 3200 lumens for the Retro 10... interestingly enough at that same spot on all the other pages no lumens are mentioned.

Maybe that just means I should do the Retro 10 and be done.