I think I want to replace my SAM SPECTRUM POOL LIGHT

[cameradude]

Hello all!

The previous owner installed what appears to be this SAM SPECTRUM POOL LIGHT :

American Best Pool Supply

American Best Pool Supply is your one-stop source for Spa and Pool Supplies. We provide excellent quality Pool Parts, visit online or call 909-595-5744!

americanbestpoolsupply.com

It had a funky rotating thing inside to change colors, it hasn't worked since the day we moved in. It was also half filled with water. We never swim at night so I never bothered with it, but I am SLAMing my pool and I took out the fixture to make sure there wasn't any algae in the recess. I can always just throw it back in the pool, but I was wondering if there was an under $300 way to fix/replace it.

It is hard to find a lot of info on this light, but from what I read on inyopools, it can't be converted to LED. It does not have a threaded light bulb end, it has spade-type connectors.

First, is that accurate? A slap in conversion would be easiest, or is that impossible since it has been half filled with water for a decade?
Second, any ideas for a decent housing and LED solution?

It looks like it is currently wired for 120.

 

[ajw22]

Pentair acquired the SAM lights and then discontinued them.

You may have read this on Inyopools which is the best suggestion for replacement....

Pentair SAM Light Replacement Options

Is there any other replacement for the Pentair SAM lights? I have 2 Series 600015, 16, 17, 22 165W, 120V MR16 75W fixtrures in Model 7821XXX, 792067XX nitche housings. I also have 1 Series 64000X 58W 120V MR8 or MR11 fixture in a Model 78243XXX, 792066XX nitche housing. Is there any other...

forum.inyopools.com

 

[cameradude]

Pentair acquired the SAM lights and then discontinued them.

You may have read this on Inyopools which is the best suggestion for replacement....

Pentair SAM Light Replacement Options

Is there any other replacement for the Pentair SAM lights? I have 2 Series 600015, 16, 17, 22 165W, 120V MR16 75W fixtrures in Model 7821XXX, 792067XX nitche housings. I also have 1 Series 64000X 58W 120V MR8 or MR11 fixture in a Model 78243XXX, 792066XX nitche housing. Is there any other...

forum.inyopools.com

Yup, I saw that post, but those are both over $600.
Are there other alternatives? It doesn't have to be color-changing. If I am going to swap out the unit anyway, I assume I am not limited to the more expensive (and seemingly less reliable) brands?

 

[ajw22]

Are your lights 10" pool lights or 6" spa lights?

You can use any light if it will fit your light niche in diameter and depth.

Checkout...

Retro R10 — Spa Electrics Inc.

www.spaelectrics.com

Or maybe this...

Amerlite® Underwater Incandescent Lights

Add lighting to your pool with Amerlite, the world standard of reliability for underwater pool lights. Shop the Amerlite collection from Pentair here.

www.pentair.com

Talk to these folks and see if they have anything that fits...

Florida Sunseeker PoolTone® Color LED Pool & Spa Lights and Bulbs

Pooltone Pool Baron best color led spa light bulbs lights Hayward Astrolite ColorLogic logic Pentair Amerlite Intellibrite Aqualumin Sta-Rite Swimquip Jandy Zodiac 619818Z 601000 601001 601002 601003 601010 601011 601012 601013 640120 640121 640123 640130 640131 640132 640133 SP0527 LPLUS bulb...

www.florida-sunseeker.com

 

[cameradude]

Are your lights 10" pool lights or 6" spa lights?

You can use any light if it will fit your light niche in diameter and depth.

Checkout...

Retro R10 — Spa Electrics Inc.

www.spaelectrics.com

Or maybe this...

Amerlite® Underwater Incandescent Lights

Add lighting to your pool with Amerlite, the world standard of reliability for underwater pool lights. Shop the Amerlite collection from Pentair here.

www.pentair.com

Talk to these folks and see if they have anything that fits...

Florida Sunseeker PoolTone® Color LED Pool & Spa Lights and Bulbs

Pooltone Pool Baron best color led spa light bulbs lights Hayward Astrolite ColorLogic logic Pentair Amerlite Intellibrite Aqualumin Sta-Rite Swimquip Jandy Zodiac 619818Z 601000 601001 601002 601003 601010 601011 601012 601013 640120 640121 640123 640130 640131 640132 640133 SP0527 LPLUS bulb...

www.florida-sunseeker.com

Its a 10" pool light. All of those are still in the $500+ range. I was hoping that somebody here had found a cheaper alternative.
There are some things on Amazon, but the reviews suck.
Maybe a decent incandescent housing then I can use screw-in LED bulbs which are cheap to replace?

 

[ajw22]

See what you can find that fits your price point.

 

[cameradude]

See what you can find that fits your price point.

Right, I have been looking on my own, I came here to see if somebody else has found a good solution.
Thanks for the links, I do appreciate your time.

 

[Newdude]

Maybe a decent incandescent housing then I can use screw-in LED bulbs which are cheap to replace

Pentair's  Amerlite is $375 on amazon with a 50 ft cord. It comes with a plain bulb that will last years and years, or you can swap it out with a color changing one. If my dies, ill get a pretty one, but they last forever so probably not. You can also buy snap on colored lens covers for $14 or a bundle of them for $44. I got the dark blue one last year and was very happy with it.

Anywho, the knockoff niches are only about $100 cheaper and I wouldn't go there with rust concerns if they use lesser quality faceplates. Amerlites are tried and true.

 

[Newdude]

Before and after the lens cover, definitely way less yellow/soft light.

 

[cameradude]

Before and after the lens cover, definitely way less yellow/soft light.

Wow, that looks very nice! That may be the way to go.

The more I read about LEDs the more I think maybe I'll stick with incandescent bulbs. It seems like most of the LEDs die within a year or two, and given that here in Phoenix my pool water spends many months in the 90-degree range, I imagine that will be hard on an LED's internals.

Has anybody had a great experience with LEDs and gotten them to last more than a few years?! I'd love to hear about it.

 

[cameradude]

I did find this post, he has had great luck with his LED:

BulbWizards PoolBright 202 LED Color Changing Replacement Bulb Review :: Recommended

When I was looking into replacing my 300 Watt incandescent bulb with a color changing LED on, I didn't see anyone report on the PoolBright 202 from BulbWizards. It was significantly cheaper than other similar bulbs, so I gave it a look. Here is what I found: Made in USA 3 Year limited...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[dfwnoob]

Nearly all of the big name LED options are hot garbage and die quickly. I have a conventional Amerlite lamp in my pool. The incandescent died not long after we bought the house (from the best I can tell it was the original from 2006), so I replaced it with one of the "Florida Sunseeker" LED replacements. It just replaces the original incandescent bulb in the original housing and niche. Unfortunately, FS has been less than open and forthcoming about things like UL certification, so I'm not sure if I'd buy another one. That being said, we virtually never have the pool light on anyway, so I haven't been in any rush to rip it out. Eventually I'll just get another halogen and put it in so I feel more comfortable about the safety of the whole thing.

Another thing I don't like about the FS is that it seems to dim pretty rapidly after it's turned on. I'm guessing the LED drivers get extremely hot with the "bulb" sitting in the niche and it starts throttling power. It does work, but it's kinda Crud.

I have no experience with that BulbWizards one, but I'm immediately suspect that a "made in USA" LED lamp like that could retail for under $100. And like the Florida Sunseeker, I don't see anything about any UL or other safety cerifications.