LED Pool Lighting Upgrades in Las Vegas: Colors, Costs & Energy Savings
Pool Equipment
Key highlights
- Las Vegas sees its earliest sunsets, around 4:25 p.m., in early December. Most of your pool time this season happens after dark.
- A color LED pool light like the Pentair IntelliBrite 5G uses about 26 watts, more than 82% less than an old incandescent pool light.
- In most pools, a new LED pool light fits the existing light niche, so there’s no digging or new plumbing.
- Pool lights combine electricity and water. Replacing one is a job for a licensed pro.
Fall and winter in Las Vegas are perfect for a warm spa and a quiet evening by the pool. The catch is the light. Once daylight saving time ends on November 1, the sun sets before most people get home from work.
An LED pool light changes how your backyard feels after dark. It’s brighter than the old bulb, it can glow in colors, and it costs a fraction as much to run.
Why fall is the time to upgrade
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Early December
4:25pm
Earliest sunsets of the year
Most evening swims and spa nights happen in the dark.
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Pentair IntelliBrite 5G
82%
Less energy
About 26 watts vs. a traditional incandescent or halogen pool light.
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Color LED lights
5+7
Colors and light shows
Five fixed colors and seven color shows on today’s Pentair and Hayward lights.
What it costs to run
Older incandescent pool lights often draw 300 to 500 watts. Here is an illustrative comparison using $0.12 per kWh and 4 hours of lighting a night; your electricity rate and light’s wattage may differ:
Old incandescent pool light
About 400 W
- Per month · 4 hrs a night
- $5.76
- Per year
- $69
Bulbs burn out and run hot. One color only.
Color LED pool light
About 26 W
- Per month · 4 hrs a night
- $0.37
- Per year
- $4.50
Colors and shows, dimming on many models, and a much longer life.
Example only, at $0.12 per kWh. Wattage varies by model; a brighter white LED for a large pool may use more.
Pentair and Hayward LED lights we install
Pentair
Pictured: Pentair IntelliBrite 5G Color LED pool light.
IntelliBrite 5G Color
Pentair’s color LED pool and spa light.
- Power
- About 26 W (120V or 12V models)
- Savings
- More than 82% less energy than incandescent or halogen
- Colors
- 5 fixed colors and 7 light shows
- Control
- Wall switch, or Pentair IntelliCenter and the Pentair Pool app
Best forPentair equipment pads and owners who want app control through IntelliCenter.
Hayward
Pictured: Hayward ColorLogic 4.0 LED Pool Light, SKU SP0527SLED50.
ColorLogic 4.0 LED Pool Light
Hayward’s color LED pool light (pool model SP0527SLED50 pictured; other cord lengths and trims are sold).
- Model
- SP0527SLED50: 120V, 50 ft cord, stainless trim
- Savings
- Hayward says up to 79% lower energy costs
- Colors
- 5 fixed colors and 7 light shows; 11 shows and 101 colors with Hayward ProLogic automation
- Dimming
- 20% to 100% brightness
Best forHayward equipment pads, and anyone who wants dimmable color light.
How an LED upgrade works
We check your existing light, niche, cord and voltage before planning the replacement. Here is what the work involves:
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Check the niche, cord and voltage
We confirm your light niche size, whether your light is 120V or 12V, and that the conduit is clear for a new cord.
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Shut off power and test the GFCI
Power stays off at the breaker for the whole job, and we confirm the GFCI protection works.
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Pull the old fixture and run the new cord
The old light comes out of the niche, and the new LED cord is pulled through to the junction box.
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Seal, set and test
We make the connections, seat the light in the niche and test it under water.
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Set your colors and schedule
We sync multiple lights and connect them to your automation, so they turn on at sunset.
Fresh & Clear job
Color LED pool light install
Fresh & Clear job
Pool and spa LED upgrade
Pool lights are high-voltage equipment in water. They must be on a GFCI-protected circuit and sealed correctly. Never open a pool light or work on it yourself. If your light flickers, has water inside the lens, or trips the GFCI, turn it off at the breaker and call us.
Signs your pool light needs attention
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Water in the lens
A failed seal. Turn the light off and have it checked.
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Trips the GFCI
A safety device is doing its job. Don’t keep resetting it.
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Dim, yellow or dead
An old incandescent bulb near the end of its life. A good time to go LED.
Pro tip
Have a pool and spa? Put lights in both and sync them. With automation, one tap sets the same color in the pool, spa and any water features, and they can turn on at sunset by themselves.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put an LED light in my existing pool light niche?
Usually, yes. Most LED replacement pool lights are made to fit standard light niches, so the job is a light swap, not construction. We check your niche, cord and voltage first.
How much does an LED pool light cost to run in Las Vegas?
In this example, a 26-watt light running 4 hours a night uses about 3 kWh a month, or about $0.40 at $0.12 per kWh. A 400-watt light would cost about $6 for the same hours. Your model, use and electricity rate determine the actual cost.
Can I change the colors from my phone?
Yes, when the light is connected to a compatible pool automation system, such as Pentair IntelliCenter for IntelliBrite lights. We check which system works with your lights before you buy.
Should I replace my pool light myself?
No. Pool lights combine electricity and water, and they must be on a GFCI-protected circuit and sealed correctly. Leave replacement to a licensed professional.
Do you install LED lights in commercial pools?
Yes. We install LED lighting for HOA, apartment and hotel pools across the Las Vegas Valley, as well as residential pools and spas.