High Tech Red Neck Pool Lighting

[Bill's Unlimited]

By now many of you have seen my LED lighting projects on the bottom of my cabover camper, awning lights, and even replacing the florescent lighting in the camper. The success in those projects led me (with the help of my wife) down the path of my latest project - light up the pool!

Earlier this summer we installed an above ground pool, once I finish moving the spa and constructing the deck I will post some DIY on that project, it will have a few good laughs... Before we even completed the pool my wife helped me decide it would be cool to put light inside the pool.

Since I have done my research and ordered a few times by now I placed a larger order directly with my contact for myself, my brother, and a friend. I think I ordered about 20 rolls of lights plus some controllers for various projects

I wanted to mount the lights on the inside of top cap so the light would be indirect and not at eye level when in the pool at night and be out of sight during the day. Also, it should help reflect off the wall and water better this way. However, I wasn't sure if I would be able to mount them this way until the pool was constructed since the pool caps close tightly together. We were fortunate and it appeared there was just enough room to slide the LED strip into the slot between where the horizontal and vertical pieces meet under the caps.

Adequate power to the lights was also a concern. From reading online I have read when using the 5050 at 60LED per meter you can only string 10 meters together before losing intensity. I ran a test (which I posted in the DIY) running 25 meters. It seemed like I lost some intensity with jumping from 20 to 25 meters but thought I would be fine. After the installation of almost 20 meters I can see a drop in intensity after 10 meters, but nothing to be too worried about in my installation. There is an in-line amp (requiring an additional power supply) you can purchase to run more than 2 strings, or some high dollar LED strips which can extend more that 10 meters.

From some of my previous tests I knew a good battery would supply adequate power to the LEDs. Since I am not on a lease this year I decided to utilize one of my trail cam set ups using the battery and solar panel creating a custom enclosure for the battery and controller.

I can't get the individual color shots to show on the post but you can see the color change in the attached video.

More pictures of the enclosure to follow...

[Bill's Unlimited]

Enclosure

The plastic enclosure was the single most expensive part of this project but it turned out the way I wanted it.

Pretty similar to hooking up a feeder or camera to a battery with a solar panel.

Here you can see the controller, I mounted it using some 2 way tape.

The second picture show it mounted on a T post with a hose clamp. It also shows how the top cap is used to transition the wiring from the inside to the outside of the pool wall.

The last picture shows how the wire is concealed behind one of the vertical posts. Once I have the deck built and everything were I want it I will run the wire completely down the vertical and underground to the controller box post.

[Chew]

Nice work Mr. Bill! You got any ideas for using LEDs inside a jeep? I know you're a jeep guy. I have a 2 door. I'm thinking maybe using some in the rear cargo area for when I get my hunting stuff together before I walk in to the stand. Not sure on where to hook them up or put them. Let me know if you have any ideas. Or if you want to work for adult beverages while I soak in your pool. =)

[Bill's Unlimited]

Thanks Chew. If I was wanting to put lights in the back of the Jeep I think I would conceal them on the top of the side wall (similar to how the guys have posted here in the DIY for truck beds - SKLOSS's post got me thinking about this stuff http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...d.php?t=337917 ) and run the power wires along the inside of the door openning under the lip that is there.

Now you have a couple options for powering the lights from your battery:
- connect into the door switch
- mount a toggle or push button switch somewhere on the dash
- use a remote controll so you can turn them on / off and dim them

I like the third option for hunting so you light them up to the level you want and be able to turn them off as you walk away without having to open other doors.

Also, you may want to think about a color other than white so it doesn't blind your night vision as you are going to the stand. To muddy the waters for you a little, you can go with the RGB lights and controller like I put on the pool here and change the color to anything you want including white.

I don't know about soaking in the pool, but would be more than happy to give some advise while you work Think about some of these options and let me know if you want me to help you locate the parts you need. I have some LEDs laying around right now so we could possibly hook something up with a feeder battery to see if they are bright enough and verify the location is correct before you even order anything...

[Bill's Unlimited]

Just found out from the HOA that it is against our deed restrictions to have an above ground pool. Subsequenty, these cool lights will be for sale with free pool.

Stay tuned for price of lights, pool, and probably the deck too! Got to look at all the receipts.

21' Doughboy Pool I think 52" tall
I think 150lbs sand filter and 1.5HP motor.

[ColinR]

Ouch, that's gotta hurt. There are above ground pools on craigs list all day for next to nothing. Good luck on that sale.

[Bill's Unlimited]

Yea, my ladder cost more than those Walmart specials Colin.

It would look great in your backyard!

[ColinR]

Ha! no thanks we have done the above ground thing. My next pool will be in ground. Thanks though.

[Bill's Unlimited]

We will be going that route too, Deuce needs to have something cleaner than the koi pond to swim in.


This one is sized right with the pump and filter so it stays clean like an in ground pool.

Come to think of it, you may have to stand on your toes to touch the bottom

[ColinR]

At least it won't overflow when I get in!