There are many reasons why you might want to use something other than hardwired lights for your pool.
It could be that your pool is already built and ready, and you don’t want to spend a long time emptying it and drilling for the lights to be added.
Or you might not want to rip up your garden to lay the wires needed to reach your transformer or power outlets.
There are some pool lights that can be powered by a battery. These include submerged lights that work similarly to traditional pool lights and floating options with solar charging panels. Battery life varies, but there are easy options for removing these lights to charge them.
Let’s take a little more in-depth look at these pool light options, including:
- Whether lights work using just batteries
- How long they last
- Your options for different battery-powered pool lights
Can I Light My Pool Without Electricity?
To be clear, all pool lights need electricity to run. It’s just how you go about providing that electricity that matters.
The good news is that you don’t have to rely on your mains power (either through a plug or hardwiring) for pool lights – battery-operated lights are available.
They have several drawbacks compared to hardwired pool lights – they don’t tend to be as powerful and need their batteries changing relatively frequently.
But for some people, adding wired pool lights to their pool isn’t practical.
If that’s the case for you, you should invest in some battery-powered pool lights.
They’re not just good for making your pool more attractive, but they’re a helpful safety feature too.
They make it easier to see the pool’s edges at night and help you always see if someone is in the water.
Durability And Battery Life
There are two main things you need to be aware of when choosing pool lights that are operated by battery: the durability of the light and its battery life.
Durability comes down to the quality of the pool light that you buy.
They must be made from quality materials that can withstand much more than regular battery-powered lights.
After all, they’re going to be submerged in chlorine-infused water. That will corrode any poorly-made battery-powered light, rendering it pretty useless.
So if you decide to go down the route of battery-powered pool lights, ensure you don’t buy anything too cheap.
Research the brand you’re buying, check reviews and find some that look of sufficient quality.
That way, you can be sure that you’re buying properly-tested pool lights that won’t rust and will resist water pressure.
Battery life will also vary, depending on several factors, not just the manufacturer’s quality.
The brightness of the light, the temperature of the pool, and some other factors can determine how long the battery lasts.
Some lights have different brightness settings too, and the brighter the setting, the faster the battery will run out.
Underwater pool lights can be expected to run for up to 100 hours, depending on the brightness setting you choose – although always check what is advertised before you buy.
If a product description tells you it has a set number of hours for battery life, assume that this is on the dimmest setting.
The brightest setting will last only a short time – probably 10-15 hours.
Remember that if you dim the brightness to make them last longer, you won’t get the same effect in your pool – it will be much less visible.
Battery Operated Pool Light Options
If you decide to go down the route of battery-powered pool lights, a few different options are available.
Three of these are designed to be submerged in water, while there are two other options you could consider.
Submerged lights are generally similar to regular pool lights. They sit below the waterline and are usually attached to the wall.
Of these, you have two different options for securing them to the wall:
- Suction cups
- Magnetic
The magnetic lights (Amazon) are a more premium option, because they are more secure.
You use an underwater adhesive to permanently fix a magnetic backplate to the wall and then magnetically attach the light.
Pull the light away when it needs to be charged and leave the backplate in place.
Suction cup lights (Amazon) tend to do a similar job. Still, they don’t stick quite as well, and they tend to be of cheaper quality since they need to be lightweight.
The third submersible light is designed to sink to the bottom.
Sinking pool lights (Amazon) create a nice glow, but if your pool is too deep, they won’t be very visible at all, and they don’t do much from a safety perspective.
Another option is floating pool lights (Amazon).
These are solar-powered, charging up during the day and then glowing at night.
The benefit is that you don’t need to keep removing them to charge them.
However, they don’t tend to be very bright, aren’t great from a safety perspective, and get in the way when you want to swim.
So instead, if you want solar lights, you might want to try stake lights (Amazon) and plant them near the pool, pointing towards the water.
These won’t get in your way, but the lack of power/brightness is an issue. You may only illuminate the edges of your pool, especially if it’s larger.
Final Words
Battery-powered pool lights will never be as good as their wired counterparts. Still, they do a decent job lighting up your pool without requiring extensive renovations.
The best kind is the magnetic pool lights since they have the most secure fit to the poolside, giving you the best illumination.
But consider your options and what works best for you – you may find that one of the alternatives is more suitable for your budget and your pool area.
Do you have battery-powered lights for your pool, and which type have you chosen if you do?