Water features are a great place to entertain and relax. Excellent lighting effects can greatly enhance the visual appeal of a water feature at night. Providing lighting for water features also increases visual visibility and greatly reduces the likelihood of accidents such as bumps and falls. Before we begin, let’s understand the definition of water feature lighting:
People widely use water feature lights in scenes such as ponds, waterfalls and fountains and usually install them around or underwater in bodies of water. Water feature lights can illuminate above or below the water to enhance the visual impact of a water feature.
Here are some carefully prepared tips to enhance the lighting of your water feature. Take a look together!
Underwater lights are available in a variety of body and lens materials, the most corrosion resistant being SS316, brass and toughened glass. Many water features are a small underwater ecosystem with a variety of aquatic plants, algae and aquatic animals growing in them. Water features have a complex water environment and people may not clean them up for a long time. Using lighting products with better corrosion resistance can greatly reduce maintenance and replacement costs later on.
Water features are nutrient-rich, complex environments and long periods without water changes can result in algae and various debris gradually collecting on the light body and lenses. Regular cleaning can reduce the impact of these debris on the brightness of the lighting and the lighting effect.
If there are fish or other aquatic animals in the water feature, it is best not to choose copper underwater lights. Copper lights such as brass have excellent corrosion resistance, but still gradually produce copper ions that enter the water column. Excessive copper ions in the water column can reduce the survival and growth rate of aquatic animals and can accumulate in many organs and tissues in their bodies.
In addition, copper ions in the water column at certain concentrations can also encourage the growth of algae. These rapidly growing algae can contaminate the water body and affect its ecology. You will also struggle with the extra work involved in cleaning underwater luminaires.
People use water feature lighting in wet environments or where there is prolonged contact with water. Water feature lighting products for underwater use must have a completely sealed lamp body. Underwater lights must be IP68 rated, while above water lighting may not be as demanding.
Although lighting products such as halogen lights are cheaper, LED lights are still the recommended choice. Most water features need to be illuminated for long periods at night. In such use scenarios, LED lights are more durable and energy efficient than other types of lighting. Replacing lighting products in ponds and other water features can be a complex maintenance task; LEDs have a long life and can reduce the need for future maintenance.
Initially, it will cost more to install LED lighting, but in the long run the savings in electricity and maintenance costs will be substantial. Your actual total cost is less than if you choose to opt for other lighting products.
You need to plan in advance how you will place your water feature lighting before you purchase it. What is your desired lighting effect? Which is better, highlighting key areas or illuminating the whole area? Different positions and beam angle of lighting will make a huge difference.
The pool designer will generally provide you with a suitable lighting solution. If you still need further advice, WAKING’s experienced lighting experts will be happy to help you.
Need a better lighting effect for your water body? Want the overall lighting effect of your water feature to be even more stunning? Then I recommend the installation of underwater lights. Light behaves very differently in the water than in the air. Light can either penetrate and illuminate a body of water, or it can be refracted and scattered by the water, creating a variety of wonderful variations.
In addition, different colours of light can enhance or alter the natural colours of underwater plants and animals, creating a different visual experience. Blue light can bring a different colour to aquatic animals, while green light can make aquatic plants look more alive.
We may be near or in contact with a water feature for various reasons. Choosing 12/24V (AC/DC) LED lighting products for water features will be safer. In the event of an electric shock, 12/24V (AC/DC) lighting products will not cause harm to humans.
When choosing a lighting product, in addition to the requirements for water resistance, you also need to check what certifications it has. Certified lighting products are more secure in terms of safety.
In areas where there is plenty of sunlight, it is a good idea to apply solar lights to water features. Using solar energy can reduce your carbon footprint and save more money on your electricity bill. In the event of an unexpected power outage, solar lighting can be the answer to your immediate needs.
However, it is important to note that many solar lighting products are not as bright as traditional LED lighting. Solar energy may not be sufficient when influenced by factors such as the climate. Using solar power as a supplement to traditional LED lighting is a better option.
The colour temperature of water feature lighting can also have a significant impact on the lighting effect.
Warm white light (2700k-3000K) has a warmer colour temperature and can create a relaxing, cosy atmosphere. People often use warm white light in hallway and living room scenes in domestic lighting.
Natural white light (4000k-4500K) provides a clearer illumination of the scene and is suitable for scenes that need both illumination. It is often used in kitchens.
Positive white light (5000k-6500K) provides very clear illumination and is often used in industrial and some public environments.
There is no best, only what suits you best. Choose according to your preferences and the use of your water feature, the choice is always yours.
Some scenes use monochrome lighting to achieve a stable, uniform and coordinated lighting effect. If you’re curious about colour changing lighting, read Colour Changing LED Pool Lights: The Definitive Guide.
Create a water feature with rich and beautiful lighting effects by using the right control system according to your requirements.
Depending on the type of lighting you choose and the accompanying control system, you can have precise control over the brightness, luminous colour, speed of light change and much more.
The DMX512 is the most commonly used control system in the underwater and outdoor lighting industry and can be used in all manufacturers’ adapted lighting products.
In addition, there are also single light controllers, external controllers, internal controllers and other common lighting control methods. They all have outstanding features. More and more lighting products are becoming smarter and allow you to use your mobile phone for control via WiFi or Bluetooth. You can set up your lights easily. Some control devices also support diy, so you can freely adjust the controls to your needs.
WAKING is a professional manufacturer of water feature lights and we have extensive experience in developing and manufacturing them. If you need water feature lights or want to know more about water feature lighting expertise, please feel free to contact us.
