Unless otherwise permitted by Ar- ticle 680, Swimming Pools, Foun- tains, and Similar Installations, Section 411.4 requires all lighting systems operating at 30 volts or less to be installed not less than 3.0 m (10 ft) from pools, spas, fountains, and similar locations.
We would like to reiterate only IP65 certified low-voltage strings lights are considered safe for use near a pool. You should NEVER install 240 volt string lights over or near water. Nor you should settle for string lights that are not IP65 certified.
Electrical Outlet Receptacles
The rules are primarily designed to prevent any possible shocks: For general use outlet receptacles that are not Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)-protected, they should not be closer than 20 feet from a pool or spa. The minimum allowed is six feet away if they are GFCI-protected.
680.22(B)(6) Low-Voltage Luminaires.
Listed low-voltage luminaires not requiring grounding, not exceeding the low voltage contact limit, and supplied by listed transformers or power supplies that comply with 680.23(A)(2) shall be permitted to be located less than 1.5 m (5 ft) from the inside walls of the pool.
Remember the 100/100 rule: use a maximum length of 100 feet of 12 gauge cable per 100 watts of light. And of course, use a voltmeter to check the voltage at the fixture.
You can run a 12-gauge (12 AWG) wire about 100 feet without experiencing any voltage drop as long as the total wattage of the fixtures connected to it is 100 Watts or less. If you're installing outdoor lighting, check your cable and connectors are listed as suitable for direct burial.
On a 12volt output transformer (common transformer) using a #12 wire gauge you can run 129' with a load of 50watts with minimal voltage loss and dimming of fixtures. When you increase the load to 100watts your wire run should not exceed 65 feet.
above the ground or pool, outdoor spa, or hot tub deck, or not less than 8 in. above the maximum water level. (b) Horizontal Spacing. The junction box shall be located not less than 4 ft from the inside wall of the pool, outdoor spa or hot tub, unless separated by a solid fence, wall, or other permanent barrier.
The good news is that in most cases the “shock” that occurs is somewhere between 1 and 3 volts, which is considered a nuisance voltage. This often results in a tingling or stinging sensation when a person touches the handrail, ladder, pool coping, or water from outside the pool.
In electrical power distribution, the US National Electrical Code (NEC), NFPA 70, article 725 (2005), defines low distribution system voltage (LDSV) as 0 to 49 V.. The NFPA standard 79 article 6.4.
The light always has to be a dedicated circuit because it has to be protected by a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI).
According to the National Electric Code (NEC), GFCIs are required to be installed to protect any receptacles within 6 feet of a water source.
Power-point locations & sinks
Power-points must be a minimum of 150mm from the edge of the water container (i.e bathroom sink). However, Bluegum recommends you allow at least 300mm, just to be safe. Power-points must be a minimum height of 400mm above the top of the water container.
Outside pool lights can go on or around the water, as well as in the water. Installing LED lights below the pool surface helps illuminate the hue of the liner, giving water a soft blue glow. Nighttime swimmers will also likely feel more comfortable diving underwater when they can see where they're going.
Place lights at a uniform depth, between 9-12 inches below the waterline, throughout the pool. Possible exceptions would be if the lights need to be placed on a step or bench or extremely deep pools (see Pro Tip). Lights should be positioned 4 inches beneath the waterline.
Wanting to put too many lights in your pool
In practice, the result could prove disappointing. In addition to the complexity of the work, it is preferable to choose a suitable spotlight. For swimming pools, favouring a minimum number of lights is the golden rule which gives the most beautiful contours to your pool.
Some states or counties require pool lights to be low voltage, 12V lamps. 12V pool lights operate with the use of a transformer that steps down the voltage from 120V to 12V. 120V bulbs will not work in a 12V pool, and vice versa, and a 12V bulb will burn out if used in a 120V lamp.
Requirements for touch voltage
Some special locations, such as swimming pools, require that the touch voltage does not exceed 25 V.
USE SHOCK ALERT TO TEST WATER FOR VOLTAGE
Shock Alert will notify you of electricity present in water. If it beeps and flashes red, DO NOT SWIM.
Generally, lighting fixtures, lighting outlets, and fans can not be installed outdoors over a pool, hot tub, or any area extending 5-feet horizontally from the inside walls of the pool, unless located 12-feet or more above the maximum level of the water.
The recommended hanging height for a pool table light is 31" to 33" from the top of the pool table playing surface to the bottom of the lamp shade.
The most common sizes used in low-voltage landscape wiring are between 10 and 16 gauge. For a general guide, you can run approximately 100 feet of 14 to 16-gauge landscape wiring before experiencing any voltage drop significant enough to impact the lighting quality.
Low-voltage wiring typically has a thinner sheathing or jacket. For example, 12-gauge wire is used for both 120 V household devices and for lower voltage landscape lights.
The lower the gauge, the thicker the wire. Systems that don't have super-long wire runs (over 150 feet) can typically use 16 or 14 gauge wire. For longer runs, use lower gauge wire to prevent voltage drop. You will need about 100 feet of 12 gauge cable for every 100 watts.