Underwater lighting with your own hands. LED pond lighting - ideas and tips for lighting effects in the garden. What can be the backlight for the pond

In the spring of 2012, I decided to build a pond in the country. With lights and a fountain. I'll tell you how I built the pond:

First, I decided on the size of the pond, its shape, and its location on the site. I used a metal container with dimensions of 2000 * 90 * 50.

After that, at the place where I wanted to dig a hole, under the pond, I put pegs around the perimeter.
I dug a hole a little larger than the size of the pond.
I put linoleum under the metal container (any linoleum will do), so that it does not rust.
I made recesses on the sides of the container in order to overlay this container with marble tiles.
Along the perimeter, cut out strips of linoleum were also placed in the recesses. To ensure that water does not leave through the seams of the tile.
A small layer of sand was poured over the linoleum.
There was a marble tile in the garage, I wanted to overlay the container around the perimeter with it.
First, I tried on a tile (I just laid it on the sand) to determine the size. Didn't cut the tile. Here's how it happened.

After fitting, the tile was laid on the cement mortar. The solution was mixed with liquid glass. Liquid glass as waterproofing. Liquid glass does not need to be added to the general solution. It must be added in batches. For 1 bucket of solution 100 - 200 grams of liquid glass. The solution must be liquid, because. when mixed with liquid glass, the solution dries quickly.
I made the sides of the pond from the same tile, placing the tile on the edge around the perimeter. Same for the solution. The seams between the tiles are well smeared with mortar. After the solution had completely hardened, the seams were smeared with liquid glass with a brush.
On the side of the pond I made an approach, from the same tile. The tile was also laid on the mortar.
In the corners of the pond, you need to provide places for lighting.
I'll tell you how to make the backlight later, when I prepare photos.
Here's how it should turn out:

Along the perimeter again I cover with strips of linoleum.
Further in the corrugation, with a PUNP wire with a cross section of 2 * 1.5 mm, I supply power to the fixtures made earlier.
I made three lamps in the corners, but four are possible.
I connect the wires from the lamps in the distribution box (carbolite distribution box, you can use any, waterproof).
I connect the lamps in a box in parallel.

Further, the laid wires, on linoleum, are covered with a layer of sand.
Along the perimeter, behind the sides of marble tiles, I cover with large stones.
I put a mortar on the sand, large stones on the mortar.
I make it so that the stones come out much higher than the sides of the tiles.
I painted the metal container with nitro paint, white, for iron.
Dries quickly but smells...
After the nitro paint has dried (dry after 30 minutes), I painted it with ordinary PF - 115 enamel
Mixed white and blue paint:

I made an alpine slide next to the pond.
I planted moss and flowers.
I put nets on solar batteries on the hill.
That's it The pond is ready!!!
I bought a fountain pump with 4 nozzles, a power of 50 watts, a capacity of 2000 liters / hour.

See what happened:

A little time passed and the pond was slightly altered, or rather completed, now it looks even more beautiful and romantic...

Ambient lighting effects need to be carefully planned and executed with precision. Lighting in combination with water is almost always used for purely decorative purposes, and the effect of it is more important than the appearance of the fixtures. And this means that they must be hidden or disguised.

Lantern in the pond

To achieve the best effect, it is necessary that the water be transparent, that is, filtered. If the water is illuminated from the inside, the hidden light source should stand on the shore of the reservoir so that the spot of light under the water merges with the bright illumination of the other shore.

A source installed in a pond will illuminate the cladding, wiring, or pump, and plantings along the shore will be visible in silhouette. In this case, it is better to leave the water in the form of a dark array, and equip the surrounding landscape with lighting. This technique can be used to improve the reflective qualities of a reservoir. Reservoirs for entertainment (swimming pools) work well with internal lighting, where the water must always be clean and transparent.

Excellent results can be achieved by using the white light of a low-voltage halogen lamp, the yellow light of an incandescent lamp, or the greenish glow of a mercury lamp, combined with plants.

Color and contrast

To make the night picture attractive and interesting, you need to choose the right color. For example, green, red, blue, or a combination of these will turn flowers and foliage gray or black, which will not look very good. Lighting effects can be very creative and should be discussed before work begins.

It is necessary to avoid harsh or directional illumination of landscape elements by placing the light source at a distance - for example, on a neighboring tree or structure. A soft stream of light directed from the house will effectively highlight the scene on the shore. In any case, the brightness of the lighting or effects must be changed even in a small garden. Bright lighting of the entire garden reduces the shadow and creates a flat picture, and when the light is too low, the contrast disappears and the backlight becomes almost useless.

Where to put sources

At night, the impression of individual elements of the garden (fountains, cascades, sculptures) can be enhanced by directional local lamps, which are installed at some distance or at the base of the decoration. To create a background light, enhance the sense of movement and emphasize the depth of the water, you can install several spotlights. Particularly impressive are the lighting fixtures lowered into the water, creating a vertical column of light that emphasizes the shape and texture of the object. Such lamps work well under the crowns of trees, creating a play of shadows from branches in winter.

In summer, to break through the foliage of the same trees, it may be necessary to install additional light sources. They can be mounted in the crown or at some distance from the tree (Fig. 1). Placing lamps high on the tree creates a moonlight effect.

Use backlight

Fountains or sculptures used in combination with water, illuminated (Fig. 2) look especially spectacular. As a rule, to illuminate volumetric images, it is desirable to use side and bottom illumination, as it creates contrasts on the illuminated object.

Many local lighting devices have been created with mounting spikes and long cables that can be fixed in various positions. They are beneficial to use in newly created parks, where the lamps can be moved in accordance with plantings.

Lasers and fiber optics are used to create dynamic effects. Lasers can be directed at points in jewelry or up into the sky, and optical fibers are combined with plants to create fantastic lighting. This technique is best used in places that are not very accessible, as cables and wires are usually visible in daylight.

It is advisable to entrust the design of complex lighting circuits to specialists - an artist-designer and a professional electrician.

All electrical switches and automatic fuses are best installed in the house. Cables must not be laid in cultivated areas. Laid in the park, they must be in a protective shell or armored, buried in the ground by at least 60 cm (Fig. 3). Be sure to draw up a layout of all cables. If necessary, it should always be at hand.

For low-voltage lighting, you need a transformer, which is better to install in the house. When installed outdoors, it should be covered with a waterproof casing and raised above the ground by at least 10 cm. Transformers for low voltage systems should have a power reserve of at least 10% of the working load. Voltage drops are inevitable in long cables. Therefore, their maximum working length is limited to 30 m. With a longer length, you have to switch to a supply voltage of 220 V.

The cost of installing a low-voltage system is much lower than a similar one for 220 V due to cheaper fittings and lower installation costs. Moreover, low-voltage lamps are quite effective - a 12 V 50 W halogen lamp provides almost the same illumination as a 150 W incandescent lamp. and the use of LED sources allows for even lower power consumption.

Do-it-yourself lighting for a pond, fountain waterfall - video

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Lamps for the pond allow you to admire its beauty even at night. It remains to choose the right lighting fixtures. GardenPlaza will help with this. Here you will find a wide range of products.

Pond Lighting Features

Today, LED lamps are used to illuminate water bodies. LED lighting is much more economical than standard lighting. In addition, such lamps do not heat up and give an even bright light.

If you want to add some flair to your landscape design, you can use RGB lights. They give light colored in different colors and have several modes of operation. Can be controlled by remote control.

Facade and underwater luminaires, taking into account the conditions of their use, have a high degree of moisture protection, up to IP68. This reliably protects them from water or precipitation and guarantees a long service life.

The body of lighting fixtures is made of plastic or stainless steel. These materials are valued for their anti-corrosion qualities. They retain their impeccable appearance and durability for a long time.

How to choose lamps

lamp dimensions;
glow angle. It depends on what area each lamp will illuminate. For example, spot lighting can be used to highlight specific objects;
operating voltage for which this equipment is designed;
cable length. If the length is not enough, you will need extension cords with the same degree of moisture protection;
complete set. Most often, you need to purchase a transformer and cables separately;
the presence of a remote control. It is not mandatory, but greatly simplifies the management of the illumination of the reservoir;
manufacturer. We recommend buying products of well-known brands that are popular with consumers around the world. These include, for example: Pondtech, Messner, Oase, Aqua-Tech. Their products are available in our online store.

We offer only those products in the reliability of which we are completely sure. Here you can buy pond lamps from leading manufacturers at the best prices.

Read our article on how to organize the lighting of the reservoir on the site.

Types of lighting for the pond

Lamps and light sources used to decorate the pond are divided into two main types:

underwater;
surface.

Underwater lighting gives the water a mysterious glow and visually increases the volume of the pond. It looks especially impressive if plants grow at the bottom of the reservoir or it is decorated with stones and other decorative elements.

Underwater lighting fixtures must have a waterproof shell and absolute tightness. The color of the lamps can be any and even change within a few minutes. Lamps are installed on the bottom of the reservoir (if its depth does not exceed 1 m) or fixed on the walls of the pond.

Exotic models of lamps are immersed in water and they are there in free swimming, moving under water.

Surface lighting considered safer. The light source is outside, often waterproof, but only illuminates the top edge of the pond. This lighting option is better suited for the safety of all vacationers - the boundaries of the reservoir are visible, so accidental swimming in it at night is excluded. Its sub-species is a sealed lamp that floats on the surface.

What lamps are installed in the pond

To illuminate the pond, you can use any kind of lamps, the important thing is whether they will be airtight or not.

Regardless of which type of luminaire you choose, follow these general guidelines:

choose low-voltage models (12-24 V);
the range of lighting should correspond to the size of the pond;
it is good if the design of the lamps is organically combined with the surrounding landscape.

A variety of shapes, colors, body materials, luminous flux and other characteristics are selected individually depending on the preferences, size and depth of the pond.

What kind of lighting to choose for the pond?

So, we will consider each type of fixtures, in relation to specific placement conditions.

1) Surface lighting

Incandescent lamps. Ordinary luminaires, wherever they are installed, must be placed in a protected housing. Accidental ingress of water or dirt can quickly disable them. Standard light bulbs have a limited color range, are energy-consuming, short-lived, and fragile. Now there are more modern options.
Halogen lamps. This light source has a very powerful luminous flux, so it is good to install halogen lamps on the shore - the space will be illuminated to the smallest detail. If you apply light filters, you can change the color of the backlight. Such lamps are mounted in reliable sealed housings, which eliminates the possibility of damage. The only drawback is that they are not as economical as LEDs or fiber optics.
LED lights. This is perhaps the best option for illuminating a pond. It is easy to connect and install, it is economical, safe, durable, emits bright and uniform light. Such luminaires are often built into a flexible and elastic body, which makes it possible to illuminate an irregularly shaped pond. LEDs are not afraid of water, but it is better to put them in additional insulation for 100% protection. LED lighting can be programmed. Then it will either light up at intervals, or shine with all the colors of the rainbow.
fiber optic backlight. Such lamps consist of a central light source - a lantern or a spotlight, to which dozens of thin transparent veins are attached, transmitting light. Fiber optic lighting can also change color. To do this, special filters are applied to the light source. Optical fiber is not afraid of a humid environment and short circuits, therefore it is the best suited for laying along a contour or at the bottom of a reservoir. If the lamp is placed in water, it is hidden in a protective casing to avoid water ingress. The backlight works in the temperature range from -60°C to 60°C.

2) underwater lighting

All of the above types of fixtures are used. The only prerequisite is the presence of a sealed enclosure and fully protected and insulated electrical wiring.
Discharge lamps. There are three subspecies of such lamps: fluorescent, gas-light, electric light. Discharge lamps consume a minimum of electricity, last longer than conventional incandescent lamps and give a pleasant and soft glow. However, they have many disadvantages - large size, the need to install ballasts, it takes time to reach maximum power. In addition, toxic elements are present in the lamps and they require a constant stable voltage in the network. For a small home pond, this is not the best option.

Separate from these groups are located. The source of light in them, as a rule, is LED lamps - the brightest and most economical. They can be floating and surface.

requirements for luminaires

Before you buy a backlight for a pond, you need to decide where it will be installed. For reliable installation in the surface and underwater position, the luminaires need different degree of protection.

IP - the degree of protection of the shell, which indicates how resistant the electrical equipment is to the penetration of solid particles and liquids.

On any electrical appliances that can be used outdoors, the degree of protection is indicated. It consists of two numbers. The first stands for protection against ingress of foreign objects, the second - water and other liquids. The higher both of these values, the better. For example, if an outlet is marked IP22, it means that it is protected from the penetration of fingers and other large objects (the first deuce) and vertically falling water (the second deuce). But a submersible lantern with a degree of IP68 is absolutely immune to dust ingress and can be under water at a depth of 1 m for a long time.

In any case, the luminaire must not be damaged externally, all cables and power supplies must be insulated and not come into contact with the external environment.

General rules for installing lighting for a pond

Stable illumination, first of all, will depend on the reliability of the electrical wiring. Therefore, when installing it, three mandatory conditions must be observed:

1. insulation– durable and resistant to damp environment;

2. tightness of wiring- its integrity should not be violated under the influence of external factors;

3. Availability automatic breaker, which will turn off the system in case of current leakage.

To create lighting in the pond, you will need at least three elements:

a step-down transformer for 12 V;
cable;
lamp with protection level IP67 and above and voltage 12 V.

Note that low-power lamps can be powered by solar panels or batteries. They do not need wiring and network connection.

It is better to install lighting at a time when pumps and other electrical equipment are being installed.

We connect the lamp to the mains

To connect the fixtures to the network, you can use a cable with a cross section of 2x1.5 mm in the corrugation. The power of light bulbs for a pond usually does not exceed 50 W at a voltage of 12 V. A transformer is also selected accordingly - for example, for two 50 W lamps, a step-down transformer with a power of at least 110 W is needed (10% of the nominal is always left "in reserve").

The wires are connected in a waterproof box and lead to the transformer, which is located in a dry place protected from moisture. The transformer is connected to a conventional 220 V network.

Lighting around the pond

The easiest way to create lighting around the pond is to place it around its perimeter mini lights enclosed in non-dazzling lampshades. The light installed around the pond should be soft and emphasize, and not "obscure" the water element of the site.

Usually, garden lamps are used to illuminate the coastal zone of the pond. The same ones that are used to illuminate paths and gardens. This lighting is decorative. It focuses attention on interesting relief elements and emphasizes the features of the reservoir. And sometimes it just has a warning character, indicating where the boundaries of the pond end.

Lamps are selected based on the design of the garden and pond. Near reservoirs of strict rectangular shapes, lanterns of clear and regular shapes, in high-tech style, will look great. If the pond is decorated with stones and has a massive shape, then to give it a classic severity, you can use forged lanterns with curved lines in a medieval style.

How to choose a lantern for a pond

Currently, there are two main types of garden lamps:

powered by the mains (the light source is incandescent, fluorescent, halogen lamps or LEDs);
solar-powered (only LED).

If you choose a luminaire powered by the mains, keep a few essential points in mind. Garden lights are powered in two ways: 12-24V DC or 220V AC.

They usually operate on direct current. light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. Their advantage is low voltage and, as a result, high fire safety. In addition, the cable does not need to be buried, it can be run almost on the surface. But at the same time, the installation of voltage converters (step-down transformers) is required, since most electrical networks are designed for a current of 220 V. It is also impossible to lay the cable for a considerable distance, since the voltage drops.

Most often, to illuminate the coastline of a reservoir, bollards– column lamps with a height of about 1 m. The distance between the installed lamps should be from 1 to 4 m, depending on the power of the light flux.

Then go classic lamps. Their height is from 0.5 to 5 m. Their main drawback is a bright light that blinds everyone who approaches them, but at the same time almost does not illuminate the surroundings.

Spherical lamps or lanterns in the form of a hemisphere are arranged in such a way that the light is evenly distributed in all directions. Such lighting devices often have frosted lampshades and do not give directional light. Therefore, it will not work to illuminate the reservoir with their help. We can only outline its contours.

Recently, the most popular solar powered lamps.They are absolutely safe and can be installed anywhere on the site, without being tied to the mains. They look like low columns (30-90 cm) and during a sunny day they accumulate the amount of energy necessary for the operation of the LEDs. On cloudy days, the output is reduced and the backlight may not be enough to illuminate the entire night.

The size of the fixtures is selected as follows: for plots with an area of 6-8 acres, regardless of the size of the reservoir, columns up to 1 m high are chosen.

Installation of fixtures

The vast majority of modern fixtures are supplied with installation instructions and a set of necessary fasteners. During installation, you only need to hang, bury or simply stick the appropriate lamp into the ground.

Pond lights are mostly pin base and are simply pushed into the ground. If the basis is a wooden or concrete slab, the lamp is screwed to it screws.

High lights are more difficult to install. To begin with, reinforcement is laid inside the concrete formwork. The metal base of the lantern is mounted on the armature and bolted to the plate. The body and mast of the lantern are screwed to the base.

The cable is brought underground at a depth of 50-70 cm in a corrugated plastic hose or metal pipe. It must be solid, without joints. It is led from the switch, in front of which an automatic protection system is installed.

If you manage to choose lamps that perfectly match the design of the site and the pond, you can be sure that the evening lighting will give you a fabulous feeling and unforgettable emotions.

When choosing underwater lighting as the main or the only one, it is important to understand in advance what you will have to face in the future. Firstly, the resource of light bulbs in underwater lamps. Light bulbs have a limited lifespan and will eventually need to be replaced. It will be difficult to replace the light bulb in underwater lighting on your own and not break the tightness of the lamp. A certified electrician will be required to service the lighting underwater. Secondly, the obligatory transparency of the water and the decorative relief of the bottom. Light spreads well only in clean water, and only an installed filtration system or bioplateau can maintain the transparency of water. There is another nuance: the installed underwater lighting plus clear water will illuminate the entire bottom of the pond. And then the question arises: is there anything to admire there?

Floating Pond Light

Floating lamps for ponds are mainly complementary lighting to underwater or coastal lighting. Although their batteries are not only solar panels, the light bulbs that are installed in them do not have much power and perform more of a decorative function. The most common form of fixture used for floating pond lighting is the ball.

Pond shore lighting

Coastal illumination along the contour of the reservoir is the most common in the Moscow region. When installing the backlight near the pond, two placement options are followed. The first is the installation of lamps at a low height so that the surface of the water acts as a mirror, then everything that is located and hangs over the water will be reflected on it. Embankment lighting is a good example. The second option is to install directional lighting near the water, so that the spotlights are not in direct line of sight, and at the same time the light is directed not at the water surface, but at coastal plants.

Pond lighting price

The price of work on the installation of underwater lighting is always calculated only after the approval of the project. The cost varies depending on the exclusivity of the order, the complexity of its implementation and the lighting equipment used. After determining all the input data, it will be possible to prepare the final estimate. Prices for installation of underwater and coastal lighting are shown in the table.