120V Pool Light Replacement: Skip the Transformer With a Line Voltage LED

Most older 10 inch and 6 inch niche pool and spa lights run on 120V line voltage. Our Pentair and Jandy niche replacements come in a 120VAC version, so you can swap the light directly without buying and installing a transformer.
By Pool Lights Direct
4 min read
10 inch LED replacement pool light available in 120VAC line voltage

If your pool or spa light sits in a recessed can in the wall, there is a good chance it runs on 120 volt line voltage. That is how a huge number of pools were wired for decades, especially with the classic Pentair Amerlite, SpaBrite, and the 120V versions of Pentair IntelliBrite and Jandy WaterColors. The problem is that a lot of LED replacement lights on the market are built for 12 volts only. Put one of those in a 120V pool and you have to add a low voltage transformer first. Our 10 inch and 6 inch niche lights for Pentair and Jandy are offered in a true 120VAC version, so you can replace the light and keep the wiring you already have.

10 inch LED pool light at night showing RGB color output

Why a 12V only replacement can get expensive

A 12V light cannot be connected to a 120V circuit. It needs a pool rated step down transformer between the breaker and the light. That means buying the transformer itself, finding a place to mount it near the equipment pad, and usually paying an electrician to wire it in and make sure the circuit is properly protected. Between the part and the labor, that can easily add a few hundred dollars to what started as a simple light swap.

With a 120VAC replacement, none of that is needed. The new light connects to the same circuit, the same switch or automation relay, and the same GFCI protection the original light was using.

Which of our lights come in 120VAC

Every one of our niche lights for Pentair and Jandy has a Voltage option on the product page. Choose 120VAC if your original light is line voltage, or 12VAC if it is low voltage.

We also offer 120VAC on our Hayward ColorLogic 4.0 10 inch replacement.

6 inch LED spa light replacement mounting into a standard spa niche

How to tell if your light is 120V or 12V

Do not guess on this one. A few ways to confirm:

  • Check the label. Pull the light up onto the deck and look at the sticker on the back of the fixture or on the cord. It will list the voltage, usually as 120V or 12V.
  • Look up the part number. The model number on that label tells you the voltage. Pentair and Jandy each made both 120V and 12V versions of many of their niche lights, so the number matters more than the model name.
  • Look for a transformer. A 12V light is fed by a transformer, usually a gray or metal box near the equipment pad or built into the automation panel. If your light circuit goes straight from the breaker and switch to the junction box with no transformer, it is most likely 120V.

For more background, see our guide on 12V vs 120V pool lights and why it matters. Still not sure? Text a photo of the label to (239) 350-3110 and we will tell you which version to order.

10 inch LED replacement pool light wiring and connector detail

Always match the voltage you have

The rule is simple: order the same voltage as the light you are replacing. A 12V light connected to 120V will fail immediately and is a safety hazard. A 120V light connected to a 12V transformer will not work. Ordering the 120VAC version for a 120V pool keeps the swap a true like for like replacement.

Line voltage pool lights must be on a GFCI protected circuit. If your existing circuit does not have one, or the GFCI keeps tripping, have it checked before installing any new light. Our article on 120V vs 12V pool light safety covers what to look for, and if you are not comfortable working on line voltage, a licensed electrician or pool pro can handle the install.

10 inch LED pool light close-up of the sealed waterproof housing

Same niche, same install

The 10 inch lights fit standard large pool niches and the 6 inch lights fit standard spa niches. Both mount the same way as the original: the tab at the bottom drops into the slot in the niche and a single screw at the top holds the face ring in place. Most installs are a deck side swap with no draining required, since the old light comes up on its own cable. Our guide on replacing a pool light without draining the pool walks through it.

Cables come in 50, 100, and 150 foot lengths. Pick the length that reaches your junction box, and any extra cable can be coiled in the niche.

10 inch LED replacement pool light installed in a pool

Built to outlast the original

Both voltages get the same light: upgraded LED electronics with True RGBW for accurate white, high output LEDs, an anti-glare lens, and resin filled construction that keeps water out of the electronics. The Pentair versions follow Pentair color programming and the Jandy versions follow Jandy color programming, so they work with the automation or switch you already use.

Every light is covered by a 2 year warranty against water intrusion and LED failure, with a lifetime warranty available as an add-on at checkout, and free US shipping. If you have a line voltage light that has failed, there is no reason to pay for a transformer you do not need. Choose 120VAC on the product page and swap it straight in.