Types, options and features of fountains with illumination

Types of fountains with lighting

The following types of fountain lighting can be distinguished: above-water or external and underwater.

Types of fountain lighting can be either combined or used separately.

Above-water lighting for fountains

Above-water (external) lighting is most often used to illuminate the entire composition, make the object more visible and safer at night. External lighting makes it possible to paint the water surface in any shade, to create the effect of a colored pond.

Above-water installation of lighting equipment is the safest option for fountain lighting. Lighting devices are installed on the ground in such a way that current-carrying and conductive elements do not come into contact with water. The floodlights and lamps are mounted on a vertical plane. The power of the lighting fixtures should provide bright, even illumination for the entire object. The protection rating for above-water lighting  for the lamps should be at least IP65. Currently, LED lamps with an operating voltage of 12 volts are most often used.

Underwater decorative fountain lighting

The second type of fountain lighting is called underwater, since the lighting fixtures are installed inside the fountain bowl or pool at a depth of no more than one meter. The use of underwater lighting structures gives the fountain the effect of additional visual volume and depth. Lighting fixtures for interior lighting must be waterproof (protection rating IP67 and above) and corrosion-resistant. Submersible lights must be more powerful than above-water lights. The recommended voltage is 24 volts.

Fountain Lighting Options

The methods of lighting city fountains depend on the type of object.

1. A sculptural or architectural fountain is a structure that can be found in the central part of almost any large city. Having historical and artistic value, this type does not require radical or super-fashionable lighting methods.
2. Residential fountains are installed in residential areas. Fountains are one of the techniques for improving the modern living environment. Projects installed in modern neighborhoods are distinguished by futuristic forms. Illumination of such objects is a high-tech project with an electronic control system.
3. Floating fountains are installed in natural and artificial reservoirs. The minimum depth of the reservoir in which floating fountains can be launched is 0.5 meters. Dynamic color lighting of this type of construction is popular.
4. Water curtains are also called water screens. Such a construction is installed as an addition to the picture of an architectural fountain, and as an independent element. This type of fountain is suitable for projecting laser visualizations onto it.
5. Dancing fountains are a show that can be seen quite often today in city squares. The most modern types of lighting devices for fountains are used to organize it. Water jets, illuminated in different colors, rise to different heights to the music.
6. Dry fountains are now arranged as part of a pedestrian zone, they beat directly from under the ground, bringing a lot of joy to walkers on hot days. The dynamic night lighting system gives them charm.
7. Waterfalls differ from other types of fountains by their multi-stage design, the water source of which is located much higher than the water intake bowl. Waterfalls are usually installed in city parks; at night, thanks to the point multi-colored lighting, such places resemble a fairy tale.

Types of fountain lighting

Lighting fixtures installed in fountains must meet certain requirements and have certain technical characteristics.

In addition, it is necessary to take into account a number of other factors: voltage, power, protection class and energy consumption of the lighting structure. Currently, two types of fountain lighting are mainly used: halogen and LED.

1. Halogen lamps have high power and are able to create a bright light stream, which favorably emphasizes the play of water and the entire fountain structure. However, they have significant disadvantages:

• small variety of lamp colors,
• the release of a large amount of thermal energy leads to excessive heating of the water,
• sensitivity to power surges,
• short service life.

2. LED fountain lighting based on RGB clusters has many undeniable advantages:

• LEDs are presented in a wide range of colors, in addition, the color rendering of LED lamps is more accurate than that of halogen lamps.
• Lighting control systems allow you to adjust and customize the desired colors and set various scenarios for artistic fountain lighting.
• The best option for the price.
• LED the structures can withstand voltage surges, temperature changes, vibration and even some mechanical damage.
• The service life of LED lighting is 50,000 hours and more.

Each type of fountain lighting structures has its own mounting method:

• The lamps are mounted using brackets that are installed in the fountain bowl. Brackets allow you to change the angle of the lighting fixture.
• Surface-mounted lighting fixtures are attached to the walls of the pool or fountain bowl.
• Built-in fixtures are mounted in the walls of the bowl, creating a single plane with the surface of the wall or bottom.
• Some of the fixtures are attached to the pipe from which the water flows.

Rules for creating fountain lighting

The brightness and choice of fountain lighting depends on what the effect the client wants to achieve, what mood to create. Multi-colored dynamic lighting will help create a bright festive atmosphere. LED lights are capable of changing color according to a given scenario: the colors will switch at regular intervals. Dynamic lighting in combination with sound effects is possible.

If the goal is to create a cozy relaxing atmosphere, you can paint the water jets in any shades using underwater lights, creating a single-color or multi-color water picture.

Designing and installing decorative lighting for fountains is a difficult task that should be entrusted to specialists. It is necessary to calculate the required number of lights, the required power, luminous flux and scattering angle, and select LEDs of the desired color temperature at the design stage. Fossa Electric employees know how to illuminate a fountain, meet the contract deadlines and comply with all the rules. Fossa Electric Company has completed a full range of works in the city of Tver on the development and installation of dynamic lighting for two fountains.  24W underwater lights with DMX control were installed on them.