How to make a lantern in the pond with your own hands. Illumination of the pond - the original solution of designers

A decorative pond or a swimming pool on a personal plot are always winning, attention-grabbing elements of landscape design. The mirror surface of a pond, a ringing brook, a cascade, a fountain - a pond can be anything, but certainly well-groomed and beautiful. And to make it more spectacular at night, you can buy a backlight for the pond with a constant or changing color of the lamps.

A pond, illuminated from the outside or from the inside, looks not only interesting, but bewitching. The lights in the depths illuminate the bottom topography or, possibly, aquatic life. The beams of outdoor lights directed at the surface of the water can snatch floating decorative elements or aquatic plants from the darkness. The illumination of the fountain will break elastic jets of water into thousands of multi-colored splashes. And what a pleasure it can be to swim in an illuminated pool under a starry sky! And, best of all, a romantic date on the shore of a beautiful illuminated pond will invariably make an indelible impression on both lovers.

In addition to the decorative function, such equipment performs the important task of illuminating the water body, marking the coastline and preventing accidents related to falling into the water in the dark.

Types of backlight

According to the method of use, pond lighting fixtures can be divided into three groups:

underwater,
surface,
underwater-surface.

They can have independent power sources or be connected to the electrical network using a cable. The luminous flux of such lamps can be narrowly directed, dotted, or diffused, ordinary white or colored, different in intensity. The lamps themselves are built-in, with a fixed direction of light, inclined or rotary. They can use any light source, be it incandescent lamps, halogen lamps or LEDs.

What to consider when choosing?

When choosing lighting equipment for illuminating a pond, the degree of moisture protection, body strength, quality and safety of the device are of paramount importance. Even outdoor, surface, lights must work flawlessly in all weather conditions and be guaranteed safe for people. The requirements for the protection of underwater lamps are even more stringent. Only such equipment of European and American production is offered to its customers by the GLOBUS International Group of Companies.

How to order?

You can place an order and buy lighting for the pond on our website. After completing the application, our managers will contact you and inform you about the terms and conditions of delivery of the goods. You can also receive a purchase yourself from a warehouse in Moscow, the address of which is indicated in the "Contacts" section.

Properly designed night lighting of the pond will completely transform it, it will become attractive and will be remembered by your guests for a long time. In our IM you can find lamps for the pond, as well as lamps for the garden. A well-placed light for a pond or garden will make it unique, they will be just as attractive in the evening as they are during the day.

You can buy lamps for the pond on the pages of the official online resource of the store. Specialists and managers of the company will consult a potential customer and advise which of the lighting available in the warehouse in the store is the most suitable for a particular pond or garden.

During the operation of the backlight, various filters can be used. Lamps can be surface and submersible. You can use lamps that resemble lotus flowers. They charge during the day and turn on automatically at nightfall.

Lighting for fountain installations is very popular with consumers. If you have the desire and funds, you can organize a color-musical fountain. Color lighting can highlight a certain part of the pond, while the rest of it may not be illuminated at all. It is difficult to advise anything here, as you know, there are no comrades for taste and color.

Placement of lighting fixtures for lighting ponds

Colored lighting is a key element of decor at night, especially for ponds. You can direct the lamp at different angles, as well as place them at different depths. Skillfully made lilies cannot be distinguished from the real ones, only at night you can understand that these are lamps. High-quality lamps do not change their color over time, they are resistant to temperature changes. Also in the IM there are lamps that look like natural scenery. On the IM website, you can always contact an experienced consultant who will advise you on how to choose the right lights for the pond and how to place them correctly.

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...

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 illumination 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.

Each pond, especially if it is built with your own hands, looks original and unusual. But whatever your pond, lake, pool or fountain, properly installed and well-chosen lighting will show the most attractive sides of the reservoir, make it more magical and mysterious at night.

Lighting devices that are used to illuminate fountains, ponds, pools and other bodies of water are:

surface,
underwater,
floating.

Underwater lights will help create an unusual glow of water. If there are algae or stones in the pond, they become unusual, and the pond turns into a special world.

Underwater illumination of a pool, pond or lake is done using waterproof luminaire housings with built-in lamps, which can be of a wide variety of colors.
You can install such lamps on the bottom of the pond, if it is not deeper than 1 m, or on the walls, or simply on the shore, if the reservoir is deeper.
Underwater illumination of the fountain can be rotating. It consists of a certain number of lamps of different colors, and you can fix it under pumps that are immersed in water.

Surface lighting for a pond is safer due to its design features.

Lamps for such lighting are located on the shore (as in the photo) and they illuminate the reservoir from the outside. The disadvantage of such illumination is that it does not give that special magical effect that rays shining through water have.

On the shore of the pond, you can use different lighting fixtures, even desktop or do-it-yourself ones.

You can also put poles with lanterns that will work on 220 V. But still it is recommended:

use of low-voltage lamps;
make a choice of sizes of fixtures based on the size of the pond;
combining the design of lamps with the overall design of the territory.

For the coast, the choice of lamps is very wide - there are strict classic ones, there are funny ones in the form of garden figures, and there are also in the form of a stone.

Floating backlight. A decorative pond can be decorated with floating lights. And the right lighting of the fountain will help make it more mysterious.

Floating pond lights are lights equipped with floats that keep them on the water.

If the wind blows, then the lamps drift on the water surface. If your decorative pond is large enough, and you want to illuminate only a part, then floating lights can be fixed with an anchor.

It is more practical to purchase floating solar-powered lamps. They will not need to be connected to electrical wiring, and you can install them yourself.

There are floating lamps (pictured) that can change their color, there are also different ones in shape and size - you can choose the right option.

Modern technology allows you to embody any idea of illuminating a reservoir. There is a pond light equipped with various special effects, and additional accessories, such as foggers, will only complete the impression.

To supply your decorative pond with fog will help the generator, which is located in a floating housing.
Water, entering the housing, falls on the membranes, which vibrate and crush it to very small particles. The particles are then sprayed into a mist over the water.
If you want to get a pond with fog, then you will have to conduct electricity to it through a transformer, since the generator will need a voltage of 12 V.
The generator that supplies the decorative fountain in the garden with fog has its own design features.
Fog generators can already be backlit right away, which will help you solve this issue.

There is also a room generator, which covers part of the room with a thin fog and serves as a decorative air humidifier.

The use of such a device, in addition to observing the beautiful fog, is also good for health.

The indoor generator can be equipped with 12 LEDs, which will complement your indoor decorative fountain and mist and light.

A small generator, like a fountain light, can be built-in. Now on sale you can often find an indoor fountain. Tabletop fountains are also available.

The most popular now are desktop fountains made in the form of ocean shells, water flows from one shell to another, making a murmur.

This indoor fountain is complemented by a bonsai tree, and how this decorative element looks like can be seen in the photo. There is an indoor fountain in the form of a round vase made of fireclay clay, which is covered with ornaments. Such fountains can be used as table decorations, and it can also be a good gift. The illumination of the fountain will allow it to be used as a night lamp.

Types of lamps for ponds

Incandescent lamps. Illumination for a pond can be made using lighting devices that have incandescent lamps installed. True, lamps with such lamps can only be used for lighting above the water.

Halogen backlight. There are sealed luminaires that have halogen lamps installed, but they are not very economical, unlike fiber optic and LED.

Halogen pond lighting provides strong streams of light that can be directed to any part of the pond. The color of halogen lighting can be changed using special light filters.

LED lighting fixtures are very easy to install, even if you have to do it yourself.

Luminaires of this plan can be flexible, and therefore they are perfect for lighting an irregularly shaped lake.
Fiber optic and LED lighting devices are not afraid of water, but for greater reliability, it is better to choose models with sealed enclosures.
LED lamps have a fairly long service life - many manufacturers guarantee 11 years or more. At the same time, their power consumption is low.
Another benefit of LED backlighting is its ability to flash brightly and slowly fade out, which makes the backlighting more interesting.
Among the disadvantages of LED lighting, it can be noted that LEDs can only glow in one color.

Therefore, LED lamps consist of several hundred LEDs of different colors, the on and off of which is controlled by remotes or controllers.

LED lighting, due to its cost-effectiveness and safety (the lamps do not heat up), is now increasingly used to illuminate pools.

What the LED pond lighting looks like can be seen in the photo:

Fiber-optic luminaires consist of a spotlight to which dozens of strands are attached to conduct light. Such lamps do not emit ultraviolet light, like LEDs.

You can change the color of a fiber-optic lamp with a filter, and it is controlled using programs.

The biggest advantage of fiber optic lighting fixtures is that the strands that carry the light are dielectrics.

Such lamps can be safely used in a humid environment without fear of short circuits.

If the fiber optic luminaire is mounted in a pond, it is placed in a special casing. Luminaires of such a plan can operate from +60° C to -60° C.

The picture below shows fixtures for a pond or pool, where:
a - a lamp that is used above the water. It is equipped with a pointed end that can simply be stuck into the ground;
b - a lamp on a stand for surface lighting, such lamps are also used as table lamps;
c - lamp for installation under water;
g - a nozzle and a lamp built into it;
e - searchlight for underwater lighting;
e - a lamp that changes the color of the glow, and pumps for rotation.

Gas tubes. The illumination of the fountain can also be done with the help of gas-discharge lamps, which are called gas-light tubes. The tube itself is made of glass, and electrodes are soldered to its ends. What color the fountain will be illuminated depends on the gas with which the tube will be filled:

if it is neon, then the illumination of the fountain will be red;
helium - the fountain will be illuminated yellow;
argon - the illumination of the fountain will be blue;
mercury vapor - will provide a blue glow.

Backlight setting

To install the backlight in a decorative pond, it is better and more correct to invite professionals. But, if you decide to make the backlight with your own hands, then take it seriously. The main thing is to observe safety when working with electricity.

It is better to install underwater lighting with your own hands in a reservoir at the moment when pumps and other electrical equipment are installed.

You can immediately choose pumps with lighting for a fountain or pond. These can be various submersible pumps equipped with halogen reflectors, floating devices and other devices.

Devices can be mounted on stands on which pumps are mounted or installed on the bottom.

What we need to install do-it-yourself lighting in a decorative pond: