Pool and outdoor electrical work
Pool light replacement, pump circuits, and the RCD rules that apply around water. Big blocks, big pool density — this is Hills bread and butter.
Pool light replacement — the LED conversion
Old halogen pool lights are a genuine nuisance. They fail regularly, they use a lot of power for the light they produce, and replacing the globe on many older units means draining below the light or getting in.
The good news is that most halogen pool lights can be converted to LED, and modern replacements are designed to retrofit into the existing niche. You get far longer life, a fraction of the power, and usually colour options that the original never had.
The important part is what happens on the dry side. Pool lighting runs at extra-low voltage through a transformer, and that transformer, its location, and the protection arrangement all matter. We regularly find pool light transformers sitting in pump sheds with no RCD protection, or mounted where they get wet. If your pool light circuit trips, that's usually where the answer is — not in the pool.
Why the rules around a pool are stricter
Water and electricity are the classic combination, and the requirements around swimming pools reflect that. There are defined zones around the pool and its immediate surrounds, and within them there are restrictions on what equipment can be installed, how it must be protected, and how far it must be from the water's edge.
In practice, what this means for a Hills homeowner:
- All pool equipment circuits must be RCD protected. This is not optional and it's the most common thing we find missing on older installations.
- Power points near the pool have minimum distances from the water's edge and must be appropriately rated and protected.
- Pool pumps, chlorinators and heaters usually want their own circuit rather than sharing with the shed.
- Anything installed in the zones — lighting, speakers, heaters — has specific requirements that a general outdoor rating doesn't satisfy.
If your pool was built decades ago and the equipment has been replaced piecemeal since, it's worth having the whole arrangement looked at rather than assuming it accumulated correctly.
What pool electrical work costs
Sydney, 2026.
| The job | Price |
|---|---|
| Pool light replacement, LED retrofit into existing nicheExcluding the light itself | $250 – $550 |
| Pool light transformer replacement or relocationWhere it's failed or badly positioned | $350 – $700 |
| Dedicated pool pump circuitFrom the switchboard, RCD protected | $450 – $950 |
| Pool equipment sub-boardPump, chlorinator, heater and lighting on one local board | $900 – $2,000 |
| Outdoor weatherproof power pointsCorrectly rated and positioned for the zones | $220 – $400 each |
| Outdoor and landscape lightingPer light, extra-low voltage or mains | from $150 each |
These are indicative market ranges for Sydney in 2026, not a quote. What you pay depends on your switchboard, access and what we find. We confirm a fixed price before starting, and it doesn't move.
Pool and outdoor questions
How much does pool light replacement cost?
$250–$550 for an LED retrofit into the existing niche, excluding the light itself. If the transformer has also failed or is badly positioned, add $350–$700.
Can I convert my halogen pool light to LED?
Usually yes — modern LED pool lights are designed to retrofit into existing niches. You get far longer life, much lower power draw and often colour options. Worth doing at the next globe failure rather than replacing like for like.
Why does my pool light trip the safety switch?
Most often water ingress at the light or a failing transformer on the dry side. Don't keep resetting it — around a pool, an earth leakage fault is exactly what the RCD is there for.
Does my pool pump need its own circuit?
It should. Pumps draw a substantial continuous load and have significant starting current. Sharing with a shed or general outdoor circuit is a common cause of nuisance tripping, and it makes fault finding harder.
Are safety switches required for pool equipment?
Yes. All pool equipment circuits require RCD protection. It's the most common deficiency we find on older pool installations, particularly where equipment has been replaced piecemeal over the years.
Can you install power near the pool for a heater or speakers?
Yes, with the zone requirements applied properly — there are minimum distances from the water and specific rating requirements. That's the part that has to be right rather than approximated.
What customers say
Jason solved a really complex problem for our house with excellent professionalism and workmanship. Highly recommend, would def work with him again. On time delivery and within budget.
Fantastic service! Friendly, efficient and well priced. Highly recommend. Thank you for swiftly fixing our switches.
Jason onsite quickly and completed the work on the spot, giving us a good price and was very polite. Would highly recommend.
These are Google reviews for our team at Cync Electrical & Automation — the licensed contractor behind Hills Electrician. 5.0 from 20 reviews. — see the profile
Pool light out, or pump tripping?
Tell us what's happening and roughly how old the pool is. Call 0422 253 379.
Get a quote