Hayward ColorLogic: How to Change Color Shows
Quick Summary
- Switched-style lights change shows through precisely timed power interruptions: each 11–13 second off cycle advances the light to the next show in its UCL library.
- Network-style lights change shows through the OmniLogic or ProLogic interface — no power interruption needed.
- To lock a specific show so the light always starts in that show after power-off, leave the light in the desired show and power off for at least 2 minutes.
- The UCL mode show library includes: Voodoo Lounge, Tranquility, USA, Twilight, Gemstone, Mardi Gras, and several fixed colors.
Understanding How ColorLogic Stores Color Shows
Hayward Universal ColorLogic lights in UCL mode have a built-in library of color shows stored in memory. The light cycles through this library by counting power interruptions. Each time the light is powered off for exactly 11–13 seconds and then turned back on, it advances one position in the show sequence. When you find the show you want and power the light off for 2 or more minutes, it locks that show as its starting position — the next time it powers on, it resumes from that show.
The method for changing shows depends entirely on whether you have switched-style lights or network-style lights. Identify your type before proceeding.
Method 1: Changing Shows on Switched-Style Lights
This method works for any switched-style ColorLogic light controlled by a simple switch, E-Command, OnCommand, ProLogic, or similar relay-based control. The key is precise timing of the off cycles.
What you will need
- A stopwatch or phone timer
- Access to the light switch, breaker, or automation manual control
- A reference for the UCL show order (listed below)
UCL mode show sequence (in order)
- Voodoo Lounge — multi-color rotating show
- Tranquility — slow blue-to-white transitions
- USA — red, white, and blue cycling
- Twilight — purple and blue
- Gemstone — jewel tones
- Mardi Gras — green, purple, gold
- Royal — deep blue fixed
- Magenta — fixed magenta
- Violet — fixed violet
- Crimson — fixed red
- Coral — fixed orange-red
- Amber — fixed amber
- Gold — fixed gold
- Lime — fixed lime green
- Jade — fixed green
- Aqua — fixed aqua
- Sky — fixed sky blue
- Glacier — fixed white-blue
- White — fixed bright white
Procedure to change to a specific show
- Turn the lights on. Note which show they are currently displaying. Count how many off cycles you need to advance to reach your target show.
- Turn the lights off for exactly 11–13 seconds, then back on. The light will advance one position in the show list.
- Repeat until you reach the desired show.
- When the desired show is active, turn the lights off for at least 2 minutes. This locks the current show as the starting position.
- Turn the lights back on. They should resume in the locked show.
Timing Precision
The off window must be 11–13 seconds. Less than 11 seconds and the light does not register the off cycle as a show-change command. More than 13 seconds and the light treats the off as a "power off" event and returns to its locked starting show when you turn it back on. Use a stopwatch every time.
Method 2: Changing Shows on OmniLogic-Controlled Lights
If lights are connected to an OmniLogic automation system (either as switched-style or network-style), use the OmniLogic interface:
- From the OmniLogic dashboard, navigate to the body of water your lights are associated with.
- Tap on the light control section. You will see the available shows listed: Voodoo Lounge, Tranquility, USA, Twilight, Gemstone, and Mardi Gras (and others depending on your light type).
- Tap the show you want to activate. The OmniLogic will send the command to the lights.
- For network-style lights, the show changes immediately. For switched-style lights controlled by the OmniLogic relay, the system will use precisely timed power interruptions to advance to the selected show — this may take up to 1 minute.
Method 3: Changing Shows via ProLogic Settings Menu
For network-style lights connected to a ProLogic with the ColorLogic Network Module installed:
- Press the Menu button on the ProLogic until "Settings Menu" appears.
- Press > to navigate to the relay assigned to the ColorLogic output.
- Press (+) to enter the relay settings. You will see options for the show program assigned to this relay.
- Press > to navigate to the show selection field. Use (+) or (−) to cycle through available shows.
- When the desired show appears, press Menu to exit. Press (+) to save the change.
- The selected show will be active every time this relay output is turned on.
Frequently Asked Questions
The lights always start in Voodoo Lounge no matter what. How do I lock a different starting show?
Voodoo Lounge is show 1 — the default starting position when the light's memory is at position 1. To lock a different starting show, cycle to your desired show using timed off cycles, then power the lights completely off for at least 2 minutes without cycling again. The 2-minute off period is what locks the current position into memory. Any off period shorter than 2 minutes may not save the position.
I want a fixed white light permanently. Which show should I lock?
The White show (show 19 in UCL mode) provides a fixed bright white output. Cycle through the show sequence until you see the bright white steady output, then power off for 2 minutes to lock it. For a soft white-blue, lock the Glacier show instead.
Can I set different shows for pool lights vs. spa lights independently?
Yes — as long as the pool and spa lights are on separate relay circuits. Lock each circuit's lights to a different show independently. For network-style lights, the ProLogic or OmniLogic can assign different shows to different relay outputs. For switched-style lights, they must be on separate circuits to be controlled independently.
After a power outage, my lights came back in the wrong show. Why didn't they return to the locked show?
If a power outage lasts less than 2 minutes and then power is restored, the light may interpret the restoration as an 11–13 second off cycle command if the outage duration falls in that range — advancing one position in the show sequence. Use a whole-house UPS or accept that brief outages may shift show position by one step. Long outages (over 2 minutes) should return the light to its locked starting show on the next power-on.
How many total shows does UCL mode have?
UCL mode includes 6 dynamic color shows (Voodoo Lounge, Tranquility, USA, Twilight, Gemstone, Mardi Gras) plus 13 fixed-color shows for a total of 19 show positions. CL 4.0 and CL 2.5 modes have fewer shows. SaM mode has shade and motion shows only. If your light doesn't advance through all 19 positions, it may be in an older compatibility mode — check the mode using the three-cycle off sequence.