There are two main deck post lighting options to choose from, and many different models within these basic types.
Standard Deck Post Lights
This type of light is designed to be fixed to the side of the deck posts, they come in surface mount and recessed models and are available in a wide range of materials, including stainless steel, brass, copper and PVC. Some designs throw the light forward in a 180 degree arc, whilst others may be hooded and provide more subtle illumination. Recessed lights also look attractive, though require more work to install.
Post Top Lighting
As the name suggests, post top lights are designed to be affixed to the top of your deck posts. They have the advantage of providing light in a 360 degree spread from the post, which may be more suitable for some applications. There are many solar-powered post top lights available on the market which are much easier to install than other types, since they require no wiring; you just fix the light to the top of the post with a couple of screws and the job’s done. They will automatically turn themselves on at dusk and off again in the morning. The downside of solar lights is that the LEDs used in these designs don’t provide as much illumination as traditional bulbs, and also they tends to produce a rather harsh white light, which many people find less attractive than the more yellow light emitted by incandescent lamps. When buying post lights, ensure that they come with a suitable adapter for the size of post.
Fitting Desk Post Lights
If you’ve decided to buy lights which require wiring in to a mains power source, then to do a neat job you can use a router or similar tool to cut a channel in the post to accept the wires. A suitably sized batten can be used to cover this slot after the wires have been installed. The majority of specialized deck post lighting systems have a cable which you can run underneath the railings, from a low voltage transformer at one end of the deck to the other. Then at each post you attach a ‘pigtail’ – a pair of small wires – which run from the light, down the post to the main cable.