New Fixture Options
in Post-Top Lighting

By Jodie Carter, regional editor

Installing the Asian inspired post light is a breeze–just secure the mounting bracket on top of a four-by-four post and slide the fixture onto the bracket for a perfect fit.

In the past, lighting a fence line or entry post meant adapting path lights or other outdoor lighting fixtures manufactured for ground or wall installation. Because these fixtures are not made for post applications, lighting installers have come up with creative ways to mount the standard lights on posts. These creative and yet labor intensive installations often involved finding a mounting bracket that would fit the fixture and then devising a way to secure the fixture to the bracket. Wouldn’t it be simpler if manufacturers produced lighting fixtures for post installation?

“Not a lot of manufacturers have addressed the need for lights designed specifically for posts,” says Mike Southard, national sales manager for Kichler Landscape Lighting. “But as landscape lighting grows, manufacturers find new applications for lighting and post lighting is one of those.”

Sure, you can always adapt lights to fit on a post or rail, says Southard, who prefers the new post lights that some manufacturers are starting to carry?EUR??,,????'??+the ones made to fit on a standard four-inch-by-four-inch post. “These new fixtures include a square mounting bracket sized to fit the posts. You just attach the mounting bracket to the post; the fixture housing slides down over it.”

Post light fixtures include a square mounting bracket. Attach the mounting bracket to the top post or horizontal railing, slide the fixture housing over and secure with screws. PHOTO COURTESEY KICHLER LANDSCAPE LIGHTING.

Installing the same post lights on a flat fence rail is no problem–the mounting bracket on most lights can be used to secure the lights on any flat surface.

One of the biggest challenges in lighting post applications is to hide the wiring. For low-voltage lights, “You can run the wire up the side of the post and staple it with a gun,” states Southard. Or for a more finished look, “You may also use a router and drill out the wood, install the wire, cover it up with stock wood, gluing it with wood glue and nail.”

Other concerns to be aware of when choosing the right post light for your application? The same lights that look perfect for a flowerbed or pathway might not make good post lights. When installing lights higher off the ground, recommends Southard, “Be aware of glare, and choose lights with a good canopy glass that will keep the light away from the eye.”

Illuminating Info

400-700 – The wavelength of light, in billionths of a meter, that we can see.

430-750 – The frequency of visible light in trillions of hertz.

Source: howstuffworks.com