Deck Lighting System With Concealed Wiring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Outdoor deck areas often lack sufficient lighting, and existing lighting systems aesthetically unpleasing as they expose wiring on surfaces, requiring specialized installation and being costly.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system integrated into deck materials, with wiring hidden beneath the surface, allowing easy installation by homeowners and using various light types like post lights, baluster lights, and stair riser lights, without the need for tearing up the deck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wiring is run on the surface of posts, railings, and deck surface, then installation is simpler, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring is nested within hollow posts and railings. Electrical conduits are installed inside the hollow structural elements during deck construction, allowing wires to be routed through the interior cavities of posts and railings rather than along external surfaces. This nesting approach conceals the wiring while utilizing the existing structural voids.
Solution Approach 2:
Hollow posts and railings serve as intermediary structures that conceal the wiring. The structural elements act as a medium between the visible deck surface and the hidden wiring, allowing the wiring to be embedded within the hollow interiors while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appearance.
2Shape
If deck is torn up and rearranged to install lighting system, then wiring can be hidden, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow posts and railings are prepared in advance during deck construction before the lighting system is installed. Conduits are pre-installed within the hollow structural elements, creating ready-made pathways for wiring. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need to tear up the deck later, as the concealment infrastructure is already in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow posts and railings serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the deck while simultaneously serving as concealed conduits for electrical wiring. This multi-functionality allows the same structural elements to fulfill both structural and electrical routing roles, eliminating the need for separate wiring channels or deck modification.
3Reliability
If specialized carpenter is hired for installation, then lighting system can be properly installed, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow post and railing system is designed to be self-explanatory and easy to install with provided instructions. The modular nature of the system with pre-installed conduits allows homeowners to install the lighting system themselves without requiring specialized carpentry skills, thereby reducing installation costs while maintaining adequate installation quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system and method for illuminating a deck area. The wiring for the lighting system is hidden from view, providing a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. Furthermore, the lighting system can be installed simultaneously with the deck itself, or afterwards. The system has several embodiments of illumination including post lights, baluster lights, and stair lights. Embodiments of the lighting system may be optionally be installed by the end user and do not require professional design and installation, thus providing a more cost effective solution.