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Home > Archive > Home Repair forum > July 2005 > Replacing a lamppost
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Replacing a lamppost
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| toller 2005-07-08, 6:25 pm |
| I am going to replace the post lamp out front. As long as I am at it, the
post is pretty rusty, so I might as well replace it also.
How are posts installed? Presumably I have to dig the old one out, but what
will I find when I get down there? Is there a box, or does the cable just
enter at the bottom and run up to the light? Any concrete? I would rather
be prepared than surprised. Thanks
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| SteveB 2005-07-08, 6:25 pm |
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"toller" <toller@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ucAze.397$cg.128@news02.roc.ny...
quote:
>I am going to replace the post lamp out front. As long as I am at it, the
>post is pretty rusty, so I might as well replace it also.
>
> How are posts installed? Presumably I have to dig the old one out, but
> what will I find when I get down there? Is there a box, or does the cable
> just enter at the bottom and run up to the light? Any concrete? I would
> rather be prepared than surprised. Thanks
>
Prepare to be surprised.
It can be anything from a mondo big footing to a couple of shovels of
concrete. It may be in PVC conduit, or may just be a direct bury wire.
Junction boxes to wire nuts.
Whatever you do, kill the current to it, and test it before you do any
digging or pickaxing.
Within a couple of minutes, you will have a good idea what's there.
I have replaced two, and they are really simple to do with direct bury wire,
and a simple form for the new post. Don't let the concrete get inside the
post to concrete in the wire.
Steve
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SteveB wrote:
quote:
> "toller" <toller@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:ucAze.397$cg.128@news02.roc.ny...
>
> Prepare to be surprised.
>
> It can be anything from a mondo big footing to a couple of shovels of
> concrete. It may be in PVC conduit, or may just be a direct bury wire.
> Junction boxes to wire nuts.
>
> Whatever you do, kill the current to it, and test it before you do any
> digging or pickaxing.
>
> Within a couple of minutes, you will have a good idea what's there.
>
> I have replaced two, and they are really simple to do with direct bury wire,
> and a simple form for the new post. Don't let the concrete get inside the
> post to concrete in the wire.
>
> Steve
and don't nick the insulation of the wire. water will get in and
corrode the wire and/or you'll have leakage current that will trip a
GFI if you have one.
Mark
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| Tim Fischer 2005-07-09, 4:25 am |
| "toller" <toller@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ucAze.397$cg.128@news02.roc.ny...
quote:
> I am going to replace the post lamp out front. As long as I am at it, the
> post is pretty rusty, so I might as well replace it also.
>
> How are posts installed? Presumably I have to dig the old one out, but
what
quote:
> will I find when I get down there? Is there a box, or does the cable just
> enter at the bottom and run up to the light? Any concrete? I would
rather
quote:
> be prepared than surprised. Thanks
The way it's usually done today is with a direct bury wire, running up to
the top of the light (no box). It may also be done the same way with
conduit -- usually no buried box.
It's probably set in concrete. If it's done correctly, they'll have used a
short conduit (assuming direct-bury wire) that the wire can be pulled
through before pulling up the concrete. If it's done poorly, the wire may
be sandwiched into the poured concrete and you'll have to be very careful
when removing it.
If it were me, I'd probably just try repainting the pole (sanding off rust,
using a few coats of good rust-preventative primer, then a good
rust-preventative paint) before going to all that work if it's in otherwise
good condition.
-Tim
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