Electrical light post question

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Sun Nov 01, 2020 12:22 pm

I have an outside post light that I have been wanting to replace the fixture as it has not worked since moving in. So I finally found one I liked and installed it. Well the new one does not receive any power. The switch is good, and there is power to the junction box going outside to the wires that go into the ground.

So from that junction box to the post is the wiring that is in the ground, which leads me to think there either has to be a break in it or something. Now that wire does not look like it is ran in any conduit in the ground, more likely it was just placed in a shallow trench and called it a day.

My question is how deep should I bury a new wire and what do I put it in? Is the correct depth 18”?

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Post by **Gunsmokin** » Sun Nov 01, 2020 1:20 pm

Looks like the wire that is existing isn’t underground wire. Looks like regular romex. That could be part of your problem. Could be corroded/shorted out. Underground/direct bury rated wire doesn’t have paper in it like regular romex. If you’re going to dig a trench, you may as well lay some conduit in there for the wire. Still use underground wire. I just wouldn’t bury it directly in the ground out in an open area where someone could dig a hole and hit it.

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Post by **Gunsmokin** » Sun Nov 01, 2020 1:21 pm

I would dig it at least 18” deep. Just my $.02

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Post by **plumber_bob** » Sun Nov 01, 2020 3:34 pm

What Tim said.

pb

Post by **rustynuts** » Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:24 pm

What not-Bob and Tim said.

Post by **Niceguy** » Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:07 pm

Borrow Iron83848558483's pole digger truck and bury that bitch about 10 feet deep and throw an extension cord out to it...

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Post by **Niceguy** » Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:08 pm

And put about 10-20' yards of concrete in the hole because you don't want that sucker to blow over either...

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Post by **Niceguy** » Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:09 pm

I'm not a professional though...

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Post by **Gunsmokin** » Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:51 pm

plumber_bob wrote:What Tim said.

pb

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Post by **Rem700** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 7:09 am

Agreed with above. If your digging already, use conduit and underground wire. Go 18-24 inches down

Post by **iron369** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:33 am

While the auger truck is the more fun suggestion, it’s also a little overkill.
What you have is probably direct burial cable. It looks a lot like romex, but it’s made to be directly buried in the ground without a raceway. Conduit is always a better option if properly installed. The chart I’m posting should help you out with whatever direction you want to go when installing the new wiring.

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:42 am

Ok thank you! Is there a specific conduit you would suggest? Also should it be ran in a direct line or should I put a 90 degree turn in it?

I think I should call the dog people out also correct before I start so they can come mark stuff just in case, I don’t want to accidentally hit a gas line or something, but they should be deeper than 18” right?

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:46 am

That circuit is NOT GFCI protected. That breaker controls a few light switches and electrical plugs. I guess the easiest way to make it would be to replace the breaker with one of those newer gfci ones huh.

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Post by **Toecutter1978** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:47 am

Niceguy wrote:Borrow Iron83848558483's pole digger truck and bury that bitch about 10 feet deep and throw an extension cord out to it...

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That would be so awesome!! I wonder how far I could dig with that.

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Post by **iron369** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:57 am

I’d put in schedule 40 pvc. Make sure the wire is rated for wet locations,ex. THWN and not THHN. Take it in as direct a path as possible. More bends make it harder to pull wire and there can’t be more than 360 degrees for bend in the run total.
Definitely get a BUD check. If you’re hand digging, it won’t make too much of a difference since you can just dig around anything already in the ground. It’s still better to know what’s there. You can ask them to not paint any concrete surfaces. Otherwise you will have green, yellow, blue, and red paint marks on your driveway for years.

Post by **iron369** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:58 am

Toecutter1978 wrote:
Niceguy wrote:Borrow Iron83848558483's pole digger truck and bury that bitch about 10 feet deep and throw an extension cord out to it...

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That would be so awesome!! I wonder how far I could dig with that.

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We dig pole bases 36” across and 16’ deep.

Post by **Niceguy** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:03 am

iron369 wrote:
Toecutter1978 wrote:
Niceguy wrote:Borrow Iron83848558483's pole digger truck and bury that bitch about 10 feet deep and throw an extension cord out to it...

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That would be so awesome!! I wonder how far I could dig with that.

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We dig pole bases 36” across and 16’ deep.

My advice may or may not have influenced by alcohol...haha
I do think it's funny though. 36" x 16'?! That's what I'm talking about! Get on it Eric! haha

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Post by **iron369** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:04 am

Toecutter1978 wrote:That circuit is NOT GFCI protected. That breaker controls a few light switches and electrical plugs. I guess the easiest way to make it would be to replace the breaker with one of those newer gfci ones huh.

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It definitely needs to be gfci.

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:24 am

Those gfci breakers are way larger than the standard breakers, I wonder if it will even fit in my panel.

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Post by **Rem700** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 10:42 am

Toecutter1978 wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:42 am
Ok thank you! Is there a specific conduit you would suggest? Also should it be ran in a direct line or should I put a 90 degree turn in it?

I think I should call the dog people out also correct before I start so they can come mark stuff just in case, I don’t want to accidentally hit a gas line or something, but they should be deeper than 18” right?

The easiest way is to rip that stupid light post out and cap the wire inside that LB on the house lol.....thats what i just did for mine cause i was tired of mowing around it!

Post by **Rem700** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 10:44 am

Niceguy wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:03 am

iron369 wrote:
Toecutter1978 wrote:
Niceguy wrote:Borrow Iron83848558483's pole digger truck and bury that bitch about 10 feet deep and throw an extension cord out to it...

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That would be so awesome!! I wonder how far I could dig with that.

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We dig pole bases 36” across and 16’ deep.
My advice may or may not have influenced by alcohol...haha
I do think it's funny though. 36" x 16'?! That's what I'm talking about! Get on it Eric! haha

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Thats good to know.....for getting rid of "problems" that require digging holes......

Post by **Rem700** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 10:45 am

Toecutter1978 wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:24 am
Those gfci breakers are way larger than the standard breakers, I wonder if it will even fit in my panel.

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They make some GFCI breakers that fit in a single pole breaker location.... or at least they did.

Post by **Toecutter1978** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 11:11 am

Rem700 wrote:
Toecutter1978 wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:24 am
Those gfci breakers are way larger than the standard breakers, I wonder if it will even fit in my panel.

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They make some GFCI breakers that fit in a single pole breaker location.... or at least they did.

Oh ok. Maybe the video I watched on how to replace one had to do with it being that it was one of those arc disruption breakers too.

That breaker was twice the size and from looking at my panel I do not know if it would fit behind it or not. I could see it not knowing my luck. I had to buy those slimmer gfci plugs that cost more because the plug boxes in the house are not the regular size or something.

Whom ever wired this place must have been I don’t know. Not an electrician.

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Post by **iron369** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 3:56 pm

Toecutter1978 wrote:
Rem700 wrote:
Toecutter1978 wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:24 am
Those gfci breakers are way larger than the standard breakers, I wonder if it will even fit in my panel.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
They make some GFCI breakers that fit in a single pole breaker location.... or at least they did.
Oh ok. Maybe the video I watched on how to replace one had to do with it being that it was one of those arc disruption breakers too.

That breaker was twice the size and from looking at my panel I do not know if it would fit behind it or not. I could see it not knowing my luck. I had to buy those slimmer gfci plugs that cost more because the plug boxes in the house are not the regular size or something.

Whom ever wired this place must have been I don’t know. Not an electrician.

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If you have a picture of your panel or some information about it, I may be able to direct you to the breaker you need

Post by **plumber_bob** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 4:06 pm

iron369 wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 02, 2020 3:56 pm

Toecutter1978 wrote:
Rem700 wrote:
Toecutter1978 wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:24 am
Those gfci breakers are way larger than the standard breakers, I wonder if it will even fit in my panel.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
They make some GFCI breakers that fit in a single pole breaker location.... or at least they did.
Oh ok. Maybe the video I watched on how to replace one had to do with it being that it was one of those arc disruption breakers too.

That breaker was twice the size and from looking at my panel I do not know if it would fit behind it or not. I could see it not knowing my luck. I had to buy those slimmer gfci plugs that cost more because the plug boxes in the house are not the regular size or something.

Whom ever wired this place must have been I don’t know. Not an electrician.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If you have a picture of your panel or some information about it, I may be able to direct you to the breaker you need

Do it!!!

That's called, Free pro advise!!!

pb

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