How to Replace a Post Light | Ask This Old House

Рет қаралды 334,133

8 жыл бұрын

Ask This Old House master electrician Scott Caron helps a homeowner replace a lamppost light in his driveway. (See below for a shopping list, tools, and steps.)
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse
Scott travels to South Dakota to help a homeowner replace a broken post light.
Scott installed the Hillsdale LED Post Mount and Hillsdale LED Wall Mount fixtures, which are manufactured by Minka-Lavery [www.minkagroup.net/].
Scott also installed an astronomic digital wall timer to automatically bring lighting on and off with the sun, which is available at home centers and electrical supply shops.
To set the post in concrete, Scott used a fast-setting concrete manufactured by Quikrete [www.quikrete.com/], which can be found at most home centers.
Expert assistance with this project was provided by Caron Electric [www.caronelectric.com/] and Wolfers Lighting [www.wolfers.com/].
Shopping List for How to Replace a Post Light:
- Aluminum post
- Lantern fixture
- Quick-drying cement
- Wire nuts
Tools for How to Replace a Post Light:
- Screwdriver
- Shovel
- Pliers
- Wire cutters
-Level
Steps for How to Replace a Post Light:
1. Turn off power to the area by shutting down the circuit breaker.
2. Disconnect the existing lantern fixture from the post.
3. Cut, using wire cutters, or disconnect the wiring that attaches the fixture to the post wiring.
4. Using a shovel, dig out around the post and remove the current post from the ground.
5. Position the new aluminum post in the old hole.
6. Fish the old wire through the aluminum post and bring it up to the top.
7. Use a level to ensure the aluminum post sits plumb.
8. Pour fast-setting cement into the hole and then soak it with water. Allow the concrete to set at least 30 minutes.
9. Connect the electrical wires from the new lantern fixture to the post wires using pliers and wire nuts.
10. Hand-tighten screws and nuts to shore up the lantern fixture on top of the aluminum post.
11. Replace the existing light switch with an astronomical timer that will automatically turn lighting on and off with changes in the seasons by undoing the wiring on the existing switch and replicating that wiring on the new switch.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: bit.ly/2GPiYbH
Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet:
bit.ly/34RYEP5
Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
How to Replace a Post Light | Ask This Old House
/ thisoldhouse

Пікірлер: 136

@fd3871 7 жыл бұрын

Pro-tip I learned from an old-school electrician, always position the twist-on connectors so the cone faces up when seating it in a post or anything outside really. this way if water or moisture does get in it doesn't collect in the bottom that can be easily corroded and instead wafts down. it is also good practice to wrap the connections in electrical tape to prevent corrosion or better yet use push-in connectors.

@fd3871 7 жыл бұрын

also wtf, no weatherproofing/silicone around the new switch box? water will soon rot the house through the rather large gaps on the side.

@NAB622 4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely correct! When I bought my house, many of the lights didn't work - and it was all because they left the wire nuts pointed downward. All I had to do was trim and strip the wires, and reconnect them. Such an easy thing to fix.... And such a silly mistake.

@thetributary8089 2 жыл бұрын

@@fd3871 how do you know he didn’t later silicone it? It’s a 6 minute video trying to capture an all day job.

@fd3871 2 жыл бұрын

@@thetributary8089 i don't, but even if he did - it if this is meant to be informational they missed the mark as that is a critical step when dealing with the outside layer of your house.

@thefatmoop 4 жыл бұрын

Wow that new big wart sticking out of that owner's wall, drop the switch and get a light activated one built into the post.... And an LED light that will need the whole assembly re-wired in order to replace, which most home owners wouldn't do themselves. My experience has been that with '13 year' mainbrand LEDs about 1/5 fail every 2 years. This repairman knows how to keep himself employed!

@Felamine 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, a lot of those posts have a placeholder where you can add a photocell to control the light. And I agree, for as many LED bulbs as I buy (the drop-in kind that fit in standard bulb sockets) I absolutely don't trust those fixtures that use hard-wired non-replaceable LEDs. A whole fixture that has to be replaced just because the LED failed is a poor design.

@RoastBeefSandwich 3 жыл бұрын

@@Felamine integrated LED fixtures are more reliable than screw-in LED bulbs. They have better electronics (not as space/cost constrained) so they generate less heat and last longer.

@gsent56 3 жыл бұрын

Love the design of that post light

@Joseph1NJ 7 жыл бұрын

Wait, one hour setup, no mix post cement!? I gotta get a bag this spring, I have a post to set.

@JustinCrediblename 7 жыл бұрын

"sounds great" means it's free.

@myerscorpcosplay 4 жыл бұрын

On next weeks episode, we go back to the house and replace the post and light again because he forgot to ask his wife what she thought.

@nicholasd7731 4 жыл бұрын

What do you mean?

@nicholasd7731 4 жыл бұрын

I dont understabd.

@kingofrandom9504 4 жыл бұрын

@@nicholasd7731 his wife might not like it and want it replaced again

@simon270490 3 жыл бұрын

Lololoolol. I know what you mean. Cannot stop laughing

@TinoInHD 3 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂

@vince6829 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

@10OZDuster 7 жыл бұрын

DIODE=LED=light emitting diode but diodes do burn out from power surges or voltage spikes then you'll have to replace the whole unit. I prefer the standard screw on bulb using LED=DIODE bulbs i can replace anytime choose the wattage I want even a dimming version or choose color like green for christmas orange for thanksgiving red for whatever i'd go for replaceable type bulb[LED] than fixed type with no options a poor choice in my opinion.

@brave1.0 3 жыл бұрын

I agree, I would install a standard screw in type fixture if I were an electrician like him and I would even tell the customer that I don't recommend the bulb-less style.

@sweetpina3875 3 ай бұрын

I would definitely have added a fine mesh with a circle cut out for the diode before putting on the lamp shade. Just to keep the buggies out lol

@barbarachipley357 5 жыл бұрын

looks good! nice work!

@jamesstacey1515 7 жыл бұрын

Just give me a simple on/off switch. Also, if you do need to replace the led how much? Or are you better off buying a new light fixture?

@Vanilla_Icecream1231 3 жыл бұрын

you never really have to replace a led at that point you will probably not even live at the house but if so its basically better just to be a new light

@Tim_who 8 жыл бұрын

@thisoldhouse what brand light fixtures are you using? I really like the style and no need for a bulb.

@timluc0428 7 жыл бұрын

Dude! this guy is an AMAZING ELECTRICIAN!!! If you want to be good he teaches you everything you need to know in this video. lol notice how he turned a bad switch into a new switch new post new fixture ANOTHER NEW FIXTURE just so it can match!!! I LOVE IT! lol

@formula143 5 жыл бұрын

Dude is a salesman. Would hate to see what the bill was for that visit. He was just manufacturing work for himself $$$

@RinkuRR7 5 жыл бұрын

Good sir I like it

@RinkuRR7 5 жыл бұрын

I want this work

@thecollinzboy 5 жыл бұрын

Kurt Pfeiffer you do realize that these homeowners in these videos get free fixtures and installation for an exchange of being filmed on camera and letting this old house choose what type of light fixtures and set up they want for the video

@electricalron 6 жыл бұрын

Forget the switch, a photo eye built in to the post would've also done wonders here.

@CupidFromKentucky 4 жыл бұрын

Exactly. You could also keep the switch in case you want the light off at night for some reason.

@Honeybearsphone 6 жыл бұрын

That switch would be nice to have in a situation you don't want dusk to Dawn monitoring or can't have it

@Felamine 3 жыл бұрын

I just got done replacing my lamp post and I'm sitting here jealous of all these houses with their old posts that can just be pulled out of the ground like they're nothing. My old post wasn't so easy to remove. Whoever installed it (it was there long before I bought the place) did it TOO professionally-- they used a 16 inch deep concrete base with a gravel underlayment and PVC conduit that ran back to the house. It was an absolute headache to remove.

@nunosousa2942 5 жыл бұрын

Tanks now i know how to steal my clients "-I need you to change this light -Well I thint that you need is a new house"

@Unboxx_It 8 жыл бұрын

Quick question..... (for anyone that is) Why did he allow the cement to cover and finally set surrounding the cable? What if the homeowner decides to change the post? Wouldn't this make the homeowner have to cut the cable?

@GhostHostMemories 7 жыл бұрын

I want to know this too

@AdrienBCaldwell 5 жыл бұрын

That is a good question to ask. In my case, if it were my home and I wanted to change the post I would carefully dig it out, lay it all on the ground, then carefully and chisel and chip away at the cement with a chisel and hammer until I freed up the cable.

@onecrazywheel 5 жыл бұрын

It would make the cable useless. It should have been shrouded in PVC conduit at the very least. Jeff Licensed Journeyman Electrician

@michaelnoone1565 4 жыл бұрын

Because he was being lazy

@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440 Жыл бұрын

One thing LEDS do that CFL dosent is consume like les amps than a CFL or incandescent

@donhardin1358 Жыл бұрын

I searched for a diode, similar to the one he installed. I wanted to try it along with the diffuser. We don't want a bright light in our back yard and this seems like a good solution. However I cannot find this anywhere. I've searched diode, led, lamp post - you name it. Visited hardware stores...nothing. Is there a link to where he bought it?

@JakeCraftChannel 3 жыл бұрын

Light emitting diode diode

@DctorSkillz1 3 жыл бұрын

I live across the street from this guy. His wife didn’t like the style so they had to hire another contractor to replace the lights. True story. The “diode” was too dim for their liking and they wanted a different design.

@robwebnoid5763 2 жыл бұрын

Not enough planning & discussion prior, l suppose.

@LightsandFansGuy1999 Жыл бұрын

You serious?

@DctorSkillz1 Жыл бұрын

@@LightsandFansGuy1999 Yes. Fun fact: they changed the light unit AGAIN.

@LightsandFansGuy1999 Жыл бұрын

@@DctorSkillz1 did they change the pole for the lamppost too?

@DctorSkillz1 Жыл бұрын

@@LightsandFansGuy1999 Nope.

@heroknaderi 3 жыл бұрын

I enjoyed it

@ManWander 8 жыл бұрын

i was hoping to see what he did with the two bolts that the new light fixture for the outside of the house attached to. that's what always hangs me up, they are always too long to make the fixture flush against the wall

@alec4672 8 жыл бұрын

A good pair of wire cutters should have a place wear you can thread in the screw for the fixture and trim it shorter. There so long because of different sheathing options for houses.

@adrianb6942 5 жыл бұрын

why he did not make the switch to the light post flush against the wall like the old one

@patandsandytrierweiler2440 6 жыл бұрын

A bit confused. Why did this electrician surface mount the water proof exterior electrical box. why did he decide to ignore the recessed "cut out" area. Doesn't this leave access for water and insect invasion? I hope he (at least) caulked the perimeter of the box. I love the idea of using an anatomical clock

@robwebnoid5763 2 жыл бұрын

I wish the cylindrical diffuser in the lamp post went all the way up so you get more soft light out of it to radiate laterally.

@jonarse Жыл бұрын

those open bottoms on the lights look like a bug magnet.

@Maxid1 8 жыл бұрын

1:50 "It's all aluminum so it'll never rust." No it won't rust, it will just corrode.

@JustinCrediblename 7 жыл бұрын

a lot of aluminum alloys will take a number of centuries to corrode, given that they're not in direct contact with copper, rusting steel, or something similar. a thin post like that might last for 500 years before pitting corrosion, likely to be the greatest corrosion type in this circumstance, creates any microscopic holes through the aluminum. Given proper installation, corrosion is functionally a moot point.

@Maxid1 7 жыл бұрын

***** That depends entirely on the composition of the soil and the environment and the type of aluminum used.

@JustinCrediblename 7 жыл бұрын

Maxid1 true. wasn't thinking about the soil exposure part. that'll be interesting

@meatycraftfan23 8 жыл бұрын

Why is the switch outside O_o

@briancnc 8 жыл бұрын

+Spencerkey22 Never seen that one before. I don't understand why he re-wired the entire circuit and still left it outside, other than that he didn't want to deal with patching the wall/siding.

@reggiebuffat 8 жыл бұрын

+briancnc But did he rewire it all or just reuse what was there? I did not see him rewire, but use the old wire. The old insulation might have been good but why risk it? At very least check if it's OK or if the insulation is crappy being outside exposed to water and heat.

@briancnc 8 жыл бұрын

+Reggie Buffat He pulled a new romex for the switch you can see him fish it, they just tapped off a receptacle. I would have patched the siding and installed a switch indoors, it doesn't make any sense to install a switch outside for this application.

@Maxid1 8 жыл бұрын

+briancnc He put in an automatic switch that turns it on at night and off at dawn. That needs to be outside.

@fixitwithzim 8 жыл бұрын

+Maxid1 he installed an astronomical timer, not a photocell. No need for it to be outside other then it was the existing location.

@RichardGMoss 8 жыл бұрын

Does he also use an ATM machine?

@yowzaabner4314 8 жыл бұрын

yes, but the installation of the ATM machine is shown in a later episode.

@matthewward7619 6 жыл бұрын

Are you meant to bond (ground) the post ?

@MIW_Renegade 6 жыл бұрын

M W Tech channel that’s what the ground wire on the light does

@meyersmattj 8 жыл бұрын

"LED diode" smh

@briancnc 8 жыл бұрын

+matthew meyers I chuckled at that too. He really loves saying diode.

@Maxid1 8 жыл бұрын

+matthew meyers Yes. As opposed to a non light emitting diode diode...

@bjjfan4873 8 жыл бұрын

+matthew meyers came here to say exactly this

@crapper1 7 жыл бұрын

bjjfan4873 diodes make me happy in pants

@stephensnell1379 6 жыл бұрын

He knows what he is doing as he's a qualified electrician

@10MohGG 4 жыл бұрын

They should’ve moved the switch inside

@razorcool5011 3 жыл бұрын

2:50 so that cameras just gonna stay underground for 30 years🤔🤔🤔

@kirbyyasha 7 жыл бұрын

That fixture will let a lot of wasps in.

@marksternweis4598 Жыл бұрын

We wat to get a new fans and a lights in the diner room

@roccocroce 8 жыл бұрын

Thumbs up

@jeffgroves4533 4 жыл бұрын

I need help!!! I moved Into my home and I saw that my lamp post had its wires cut. Is this fixable?

@jhormanlopez268 4 жыл бұрын

Yes it is

@electriciantv5174 3 жыл бұрын

Yes

@just_a_guy_doing 8 жыл бұрын

Hmpf, I would have guessed that the wire going to the lamp would be UF 14-2 (exterior underground romex) rather than conventional romex. That is code here in New York, would have assumed that was typical everywhere in the US

@JustinCrediblename 7 жыл бұрын

NEC be damned! :p

@mmacentee61 7 жыл бұрын

Scotland v England

@gilbertlaque1417 6 жыл бұрын

Old uf wire used to be white as well

@gregbotlin4446 5 жыл бұрын

IT DOES NOT PUT OUT A LOT OF LIGHT

@Tonebone721 4 жыл бұрын

In Wall too surface mount #never

@TheYonkel 2 жыл бұрын

Wait. Wasn't this just a faulty switch call.

@gregorall9779 3 жыл бұрын

I was disappointed, on most of his other videos, he managed to include a Madison strap somewhere but I didn't see one in this video.

@andreapaolucci7380 3 жыл бұрын

Am I tripping out or was that NMD90 just buried in the dirt by itself?

@Thumbsdwn 3 жыл бұрын

Surprised this comment isn’t higher up, the cable feeding the post is absolutely not rated for direct burial, and because he did work on that circuit he is now responsible/liable. Huge oversight in my opinion.

@juanito002 3 жыл бұрын

Scott called the light a "LED diode", does that mean it's a light emitting diode diode? :-)

@nick4leader 3 жыл бұрын

Obviously

@Vanilla_Icecream1231 3 жыл бұрын

It’s like saying sin number which mean social insurance number number (it’s Canadian equivalent to social security number

@ncooty 6 жыл бұрын

@0:41 Just be honest. The guy wanted to replace the damn post. Don't make up a bunch of BS to make it sound like you NEED to replace it. You could have repaired it. Otherwise, why call it "This Old House"? Just tear the old house down and replace it with a new one, right?

@68Squid 6 жыл бұрын

installed a new weather rated box, but with a "dry only" connector for the romex. also, is the romex in the dirt direct-burial? it looks like regular old romex

@benwhite6533 7 жыл бұрын

led stands for light emitting diode then you are saying diode again lol epic fail

@cup_and_cone 7 жыл бұрын

Was that even UF rated wire for burial??

@MIW_Renegade 6 жыл бұрын

thechosendude it’s probably covered by conduit

@Toronto6ix 4 жыл бұрын

safety sally ova here

@gameralien9076 3 жыл бұрын

Did they really buried their camera under the cement?

@jose5793 2 жыл бұрын

Yes

@commenta586 7 жыл бұрын

I keep thinking this guy looks like vin deisel

@Honeybearsphone 6 жыл бұрын

comment a yes he kinda does

@Sellipuff 4 жыл бұрын

How come this show never goes to a black household?

@electricaf365 3 жыл бұрын

Racist!!

@texarkanaandi7393 4 жыл бұрын

What a waste of money. All that's needed was a new light switch.

@stephensnell1379 3 жыл бұрын

You must have saw in the video that the lighbulb was leaning over that is why that and the switch both got replaced L. E. D. Lights are very efficient and last 10,000 hours or more which means they practically have no point of failure at all whereas incandescent bulbs are extremely inefficient as 90% of the energy they use is wasted as heat and only 10% is converted into visible light and they only last 2,000 hours then totally burn out and blow completely which is the main point of failure

@electriciantv5174 3 жыл бұрын

He asked the home owner if he liked that idea

@electricaf365 3 жыл бұрын

It’s a show, relax

@silverevo9186 3 жыл бұрын

Bad advice...remove the ugly post and add ground lights. Wasn't even recommended. No way he's mounting that switch box on my house....poor

@josephbiron9103 6 жыл бұрын

Good video as a general tutorial, but that selection of light was... not what I would have chosen or what my wife would be happy with, let's just say that. It looks cheap and cheesy.