Granite Lamp Posts - anyone have photos?

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bjp_ne_elec

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I have never had to deal with a granite lamp post yet, but I'm going to cost a job that the customer indicates that's what he is going to have installed by the landscaper. Does anyone have any photos of what the connection looks like? Or if someone could describe what the task involves, so I an at least bid it.

And for that matter - what would you guys estimate for labor to hook one up. The deal is I'm supposed to take the coach light switch and feed off the same switch to power the light. So it's fish a switched leg down to the basement, and run to the light - I'm assuming shooting through the side wall, run a PVC with LB at the house - and going from there. Let's see what you guys would do in this situation.

Thanks,

Brett
 
Granite lamposts are very common here. They come bored through from top to bottom. Top is flat and typically you epoxy a "hub" on and attach the fixture to the hub. They weigh about 300 pounds, and are very fragile. Since hole goes top to bottom , if landscaper installs the post before you do your work, you'll probably need to drill the side of the post to get to the factory bore which runs top to bottom. I would not do this myself, unless it were clear that if post breaks, I'm not responsible. We've drilled them without issues, but again they are very fragile when bumped sideways. My brother in law flattened one of mine by backing over it. Snapped like a twig.

John
 
J_Erickson - so do you run UF cable right up the post, have some sort of junction box, or what? Is it large enough to run a1/2" PVC up the center of it? Love to see a picture of an installation. How is the lamp secured to the post?

What I've told the customer, is that I'm not responsible for setting the post or if anything gets broken - if it needs any drilling, I've indicated that I'm not doing any drilling just going to wire it, and mount the light.

Thanks,

Brett
 
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Brett,

The hole is large enough for 1/2 " pvc. You can run UF right up, but then the 300 lb post is "sitting" right on the UF. It's better IMO to drill a hole through the side to get into the center bore, or else run pvc as you suggested. My camera's a little messed up, but I'll see if I can take a few photo's of my posts this weekend and post them.

Around here we purchase a "hub" of machined aluminum from the granite supplier for around $30 and epoxy it to the post. Then drill and tap hub to secure postlight. Epoxy is super strong. After breaking aforementioned post, I carried broken post and held onto epoxied hub carrying on end, while someone carried other end.

John
 
John - thanks for the reply - it would be great if you can get that photo. Like they say, a picture is worth 1000 words.

I didn't quite follow your last sentence - about the hub, broken post, etc. - did it imply the post had broke because you picked it up by the hub?

Thanks

Brett
 
Last post was meant to reference my first post which mentioned my brother in law backing over one of my posts. After which I carried broken post by hub. Just wanted to explain how strong the bond is with the epoxy.
 
j_erickson said:
The hole is large enough for 1/2 " pvc. You can run UF right up, but then the 300 lb post is "sitting" right on the UF. It's better IMO to drill a hole through the side to get into the center bore, or else run pvc as you suggested.
John
Click to expand...

If anyone wants a good laugh, my own postlight shorted out last week. Spent 2 hours Saturday fixing it. Drilled hole though the side to get into the center bore. I remember like it was yesterday the crane getting ready to drop the post in and saying to myself "that's got to short out eventually. Oh well f- it, I'll deal with it when it does."
 
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