How did they level/plumb these street light poles and keep them floated during pour?

S

sparky1591

Member
Location
Mississipi
Occupation
Electrician
I've been wondering how these street light poles get plumbed/ leveled? These pole are tapered so the pole is gradually getting smaller at the top. I was thinking they would use a really big level (10' level) and place them on all sides of the pole until the bubble level at one position for all side. Is that method correct?

How do they keep them floating without touching the ground? Do they pour like a foot of concrete to the bottom , let it cure, then come back the next day to set the pole and pour the rest?

https://imgur.com/a/jxkECcQ
 
Hmm, I’ve not seen a pole without anchor bolts in a foundation. The pole would have to be braced for several days until the concrete sets
 
As Hal said, they are direct burial poles. I have set 50' direct burial fiberglass poles, we used a string with a weight for eyeing plumb.
 
We just do 4 sides at base, you dont really need a 4' either. All 4 points will either have the same degree (not much more than 90°, maybe 95°ish, depending how you zero degree guage).
You do the same thing with a bubble, just match all 4 points at base...
 
roger said:
As Hal said, they are direct burial poles. I have set 50' direct burial fiberglass poles, we used a string with a weight for eyeing plumb.
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Where do you tight the string to? And what measurements do you take to make sure the pole is plumb?
 
BTW, if you don't want to hold the string you can tie it to the top rung of a 6' or 8' ladder and eye it from two angles 90 Deg from each other.
 
ptonsparky said:
Tie a weight to the end of a 4' string. Hold the free end up above eye level. That string down to the weight is now plumb or vertical to the world. Stand back from your target and sight along it. Align bottom center of pole and top center to the string. The pole is now plumb. Move 90 degrees around the pole and repeat.
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Yup. We had a guy from Texas on the crew that did that. He would hold the string at arms length, sight the pole and declare "straight as a string, partner!"

-Hal
 
sparky1591 said:
How is it done with a plumb bob
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If you watch utility crews setting poles they usually do like what was described. Someone will hold out a plumb bob and check for plumb usually sometime right about when they begin filling/tamping around the pole.
 
Just, FYI, the further back you stand (within reason), the better you can see plumb with a string. I once had some light pole that came with a level that had a block glued to it. creating a level that "matched" the pole taper This was around 2005. Have never seen its like again.
 
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