Light Pole Modification

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wawireguy

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I looking at doing some pro-bono work for a non-profit organization. They have some old light pole bases that have broken off conduits on the bottom. Is there any code reason that you couldn't come up the pole and LB into the side of the pole? I can't really see any problem with it. Just wanted to run it by you guys.
 
Don't see any real Code issues but consider that drilling a hole in the pole that wasn't already done by the mfgr. could weaken it enough to fail. (Small chance most likely, but do you really want to take on that liability?)

How tall are the poles?

What are they made of and what condition are the poles themselves in?

How big/heavy is the luminare mounted on the pole?

Any chance you could install a new conduit(s) in place of the existing?

All factors I would take into account before drilling any holes.
 
If hollow just run wires up the center. I would want to know the specs on that pole first to be sure they can handle what your installing weight and wind wise. Them things can get heavy depending on what they made of.
 
how much grout is under the base. ive seen( but not done myself) conduit run between base of pole and top of concrete pole base. looked sketchy, but i didn't see any code issues.
 
I think my position is going to be that I won't have anything to do with modified light poles. I'm going to be cautious with this whole situation. Is there any way that drilling holes in the cover on handhole on the base would meet code?
 
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I have seen it where they cut a notch in the concrete base, not too deep, heated up a

pvc pipe to form into the notch, then refinish the base to cover the pipe. It worked !
 
I've chipped out the concrete around broken conduits just enough to get a coupling/connector on them, but that Carlon system looks pretty slick. ;)
 
That Carlon repair system looks pretty slick. Yes, the conduits were broken up when the poles came out. I wasn't around for that.

I'm considering using UF instead of conduit/THWN on these bases.
 
That Carlon repair system looks pretty slick
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Seems like it would only take a couple minutes to simply chip out an inch of concrete around the conduits and install couplings. If the conduits were broken flush in a finished floor, the carlon thing might be a good bet.
 
wawireguy said:
I looking at doing some pro-bono work for a non-profit organization. They have some old light pole bases that have broken off conduits on the bottom. Is there any code reason that you couldn't come up the pole and LB into the side of the pole? I can't really see any problem with it. Just wanted to run it by you guys.
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Keep in mind article 410.30(B)2 has some specific requirements to be followed when entering a pole from the outside instead of up through the bottom.

(2) Where raceway risers or cable is not installed within the pole, a threaded fitting or nipple shall be brazed, welded, or attached to the pole opposite the handhole for the supply connection.

Rick
 
wireguru said:
not sure i totally understand the situation. Are the conduits broken off where they enter the concrete base? Can you just use this http://www.carlon.com/Master Catalog/PVC Conduit Repair System_7F89.pdf to get new conduits onto the broken ones?
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Cool! I usually convert to rigid steel conduit when running up the base, then LB'ing a nipple between the pole base plate and concrete base. this works well up to 1" conduit, but any bigger though, a J-box will be required.
 
We drill signal and luminaire poles all the time, but these are large, 6-12" diameter metal.
And the mfg tells us how many holes and what size can be drilled.

Drilling a pole can weaken it, but I often see a conduit up a concrete foundation and LB into the pole. The conduit is very likely to be damaged. An angle iron over the conduit like an inverted V would be a good idea,
 
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