Light Poles

[jm1470]

I am putting up about 25 lights poles 20 ft in length I have already ran the pipes and wires and the bases are already in. This is the last stage of the job I was thinking of renting a lift I figure I would need it for a week or so but as I was looking thought electrical contractor magazine I saw this.

The price of the pole jack is 2700.00, kinda of expensive but I figure I can use it on other jobs or even rent it out. My only concern it looks like a lot of set up time if any one whats to see how it works the website is www.lightpolesetter.com

 

[480sparky]

The down side to the PoleJak is the time it takes to prepare a pole and get it positioned just so for raising.

A small crane from a crane service is probably the way to go for 25 poles. Get 'em done in a day.

 

[charlietuna]

I always subed out pole bases and setting poles to another EC specializing in this field and i think they did it for half what it would have cost me...

 

[BackInTheHabit]

You might want to put some air in the tires before you move it.

 

[A-1Sparky]

I'd just rent a boom lift, and use a heavy-duty strap to lift and set the poles. I've done this in the past, and it works well. It should only take a day or two to set 25 poles. That'd be way cheaper and safer than that contraption.

 

[iwire]

I'd just rent a boom lift, and use a heavy-duty strap to lift and set the poles.

Besides being an OSHA violation if something goes bad your on the hook for all repairs to the rental unit. Unless you are renting a unit rated as a material handler.

As far as the tool in the OPs first post, I can't see that being a worth while investment. Many times the poles we set are not directly located in smooth asphalt.

For 25 poles I would get them already beside each base, pre-tested if possible and then either call in a small crane or rent a material handler. Be done with the rental in one day just as 480 suggests

 

[A-1Sparky]

OSHA wasn't looking when I did it. What can I say? I'm into taking calculated risks. :wink: No, in all seriousness, I hadn't considered the OSHA issue. When I set the poles that way, I wasn't subject to OSHA regulations because of the situation.

 

[iwire]

OSHA wasn't looking when I did it. What can I say? I'm into taking calculated risks. :wink:

In a jam I have used a boom lift to remove a pole that was tipping over, 20' pole and I had them send a 60' boom out so that the chance of damage or failure was very low, of course OSHA would not have looked at it that way.:smile:

 

[A-1Sparky]

Yeah, those OSHA guys have no sense of humor.

 

[B4T]

I called a local sign guy who had a crane gathering dust in his yard. I had 3 poles to install and he made $300.00 for 2 hours work. we were BOTH happy :grin:

 

[220/221]

I figure I would need it for a week or so

Huh?

You should be able to set 25 poles in about 4 hours.

Call a crane for about 200 bucks.

 

[480sparky]

Huh?

You should be able to set 25 poles in about 4 hours.

Call a crane for about 200 bucks.

Maybe he's figuring in staging all the poles & lights, assembling and wiring them in addition to standing them up.

 

[220/221]

Ok....8 hours.


But a week or so?

 

[CopperTone]

I saw that pole setting tool in EC magazine too - looks great in theory - it is probably cheaper and easier to hire a crane for a 1/2 day. A lot of crane companies want to charge a full day minimum around here - from time they leave the yard until they return to yard plus milage. check around before you price your job - if you have a good relationship with a crane guy you may get it hourly. Crane companies in Mass are more than just $200.

Unless you are constantly installing pole lights I'd go with the crane. No set up time, no storage of equipment, no hassles of uneven terrain. That pole light setter cost $2700 plus tax - i bet it is a hassle to use.

 

[Fulthrotl]

The down side to the PoleJak is the time it takes to prepare a pole and get it positioned just so for raising.

A small crane from a crane service is probably the way to go for 25 poles. Get 'em done in a day.

the merits of the polejack have been discussed here before, and it looks
like an idea whose time will never come, to me.

a buddy and i did all the poles at the mazda corporate center in south
orange county a while ago, and it took us two days to build and wire
the poles, get the pole bases prepped, (template check and bottom
nuts pre leveled, pulled wires taped up tidy).

on crane day, we set the whole facility in 7 hours. it goes really fast
if you have a good crane operator. two dozen poles, call it half a day
if you prep everything well first.


randy

 

[480sparky]

the merits of the polejack have been discussed here before, and it looks
like an idea whose time will never come, to me.

a buddy and i did all the poles at the mazda corporate center in south
orange county a while ago, and it took us two days to build and wire
the poles, get the pole bases prepped, (template check and bottom
nuts pre leveled, pulled wires taped up tidy).

on crane day, we set the whole facility in 7 hours. it goes really fast
if you have a good crane operator. two dozen poles, call it half a day
if you prep everything well first.


randy

I could see having one if you do poles singly or in pairs. But any more than that, it's call the crane service. Or if you need to take a pole down for some reason.

Another down side is they only work on round bases that are 36" out of the ground. Got a grade-level base, or a square one, and you're SOL.