Starting to get into more commercial new construction work. Was wondering what most do about pole light bases, and setting of pole lights? I dont have a bucket or boom truck, and sometimes am pressed for manpower, so I was thinking of subbing this work out. When you sub it out what type of contractor do you sub to or do you just sub to another electrical contractor? I had one pole light to do last month and subbed the base and setting of pole out to a mechanical contractor and the base looked terrible. I also had to explain to them how to set sono tube and install rebar cage. This after they told me they have done pole lights before.
Pole Lights
- Thread starter DAWGS
- Start date
- Status
Rewire
Senior Member
- Location
- Lake of the Ozarks
I sub it to a utility contractor who has an auger and boom truck, he digs the holes I set my tubes and rebar and finish the crete then he sets the poles after. If I just have one pole I dig with a bobcat auger attachment.
I haven't installed any light poles since I've become a contractor. It's been a long time but if I remember right when I was working for an EC the GC poured the light pole bases while pouring the concrete floors of the building.
What about using one of these to install the light poles?
http://www.maxistools.com/product/polejack/
What about using these instead of pouring the bases?
http://www.precast.org/specifiers/pole_s.pdf
What about using one of these to install the light poles?
http://www.maxistools.com/product/polejack/
What about using these instead of pouring the bases?
http://www.precast.org/specifiers/pole_s.pdf
If you are doing a parking lot, sub the concrete out. You don't need a bucket truck just assemble the fixtures on the ground and hire a crane for a couple hours to set them. You might want to hot check them since you don't have a bucket to tshoot them once they're up.
I like to be on site when they are poured in case a conduit kiks loose in the form. The concrete guys don't care.
The individual ones are a time killer. Find a driller that will haul away the dirt and barricade the hole. The concrete is not too difficult but the concrete guys are WAY better at it. Trying to get them to do one base would be tough. They strip the tube and finish it "hot". I beat around the tube with a bat, get it close enough on top and come back a day or two later to set the pole.
I made a few calls to get a price on that pole setter and never heard back. It looks awkward anyway.
This tool works well also and is about 200 a day. It will transport AND set them.
I like to be on site when they are poured in case a conduit kiks loose in the form. The concrete guys don't care.
The individual ones are a time killer. Find a driller that will haul away the dirt and barricade the hole. The concrete is not too difficult but the concrete guys are WAY better at it. Trying to get them to do one base would be tough. They strip the tube and finish it "hot". I beat around the tube with a bat, get it close enough on top and come back a day or two later to set the pole.
I made a few calls to get a price on that pole setter and never heard back. It looks awkward anyway.
This tool works well also and is about 200 a day. It will transport AND set them.
romexking
Senior Member
- Location
- Marriottsville, Maryland
We sub the pole bases to the concrete guys on site, and set the poles ourselves with the GC's forklift. The photo above shows how to set a pole with a forklift except for the method of picking the pole up. the best method of lifting a pole is to use a rope with half hitch near the top of the pole which is held tight by using a metal hook (tied onto the end of the rope) placed into the hand hole of the pole. After the pole is set, just take the hook out and the rope with slide down the pole as you lower the boom on the lift. I've set hundreds this way. It should take all of about 20 min. to set each pole.
Maybe it's just me, but those poles don't look too tall in the photos? 15'? Maybe 20'?
I usually set 25-35' poles around here. An occasional 40. Cranes are the best way.... I have one local contractor I hire, and he just asks "How many, how tall, where and when?" He has all the rigging needed.
I generally have all the poles assembled right next to each base the day before. I run temp wiring from each base to each pole and energize the circuit. Helps cut down on trips with a bucket later to find problems.
BTW...who's 4-wheeler?
Edit to add: If you pour your own crete, use a sawzall with no blade and run the sled around on the sonotube....makes quick work of bringing the cream to the tube and not have any aggregate showing.
Maxis Pole Jacks are about $4500.
I usually set 25-35' poles around here. An occasional 40. Cranes are the best way.... I have one local contractor I hire, and he just asks "How many, how tall, where and when?" He has all the rigging needed.
I generally have all the poles assembled right next to each base the day before. I run temp wiring from each base to each pole and energize the circuit. Helps cut down on trips with a bucket later to find problems.
BTW...who's 4-wheeler?
Edit to add: If you pour your own crete, use a sawzall with no blade and run the sled around on the sonotube....makes quick work of bringing the cream to the tube and not have any aggregate showing.
Maxis Pole Jacks are about $4500.
Last edited:
Never even thought about hot checking them on the ground. Ive set them with forklift before (short ones 15'). Also set them with a small shuttle crane. Setting lights is not that big of a problem. Its digging and pouring the bases I dont want to mess with.220/221 said:If you are doing a parking lot, sub the concrete out. You don't need a bucket truck just assemble the fixtures on the ground and hire a crane for a couple hours to set them. You might want to hot check them since you don't have a bucket to tshoot them once they're up.
I like to be on site when they are poured in case a conduit kiks loose in the form. The concrete guys don't care.
The individual ones are a time killer. Find a driller that will haul away the dirt and barricade the hole. The concrete is not too difficult but the concrete guys are WAY better at it. Trying to get them to do one base would be tough. They strip the tube and finish it "hot". I beat around the tube with a bat, get it close enough on top and come back a day or two later to set the pole.
I made a few calls to get a price on that pole setter and never heard back. It looks awkward anyway.
This tool works well also and is about 200 a day. It will transport AND set them.
Yeah, these were 15 foot poles in a residential water retention/park,playgound area. In a parking lot I would just get a crane for $90 an hour. We couldn't leave ANYTHING here overnight.
A typical pole here is 20' and the forklift would still do it. I GENERALLY use a crane but we had no access here. Several landscaped acres with sidewalks running thru them. We used the quads to do the install, pull wire etc. LOTS of ground to cover.
I like the sawsall idea
$4500 DOLLARS??? I'll pass.
A typical pole here is 20' and the forklift would still do it. I GENERALLY use a crane but we had no access here. Several landscaped acres with sidewalks running thru them. We used the quads to do the install, pull wire etc. LOTS of ground to cover.
I like the sawsall idea
$4500 DOLLARS??? I'll pass.
A GC can screw up a pole base is ways you cant even imagine, so out of self protection I do my own poles bases and transformer pads.
I hire another contractor to dig the holes, and pour the bases and finish them myself, then either use my Skytrack or a crane (depending on the pole sizes) to set them.
For ditch digging, clean up and concrete work I have a small crew of Mexicans that make concrete look pretty and make sure my anchor bolts are perfect and straight. It does not work so well to use my electricians to pour concrete.
I hire another contractor to dig the holes, and pour the bases and finish them myself, then either use my Skytrack or a crane (depending on the pole sizes) to set them.
For ditch digging, clean up and concrete work I have a small crew of Mexicans that make concrete look pretty and make sure my anchor bolts are perfect and straight. It does not work so well to use my electricians to pour concrete.
charlie tuna
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
find an electrical contractor that specializes in pole work -- i have done it both ways --re: rented the crane--formed out the bases---prefabbed the poles--etc.. and using the contractor was unbelievably cheaper. always try to stay with precast bases and arrange equipment delivery with the utilty contractor's site work schedual--let him handle the whole thing.....
- Status