Lighting up the place

[Chaz]

My wife and I were cruising Lowes about a year ago and saw some kinda nice outdoor lights on clearance. Long story short we bought ALL of them (8)
We started putting them out this week. The lights are only about 7 feet tall which is way too friggin short in my mind, so I decided to build two foot tall bases for each lamp. I fabbed them out of 1/8 steel, six sided to match the lamp, and painted them to match also.
In addition, I added an outlet in each base so that 110 power would be available all over the property. I pulled 12/3 with ground through all the conduit so that the lights are on a timer and the outlets are always on.

 

[Highbeam]

Where's the "in-use" cover? I hate those things.

 

[softailgarage]

I love old fashioned street lights, how about a night shot with them lit. Nice job on the bases.

 

[Chaz]

Where's the "in-use" cover? I hate those things.

The "in use" covers are cheap plastic **** that provide safety only to the wasps and hornets that take up dwelling inside them.... When they make a good one I'll be delighted to install it.

Did you ever see an "In use" cover over six months old that wasn't broken all to hell?
But alas, I rant.............finis

 

[Norcal]

Where's the "in-use" cover? I hate those things.

Buy decent ones, you buy the cheapest **** out there, deserve what happens.

 

[Chaz]

Buy decent ones, you buy the cheapest **** out there, deserve what happens.

Please post a link to a "decent" one...... I've yet to find one...
How do you know which ones I bought? You work for the government NSA?
And what's going to happen? Trip a GFI? Do tell.

 

[Norcal]

Please post a link to a "decent" one...... I've yet to find one...
How do you know which ones I bought? You work for the government NSA? And what's going to happen? Trip a GFI? Do tell.

Maybe I do,maybe I don't.

 

[Chaz]

Maybe I do,maybe I don't.

Yeah, me too.
Still waiting on that link to a good "In Use" cover.

 

[RickP]

I had a GFI that sizzled - it ended up pretty scorched. I think I threw it in a box somewhere - I'll try to post photos.
I don't like those in use covers either - just sayin.

I love your project - beautiful bases for those lights.


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[aka Larry]

I personally like more contemporary style lights (my taste) but your work is top notch and the paint match is perfect. Nice work man.

 

[Norcal]

I have had very good luck with the Red dot cast aluminum ones, plastic ones are ****. I really don't care for the inuse covers myself, but code is code.

 

[CNGsaves]

Beautiful job on the lights. Your property looks really nice.

+1 to see some pics at night with everything lit up !!

Also hate the gaudy look of "In-use covers" that really are just bulky and get in the way 99% of the time. I'd just leave the light posts like they are so they'll look good. Then rig up a extension cord that has the "In-use" cover as part of cord that would slide over the electrical plug.

 

[mike_81]

well done!

just a thought! Put the outlets on a switch so you can plug in seasonal decorations but turn them on/off at will ?

 

[Chaz]

well done!

just a thought! Put the outlets on a switch so you can plug in seasonal decorations but turn them on/off at will ?

That's a great idea... I'm sure my wife will want to hang wreaths on all the posts come December! It'd just take a little re-wiring inside the timer to make that happen. I'm on it like ugly on a gorilla.....Thanks again!

 

[Steve.S]

Nice job. That's a classy look and your bases turned out great, too. The receptacles blend right in - much better looking than your standard outdoor boxes!

 

[Highbeam]

I have had very good luck with the Red dot cast aluminum ones, plastic ones are ****. I really don't care for the inuse covers myself, but code is code.

Me too, I just installed a cast one and it is clunky to use, clunky to look at but it is built well and will last forever unless I break it. The in -use cover would have totally ruined the look of that nice luminaire.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Nice looking lamps and installation. Lights like that are becoming common here in the south in the older towns that are doing restorations of the downtown districts. New brick sidewalks, new lamp posts, etc. Its a great look.

 

[Bronson]

Very nice!