Getting ready to install pole light ? How much support ?

[Mike.VA]

In am getting ready to run the conduit and digging the area out.

I plan to drive rebar into the ground at angles In the hole and then wire them together and then mix and pour about 4 bags of concrete.

It will end up to be a 24x24 x 4
Then a 18" hole in the center about 16" deep.

Does that seem to be enough to hold this ?

 

[Norcal]

If your going to pound rebar in the dirt don't bother with the rebar it's just going to rust. As to the footing what does the manufacturer say about size and depth & size and placement of the anchor bolts?

 

[kd3pc]

the soil type and amount of disturbance to it will also play in to it..

sacrete bags are of several sizes.

What does the manufacturer say?? Is it light weight aluminum/composite or is it cast iron with a top heavy fixture...this will sway your needs one way or another.

In the past for similar light posts we have used sono tube, to at least the frost line - and of a diameter (appears to be 10-12") and to be hidden by the post skirt if installation allows. Often times 4 bolts are used, like with a radio tower - with the post several inches up from the ground.

I would read the directions or call the maker/supplier, else your awesome post may lean in a very few weeks or topple in a storm.

 

[Mike.VA]

Thanks guys. Comments are noted.

I have moved this many times and havn't had any issues.
The problem is that I think I have just been lucky.

This model, as it looks like many others is different.

It is not so heavy, that one person can lift, but the top is the heaviest end for sure.
I purchased it in Ciudad Juarez many years ago. When you could still safely walk across or drive across with you family to shop and eat.

It only has three mounting holes underneath. In the past I have sunk three six inch 1/2" bolts in the concrete and tightened down.

I'm mostly concerned about it pulling up the concrete

 

[sberry]

I doubt it will pull up the concrete as much as tip it over, a flat bottom hole will help a lot.

 

[Mike.VA]

Digging through this is like digging in concrete.






The wire pulled pretty easy. Will end up putting a box here to access later for other projects.



Got the rebar in and finally got enough concrete. Template hopefully held the bolts well enough to line up??

 

[Mike.VA]

With a lot of help from the wife,we got this thing up. Bolts were dead on template. But template was wrong. I reversed it when setting the bolts!! Anyway, it's up now.

 

[padroo]

I did a large light several years ago and used an 18 inch sonotube.

https://www.google.com/search?q=son...UICCgC&biw=1024&bih=768#imgrc=jkdMsFIzarL7dM:

Four feet long wit the top a little out of the ground. I GOT 4 LONG galvanized anchor bolts and made a template out of wood to match the bottom of the post and installed and bolted the template together.
When I poured the concrete I set the template with the protruding bolts into the concrete making sure the bolts were plumb. I had a section of 90 degree pvc conduit that went through the sonotube below grade and came up in the middle of my template between the bolts. It made a nice clean installation.

 

[Mike.VA]

Thinking back 21 years ago, I think I did the same thing when I set it then. The bolt pattern is not symmetrical and when I made the template, I flipped it over when setting the bolts. I can't believe I did it twice. ( I'm stupid, and didn't learn from my mistake)

Last time, I drilled and set new bolts. This time I drilled the base of the light and went with the bolts as they ended up. It went fairly well.

I saw other installs using the sonotube, did consider it. I did the same with the 90 degree conduit. You are right, it does make a nice clean install using that.

Thanks for your note.

 

[Mike.VA]

Have cleaned up the pole and added a fresh coat of paint [emoji439].
Looked everywhere for the bulbs and finally found them inside wrapped with bubble wrap inside the gloves. I wonder who the hell did that, (da-hu!- stupid)
Now just need to wire and install new photo eye and we are back in business.