Lamp Post Wire Exposed

[Rewind97]

My neighbors lamp post in her yard was knocked over and has since been removed. Whoever removed it just cut the wire at the ground and left the wire exposed. I'm afraid this is dangerous and the wire needs to be capped off somehow. The circuit can't be cut at the panel because there are other things on that same circuit that need to be left on. What would you do to make this safer?

 

[JVarhol]

Personally I would find the switch for the lamp post and cap it off there.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[kd3pc]

at least wire nut the exposed ends at the cut...

 

[APEowner]

It should be disconnected at the switch and that may have been done by whoever removed the post

 

[Marctrees]

Fixes as above.

Ask if there was a switch and go in that box.. disconnect leads, TAPE off .. NOT just wire nut..(taping a dead end signifies to knowlegables it is like Abandoned or maybe "future"..

In a perfect world, once you KNOW you have disconnected the correct wire label it "Old lamp post outside rear door" or whatever.

But NOT just cap or tape it at the old post location..... need to kill the feed as above.

DEFINITELY cannot be kept possibly hot.

If they mandate there was NO switch, it could have been fed always hot from a nearby box, and had a photocell on post.

Marc

 

[ard]

Classic fix I have seen is someone puts black tape over the toggle switch, and instructs the owner "don't switch this on".

Agree, that leg out to the post location MUST be de-energized.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

at least wire nut the exposed ends at the cut...

If water floods the area, it could create a shocking potential

 

[kd3pc]

My neighbors lamp post in her yard was knocked over and has since been removed. Whoever removed it just cut the wire at the ground and left the wire exposed. I'm afraid this is dangerous and the wire needs to be capped off somehow. The circuit can't be cut at the panel because there are other things on that same circuit that need to be left on. What would you do to make this safer?

How does she feel about it? How long has the post been missing?

You really need to have her call a qualified electrician...sure, it is nice to help, but in the event something happens...

YMMV

 

[Marctrees]

"How does she feel about it?"

? ?

Although I understand that being a neighbor and all, not THE property owner, My Granmaw would have said "fuggetaoutit".

Don't think that is the safe direction.

But the last part.. " You really need to have her call a qualified electrician...sure, it is nice to help, but in the event something happens..."

Liability wise, very good thinking.
Marc

 

[Rewind97]

Thank you all for the replies!!! The house is actually vacant right now. The owner has been put into an assisted living facility in another state closer to her daughter and son. The house is being fixed up to be rented.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It should be disconnected at the switch and that may have been done by whoever removed the post

But it may have a photocell instead of a switch.