How to Wire a Lamp Post

An outside lamppost is a wonderful addition to any home. Save money on an electrician by wiring it yourself. The location of the lamp post can be near your door or driveway. After you've set the lamp post into the ground, follow these steps for a free, fast and headache-free installation.

Things You'll Need

• Conduit piping Service box Shovel Flathead and Phillips screwdriver Electrical wire Wire cutter Plastic caps for the wire Drill with miter Switch Drywall cutter Conduit box

Instructions

1. Turn off the electricity at the main breaker box.

2. Dig a trench, and lay your conduit pipe into the trench.

3. Push the electrical wire through the house end of the conduit to the lamppost. Pull the wire up the stem to where the lamp post wires are. Strip the ends of the wire about 1 inch, and connect the wires by matching color and twisting together. Attach plastic caps to the ends of the wire.

4. Miter a hole in the side wood board of your home closest to the ground. This will create a hole into the basement or under the house.

5. Attach a service box to the conduit by either gluing it on with PVC glue, or screwing it on--depending upon the type of conduit used. The service box has a panel that you can unscrew to push the wire through.

6. Push the wire through the pipe and into the house.

7. Run the wire up the wall to where your switch is. Wire in the switch only with the black wire. Cap the white wire from the light together with the power source. If you do no have a switch installed, you can install one by using an existing construction conduit box. Cut a hole in the drywall using a drywall cutter, and run your wire. Once you see your wire, thread it through the conduit box, and install the box into the wall by screwing it down tight. Next, install the switch and faceplate.

8. Go to the nearest outlet, and remove the faceplate and outlet. Wire to the nearest outlet by pushing the wire up through the wall to the outlet. Strip 1 inch off the wire, and wire using the side screws matching the wire color. You can also wire it to your fuse box if you plan on having a dedicated circuit. To do this you will need to have a dedicated breaker installed. Unscrew the breaker box panel, and wire to the box by running the wire under your house and securing it with wire holders to a joist. Run up the wall to your fuse box, and strip the ends of the wire about 1 inch. Screw the black wire to the dedicated breaker. Screw the white and ground wire to the metal bar that is in the fuse box.

9. Turn back on the electricity once everything is back in place, and test your new lamp post.

Tips & Warnings

• Turn off the main electricity before starting. Match the amps of the wire and switch to the circuit.