How to Install Outdoor Post Lights

An outside lamp post is a beautiful addition to any home. Save money by wiring it yourself and not having to hire an electrician. The location of the lamp post can be anywhere you desire. After you've set the post light into the ground, follow these steps for a foolproof 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 with your shovel, and lay your conduit pipe into the trench.

3. Push the electrical wire through the house end of the conduit all the way to the lamp post. Pull the wire up the stem of the lamppost to where the lamp post wires are on the inside. 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 to protect them.

4. Drill 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 (this will depend upon the type of conduit used). The service box has a panel that you can unscrew to push the wire through into the basement or crawl space.

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

7. Run the wire up the wall to where your switch is. Run another wire from the switch to the power source. Wire in the switch only with the black wire. Cap the white wire from the light together with the power source white wire. 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 in 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 on the outlet and 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 in the breaker box. 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 switch. Screw the white and ground wire to the metal bar that is in the fuse box. Screw back on the breaker panel once done.

9. Turn back on the electricity once done, and test your installation.

Tips & Warnings

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