How do I Put Light in Concrete Block Columns?
When working with electricity it is imperative to turn off power to the home or location where you are working. Forgetting this step can result in severe injury. Installing a light in a concrete block column is not a difficult task. The process is guided by color coded wires twisted together using a wire cap. All electrical installation not completed by a professional should be properly inspected before the job is completed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic sheeting
- Shovel or pick axe
- Conduit wiring
- Conduit straps
- Hammer drill
- Wire cutters
- Wire strippers
- Wire caps
Instructions
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1
Turn off the power to your home by flipping the switch at the main circuit breaker in the home.
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2
Locate the closest outlet to the concrete block column.
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3
Mark the route that the conduit will travel from the power outlet to the location of the concrete block column.
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4
Dial 811 from anywhere in the United States to be connected with you states local one call center. Inform them where you are going to dig. They will send someone to your location to mark where power lines and other utility lines are buried. It will take a few days to send someone to your home, so prepare accordingly.
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5
Lay plastic on the ground next to the route where the conduit will be buried.
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6
Dig a trench for the conduit approximately 12 inches deep. This can be completed with a shovel, pick axe or other digging tool. Place the dirt from the trench onto the plastic. This will keep the dirt from settling into the grass.
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Lay the conduit inside the trench.
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Run the wire up the block column, and attach it to the concrete using straps. Use a hammer drill to drill the screws into the concrete to hold the straps in place.
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9
With wire cutters, cut the ends of the conduit to the appropriate size needed. Remove the conduit from the ends to expose the wires inside.
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10
Remove the rubber coated insulation from around the ends of the wires to expose the metal inside. This is completed using wire strippers.
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Connect the wires to the light by twisting them around the matching colored wires to the back of the light fixture. Twist a wire nut over the two wires to close them together.
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12
Secure the light to the concrete block column using screws.
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13
Connect the wires on the other end of the conduit to the wires located near the electrical outlet. Connect them in the same manner you connected the lighting wires.
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14
Call for an electrical inspector to approve your work. He will ensure that the connections were made properly. Most city ordinances require this, but it should be done whether required or not to ensure against shock or that fires.
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15
Cover the conduit laying in the trench with the dirt previously removed.
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