DIY Outdoor Lighting and Outlet

Big thank you to Fence Armor for sponsoring this video! Find all that Fence Armor has to offer here: bit.ly/3fGs2gt and use code April12 for 12% off!
In this tutorial I am showing you how to get power to anywhere in your yard! This is super helpful when you need lighting or an outlet. A homeowner can DIY this job and safely bury the wire along the way. I also show how to make a small lamp post with lighting, a useful exterior outlet and finish it off with a nice post cap and finial. Check out the video for details!
Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=257047
Instagram: / wilker_dos
Website: www.wilkerdos.com
Facebook: / wilkerdos
Want to support me? Support the companies that support me:
Triton Tools: bit.ly/2jaC0dD
ISOtunes: bit.ly/2YuZBtr
Rockler: bit.ly/2oWrisB
Armor Tool: bit.ly/2PjJuKJ
Things I Used in This Project:
ISOtunes Ear Protection: bit.ly/2YuZBtr bit.ly/2Cf6OXP
Crescent 2in1 Pliers: amzn.to/3sQVXIa
ToughBuilt Tool Belt: amzn.to/2PJPJM9
Fence Armor PostSaver Sleeve: bit.ly/31Kwwwo
Fence Armor Post Cap: bit.ly/3wq9qJM
Fence Armor Finials: bit.ly/3sPVGph
Fence Post Mix: thd.co/2QToqiM

[@wbhad83]

Direct burial tip. Sand over top of wire then run red danger tape and more sand. This way, when digging, the tape and sand help raise awareness to something they may cut into.

[@mwrslr7845]

came here to say this...but absolutely should have been done

[@AB-nu5we]

@@mwrslr7845 Agreed with both.

[@mjh5437]

Or just fill the trench with concrete on top of the cable.

[@aadishah8768]

@@mjh5437 at that point, wouldn't conduit be cheaper

[@jonathanandtrishavlogs6874]

Actually if the wire is not 24 inches deep it needs to be in conduit, THEN place the tape.

[@paulconnolly7091]

April, nice job, but I agree with one of the other posts. Also, a few small tips for you from an electrician.... First (and especially in places that have a colder climate and ground is susceptible to frost, at the very least, a small bed of sand above and below the UF cable you are running. A small rock or boney backfill can and will penetrate UF. For the cost of small PVC, we usually run PVC especially in the northeast. Next, when you payout your wire (Whether you are running Romex or UF, do not just pull it off the reel. "Walk Out" the cable by putting the end under something heavy and roll it hand over hand out as you walk as to roll the cable off itself. It will come off the reel perfectly straight and lay in the trench much better and pull through conduit better as well. (Also really helps if you are stapling up wire). Lastly, the weakest point in the install is at the base of the post. While I cannot say 100% because the video did not show it, a better method when you either cut the post or do the install is to leave a spot where the wire comes out so that the weight of the post is not sitting on the wire. Maybe you did that. Also, lots of sand at the base helps make sure that if the post moves, the wire has some give. 99% of the time, that is where the cable failure will be. Not trying to be critical of what you do, really just trying to help. I watch and enjoy a lot of your videos. I wish I working with wood came as easy to me as working with wire. Keep up the great work.

[@sperreault]

I'm sure you have fun with more rocks than dirt digging in the northeast :)

[@rudyarellano3448]

Yup I go nuts when the wire is pulled like that 😆 🤣

[@Demasx]

Imagine having April as a personal friend to help! ❤

[@kopriva007]

Imagine having April as a tutor so you can learn from her, first hand, and helping on her projects.

[@user-ll7fv6tu7k]

That shovel you trenched with is called a trenching shovel and it's intended purpose is to shovel trenches.

[@jack002tuber]

If you can't find one, try a sharp shooter shovel, almost the same thing

[@aquadream8512]

Big if true

[@totallyfrozen]

@@jack002tuber They’re ubiquitous at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, ACE Hardware, Tractor Supply, etc. If you cannot find one, you ain’t looking for one.

[@Heypistola]

What's it called though???

[@ycmdill]

@@Heypistola Tile Spade. When clay tiles were used for drains.

[@colbymason8054]

Pro tip, always put in conduit, makes it very easy for upgrades later.🍻

[@jimdomoradzki483]

Easy to add another circuit or pull out broken wire.

[@Dborden42]

Did you have to connect to the breaker box with different wiring or change the breaker to a GFI?

[@ZackPyle]

Plus because it is direct burial, if you ever cut it, you will have to dig up the ENTIRE thing and replace

[@adamomalley6302]

Yeah, personally I'd use RMC if the cable run is through a flowerbed where a lot of digging happens. UF cable in a flower bed is just asking for trouble no matter how deep it is.

[@Zogg1281]

That pipe hammered under the path to make a tunnel for the wires is just BRILLIANT!!!! So much easier then trying to dig a tunnel and something I wish I knew about 20 years ago when trying to run a cable under my Gran's path! 😅👍👍

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@frankcampos1251]

APRIL, how did you protect the ends of the pipe so they don’t get damaged when pounding it in?

[@juliehaley9286]

She did☺️

[@im4degreesaboveu]

It's called a trenching shovel! 🤣 Good install. I like this.

[@warrenmichael918]

We call those foreman spades. Seems like the foreman on the jobs use them to lean on since they are longer. lol

[@suzannesimpson1672]

@@LaraLovesBees I thought Ditch Witch was a brand name of a power machine that digs the trench, not a human powered shovel...

[@piledriver141]

Great video, shovel is a trenching shovel. Good idea to mark with danger tape in trench also. Take photos of “ exactly “ where stuff is buried 20, 30 years go by in a hurry. Nice to be able to plant a bush and know exactly where that line is. I also like the NEW materials you used I haven’t seen these things yet

[@gergemall]

April, I bought one of those red shovels and it was marketed as a trenching shovel. Before college and university grad school I dug lots of holes. I loved it and now in 67 and pace myself. I used it for a French type drain and it worked great! Much continued success

[@billyshumate853]

Good job April. Hope you're having a blessed Easter Sunday and I'll see you on your next video. Take care and GOD BLESS.

[@clarkgriswold2480]

Great project, thank you. I used that expanding foam for the first time last summer. Amazing. Total game changer. The post saver product is brilliant, thank you.

[@johnlaw867]

Looks great, thank you! As others may have mentioned, you may not want a pointed post top at that height, as it is a hazard to anyone falling and being impaled. Similar to an exposed piece of rebar.

[@RoyatAvalonFarms]

The narrow shovel is called a trench spade or sharpshooter and is designed and intended exactly for narrow trenches as you used it for. Good show.

[@JaredCzaia]

Thanks April for showing us all how to do so many cool things!

[@AB-nu5we]

As others are saying, locate, locate, locate. Also, I always use HDPE innerduct or PVC jacketed steel armored 12/2 cable for direct burial. Homeowners can pick up innerduct tails (tail ends of large reels that don't get used, but are too small to take back out in the field on a job) at industrial supply houses in cities. Worth the trip.

[@johnhuggins5021]

Hi, April. That was a great project. I did something similar after building a 12' x 16' pergola in my back yard and adding a 2-outlet weather protected GFCI outlet near the top of it so I could add some hidden remote controlled rope lighting behind crown molding. Additionally after my wife and I built a large pond next to the pergola, I wanted a 4-outlet above ground GFCI outlet box that is about 2 1/2 ft above ground and has some backlighting in it so that you could see the outlets at night if you need to unplug anything. Also in line with it, I connected it via and a weather proof quick shut-off switch next to the house to shut the power off to that outlet box with one click (just a safety feature I thought would be cool). Finally after digging somewhere between 18 - 24 inches deep to lay down the wire, I added a red-colored electrical wire warning strip (it says, "Warning: buried electrical wiring!" repeating these words along the entire length of the strip), that I laid on top of the sand that I surrounded the wire with before finally covering it all up in dirt. The reason I did this is because if someday when I either sell this house or I move onto happy hunting grounds and a new owner were to simply start digging anywhere I laid the wiring underground they will hopefully uncover the red warning strip before their digging tool touches the live wiring. Great also if you forgot where the wiring was laid ...... exactly..... and you or someone else starts digging along the wiring path. While all codes everywhere may not require it, it sure is a bit of a emotional saving feeling should that person discover live wire was buried somewhere in the back yard where they happen to be digging. Can't wait to see your next project.

[@SchysCraftCo.]

This turned out very unique and very well and I will most definitely be doing this. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend. Keep Making. God Bless.

[@curiousfirely]

Good to know even April gets roped into helping friends and family with projects!

[@jamesrawlings8493]

Gives her topics for videos. It not all one sided :)

[@nickdotts5897]

She is absolutely the best & one of a kind

[@armanzd.i.y.511]

Nice outdoor lamp project April, been watching your vids for a while and you are an inspiration to all aspiring woodworking newbee like me..you have a new fan here from Philippines, take care👍👍👍❤❤❤

[@jeffjohnson8514]

Bought the fraction to decimal chart last summer and it has been a real time saver.

[@trevorhall9524]

The first episode of "assembly required" aired here in the UK. You came across very well, relaxed in front of the camera, maybe all the hours on KZbin you have completed.

[@jtdyalEngineer]

Started using the foam instead of concrete 3yrs ago. I can't imagine going back. The time and Labor saved is amazing.

[@gkdvrcb]

I set a post in that foam 4 years ago and loved it for the ease of use, but I’ve found that post is horribly prone to frost heave even though it’s 42” deep (frost depth recommendation in this area). My other posts are just in ground sand and don’t heave yet they aren’t as secure! Science mystery! Lol

[@PhallacEye]

She says it sets hard as a rock; but then easily cuts it with a hand saw. The purpose of fixing posts with cement is to weight them into the earth. Does the foam do that? It looks light.

[@JoshVaughan]

Love the 216 shirt!

[@davidgleaton9073]

very cool project!, this is something I have been wanting to do for several years to accommodate an outdoor fountain in my back yard... thank you!

[@steves7896]

"Call Before You Dig" Kudos for use of the American Flag!

[@01arron]

Great to see a normal job April. Fab work 🤩

[@agrointegratedfarm3971]

Incredible work April Wilkerson it's really beautiful.

[@Friedbrain11]

We used pressured water through a pipe to clear out under a sidewalk or other obstacles when building swimming pools in Florida. Quick and easy :)

[@jeffwilliams291]

Just finished doing the trench today. By hand 18” deep 120’ through the yard. Came across a lot of these same obstacles. Cheers!

[@tfed315]

April - Love your 216 (Cleveland) t-shirt! Also, I used the 2-part "concrete" about 5 years ago, and it's as solid as Quickrete, but faster. It doesn't need water, so I think it's used for places where water is not easily accessible.

[@lovejones7545]

Cant get enough of your videos! So cool!...You're very special!!

[@chopprguy]

That post is the perfect height to top with a combination bird feeder / cat feeder.

[@abolton2718]

Know this is an older video but didn’t catch anyone mention this. To get under the side walk, if you want to avoid the mess water creates and the beating a pipe. Goto the electrical aisle and buy a flex bit. They are long enough to get across sidewalks and drilling it will have you done in seconds. You can then pull a piece of conduit back (best) or just the cable (likely get tore out if replace sidewalk). A lot of times you can find this for cheap 2nd hand and they come in useful if ever running wires inside as well.

[@dougc78]

Nice job. The simplest ideas are usually the best

[@toriahime9838]

You seriously motivate me to complete so many tasks that need done. I think I will start tomorrow with my new mailbox-post!! Gonna see if I can find that foam at ace hardware!

[@nickchajec3990]

What perfect timing! I'm currently in the stages of planning our backyard landscaping (we've been with a dirt lot for too long) and this was something I was looking for on how to do! Thanks and great video as always.

[@SeanBZA]

Just a tip is to put the direct burial cable in a conduit of sorts, so as to protect it from the errant fork, you, or some gardener, will invariably poke through it. A double layer of danger tape, applied right on the conduit, and a second layer after 4in of fill, will also help for when the next person comes digging in the yard. If you are doing garden irrigation bury another conduit with the irrigation pipe, with a draw cable in it, so that later on you can pull through cabling for garden lighting without having to dig up the entire area again, as you will at least have conduit there already. Conduit is cheap enough, and remember to use a good amount of PVC weld on the joins underground, to keep it at least from getting full of water and freezing, or drowning the joins.

[@wk6976]

The trenching shovel is awesome and first time I have seen one. I started to look closer at it and am going to weld one up with some angle iron and steel tube I have. Thanks for sharing and I really like all you do.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Great idea! Thanks for watching!

[@tgnwoodworking9599]

Very informative. Thank you. A change from the shop videos which is nice (not that I don't really like your vids in the shop, all your videos are awesome). In life, change is good and, at times, needed. Keep the videos coming young lady. I always look forward to the next one.

[@coreymarrero]

Another video explaining a little more about how you made the post would be awesome I’m actually gonna be doing something like this when I get back from working out of state and wood working ain’t my best but I’d love to replicate this. Totally awesome!

[@tommysmith7229]

I know this is rather old but I came here for the post design. Love your videos. A tip on the shovel: Instead of using it like a normal shovel with the handle angled 45 degrees toward your back, shove the handle forward so its about 45 degrees in front of you and the blade is standing straight up. Now you have a smooth surface to stand on top of the blade and can shove the blade into the ground with a simple jump on it. Now pull the handle back toward you and remove the whole plug of dirt at once.

[@deborahstahl5982]

Cute! Thank you. Always enjoy your videos.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi April, Nice video. Happy Easter to you and the family and you all stay safe.

[@johhnybgood8413]

refreshing to see an American 🇺🇸 handy woman

[@dankelley9361]

Seriously, great job, very nice tutorial & thanks for the foam tip, haven’t seen that before!

[@gergemall]

Thx April, I need to change a bunch in my barn

[@JohnJones-wo1bc]

very helpful and useful video. Many thanks April!

[@peterbudd7118]

The pipe trick is brilliant. I have not seen that before and I love it

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching.

[@scottsimpey2965]

Great video April. My wife and I are planning to build a shed on our property and we were wanting to at least have a light in it. A lot of great tips here that will definitely be useful for us when we come to putting up our shed.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad it was helpful!

[@juanbartolome9744]

Wow looks awesome

[@backpocket718]

A lot of the time you can hook a water hose up to a pvc pipe and the flowing water will push the dirt away and make it move and you'll be able to basically jab the pipe under ground. I've used this to run sprinklers under side walks and down short runs. Also that skinny shovel is for laying pipe in the ground for electric or irrigation so perfect use. Tends to be my favorite shovel for alot of jobs. Precision.

[@Grunt49]

Looks great! UF rated wire is good stuff.

[@LifeAsDane]

Wow, awesome box. You’ve given me some ideas!

[@MidlandTexan]

Thank you April. I need to do this too.

[@jasonsejkora4578]

Pressure washer def does the trick. Done it before.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Good job April, very good information and easy to follow. Thanks for sharing with us. Fred.👍👍👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@AndyCallaway]

I like the foam idea.

[@jesswu0213]

Beautiful

[@jimmyjames3220]

Whoa I really liked that fence post mix foam. Too cool!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Cool product!

[@cuttwice3905]

It's a trenching shovel. A drain spade has a rounded tip and digs deeper.

[@brucehaulley8117]

All KZbin's should be this good. Nice job.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@SandBoxJohn]

Depending on your soil condition a flat spade can be used to cut a slot in the ground that you push the direct burial cable to the bottom of. I used this method to run power to back yard shed.

[@mikecolo2158]

Neat project. Thanks for the tip on the post foam. Love the (216) T-shirt! Greetings from Northeast Ohio!

[@profcah]

Love April’s videos. Great info!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad you like them!

[@jeffhenderson934]

Glad I found your channel. I’ve got to get power from the house to a lake fed irrigation pump for a sprinkler system. Straight shot, nothing but 100 feet of grass and pine tree roots. My OCD will make me run the romex thru schedule 80. Instead of bothering you, I’ll find someone I can buy off with pizza and beer to get the pump and timer wired correctly.

[@stevenrayhoward]

Just awesome! Simple back splitting, calorie burning pleasure! Thank-you. -- Woodprobie

[@DamianValentino]

Nice loved this a lot

[@shingabiss]

You truly have become an "April of all trades!"

[@robertmadden7536]

Just ran a cable to my shed. The rules here in Australia apparently include 500mm trench, conduit with a orange plastic tape on top warning of power line. Would also recommend some indicator above ground to warn late comers of power along path because I would be tempted to install a garden bed along said path.Great build by the way, like the post and will be looking for the foam for small retaining wall project coming up.

[@jenky1044]

Great show. Thank you. That small spade with the long handle is ( *I believe is a telegraph shovel* ).?? for putting in long post, telephone poles, etc.

[@jabelltulsa]

April is such a badass.

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Great work on the outdoor lighting and outlet April! Thanks for sharing the video with us!💖👌👍😎JP

[@mikeplunkett2041]

April you are amazing.

[@_Merica_USA]

Awesome project!

[@earlyriser8998]

nice little project

[@mamaj6028]

Wow fantastic video.

[@talladegadude4852]

This video is wonderful as I know so many would love to have a light in their yard. . . I know I WOULD. :)

[@keithwalker2926]

love the idea, thank you

[@stephaniestewart9762]

I think I just fell in love lol

[@air85uk]

Wow great job

[@canadianguy2417]

Great video, this is exactly what I was planning to do in my back yard

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tgray8593]

Great job

[@karenstein8261]

As expected, this job got the immediate attention of every sparky! Small wonder, as we spend far too much time fixing DIY short cuts. My first comment: Forget about “meeting” code. Experience has a aught me “code” often isn’t enough. I like pipe. For burial, PVC, buried two feet deep, Makes it deeper than a casual shovel bite. Using pipe let’s you replace the wire later, if there are problems. I hate digging twice! Use primer to mAke sure the pvc glue holds strong. GFCI protect at the house end; that way you’ll know what f the wire run is damaged. All GFCI’s need to be outdoor rated / corrosion resistant. Look for “WR” on the device.

[@Around_The_Home]

Good points. As I once heard, NEC, aka 'code', is the minimum required standard. You can always do more than the minimum.

[@jerryfrederick6610]

The post over post design makes a lot of sense. Especially while adding electrical features. This project gives me an idea for my back fence flower planting area. Maybe some low voltage lights but in the post over post style. Most of the store bought lights for this application do not look as nice or homey. Besides you can custom make to any height desired. Take Care and God Bless

[@videotheclips]

Excellent, always

[@lorenmeyer5290]

Very nice April love it !!!♡♡

[@NikeMS11]

Excellent information....thank you.

[@raymitchell9736]

Looks good.... it's so "CUTE" !!! 😁

[@dailyislamicreminder1519]

Love from calgary Alberta, awesome job!!!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thank you so much!!

[@Offroadmavericks]

Useful information, thank you !!!!

[@mikecurtis2585]

Great job looks nice should last a long time. HAVE A HAPPY EASTER 🐣. THANKS 😊!!

[@dddube12]

Awesome April!!

[@samiralbalushi4611]

Awesome thank you

[@lauraandedwardcannon8861]

When burying you should do something to indicate the live power, there is a tape that serves as a warning. Sand is also an option. You don’t want someone “finding” the wire in 10 years when doing the sprinklers or planting a tree.

[@edm2811]

I love your videos

[@RustyChapman]

Cool, the horizontal "hydro drill" works well in Florida, with our sandy geology, not so much with a denser dirt. Im glad to see the "hammer drill" worked well for you.

[@poddaddy1]

Im up in cleveland ohio and using duct tape to hold a running garden hose spray nozzle to a broom stick was the only way that i could get through the heavy clay we have under our sidewalks

[@darrellcaruk8880]

I hope you put a threaded plug on the top of the box mounted on the house. Also when back filling any trench, its a good idea to pack it, as you put the original material back in the trench. Nice job BTW.

[@MuhammadDaudkhanTV100]

Great full ideas

[@waynerountree9284]

Enjoyed watching this great content thanks for sharing

[@munarimichele]

Bravissima, bella idea per una colonnina per l'illuminazione ed una presa elettrica, molto utile per il giardino di casa. Ciao

[@Chris-wy2bn]

Nice work!