How to Replace a Post Light | Ask This Old House

[@fd3871]

Pro-tip I learned from an old-school electrician, always position the twist-on connectors so the cone faces up when seating it in a post or anything outside really. this way if water or moisture does get in it doesn't collect in the bottom that can be easily corroded and instead wafts down. it is also good practice to wrap the connections in electrical tape to prevent corrosion or better yet use push-in connectors.

[@fd3871]

also wtf, no weatherproofing/silicone around the new switch box? water will soon rot the house through the rather large gaps on the side.

[@NAB622]

Absolutely correct! When I bought my house, many of the lights didn't work - and it was all because they left the wire nuts pointed downward. All I had to do was trim and strip the wires, and reconnect them. Such an easy thing to fix.... And such a silly mistake.

[@thetributary8089]

@@fd3871 how do you know he didn’t later silicone it? It’s a 6 minute video trying to capture an all day job.

[@fd3871]

@@thetributary8089 i don't, but even if he did - it if this is meant to be informational they missed the mark as that is a critical step when dealing with the outside layer of your house.

[@thefatmoop]

Wow that new big wart sticking out of that owner's wall, drop the switch and get a light activated one built into the post.... And an LED light that will need the whole assembly re-wired in order to replace, which most home owners wouldn't do themselves. My experience has been that with '13 year' mainbrand LEDs about 1/5 fail every 2 years. This repairman knows how to keep himself employed!

[@AdhamOhm]

Yeah, a lot of those posts have a placeholder where you can add a photocell to control the light. And I agree, for as many LED bulbs as I buy (the drop-in kind that fit in standard bulb sockets) I absolutely don't trust those fixtures that use hard-wired non-replaceable LEDs. A whole fixture that has to be replaced just because the LED failed is a poor design.

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

@@AdhamOhm integrated LED fixtures are more reliable than screw-in LED bulbs. They have better electronics (not as space/cost constrained) so they generate less heat and last longer.

[@timluc0428]

Dude! this guy is an AMAZING ELECTRICIAN!!! If you want to be good he teaches you everything you need to know in this video. lol notice how he turned a bad switch into a new switch new post new fixture ANOTHER NEW FIXTURE just so it can match!!! I LOVE IT! lol

[@formula143]

Dude is a salesman. Would hate to see what the bill was for that visit. He was just manufacturing work for himself $$$

[@RinkuRR7]

Good sir I like it

[@RinkuRR7]

I want this work

[@thecollinzboy]

Kurt Pfeiffer you do realize that these homeowners in these videos get free fixtures and installation for an exchange of being filmed on camera and letting this old house choose what type of light fixtures and set up they want for the video

[@jamesstacey1515]

Just give me a simple on/off switch. Also, if you do need to replace the led how much? Or are you better off buying a new light fixture?

[@Vanilla_Icecream1231]

you never really have to replace a led at that point you will probably not even live at the house but if so its basically better just to be a new light

[@myerscorpcosplay]

On next weeks episode, we go back to the house and replace the post and light again because he forgot to ask his wife what she thought.

[@nicholasd7731]

What do you mean?

[@nicholasd7731]

I dont understabd.

[@kingofrandom9504]

@@nicholasd7731 his wife might not like it and want it replaced again

[@simon270490]

Lololoolol. I know what you mean. Cannot stop laughing

[@TinoInHD]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@electricianron_New_Jersey]

Forget the switch, a photo eye built in to the post would've also done wonders here.

[@CupidFromKentucky]

Exactly. You could also keep the switch in case you want the light off at night for some reason.

[@meatycraftfan23]

Why is the switch outside O_o

[@briancnc]

+Spencerkey22 Never seen that one before. I don't understand why he re-wired the entire circuit and still left it outside, other than that he didn't want to deal with patching the wall/siding.

[@reggiebuffat]

+briancnc But did he rewire it all or just reuse what was there? I did not see him rewire, but use the old wire. The old insulation might have been good but why risk it? At very least check if it's OK or if the insulation is crappy being outside exposed to water and heat.

[@briancnc]

+Reggie Buffat He pulled a new romex for the switch you can see him fish it, they just tapped off a receptacle. I would have patched the siding and installed a switch indoors, it doesn't make any sense to install a switch outside for this application.

[@Maxid1]

+briancnc He put in an automatic switch that turns it on at night and off at dawn. That needs to be outside.

[@fixitwithzim]

+Maxid1 he installed an astronomical timer, not a photocell. No need for it to be outside other then it was the existing location.

[@Joseph1NJ]

Wait, one hour setup, no mix post cement!? I gotta get a bag this spring, I have a post to set.

[@gsent56]

Love the design of that post light

[@JustinCrediblename]

"sounds great" means it's free.

[@Unboxx_It]

Quick question..... (for anyone that is) Why did he allow the cement to cover and finally set surrounding the cable? What if the homeowner decides to change the post? Wouldn't this make the homeowner have to cut the cable?

[@GhostHostMemories]

I want to know this too

[@AdrienBCaldwell]

That is a good question to ask. In my case, if it were my home and I wanted to change the post I would carefully dig it out, lay it all on the ground, then carefully and chisel and chip away at the cement with a chisel and hammer until I freed up the cable.

[@onecrazywheel]

It would make the cable useless. It should have been shrouded in PVC conduit at the very least. Jeff Licensed Journeyman Electrician

[@michaelnoone1565]

Because he was being lazy

[@Maxid1]

1:50 "It's all aluminum so it'll never rust." No it won't rust, it will just corrode.

[@JustinCrediblename]

a lot of aluminum alloys will take a number of centuries to corrode, given that they're not in direct contact with copper, rusting steel, or something similar. a thin post like that might last for 500 years before pitting corrosion, likely to be the greatest corrosion type in this circumstance, creates any microscopic holes through the aluminum. Given proper installation, corrosion is functionally a moot point.

[@Maxid1]

***** That depends entirely on the composition of the soil and the environment and the type of aluminum used.

[@JustinCrediblename]

Maxid1 true. wasn't thinking about the soil exposure part. that'll be interesting

[@adrianb6942]

why he did not make the switch to the light post flush against the wall like the old one

[@donhardin1358]

I searched for a diode, similar to the one he installed. I wanted to try it along with the diffuser. We don't want a bright light in our back yard and this seems like a good solution. However I cannot find this anywhere. I've searched diode, led, lamp post - you name it. Visited hardware stores...nothing. Is there a link to where he bought it?

[@vince6829]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@AdhamOhm]

I just got done replacing my lamp post and I'm sitting here jealous of all these houses with their old posts that can just be pulled out of the ground like they're nothing. My old post wasn't so easy to remove. Whoever installed it (it was there long before I bought the place) did it TOO professionally-- they used a 16 inch deep concrete base with a gravel underlayment and PVC conduit that ran back to the house. It was an absolute headache to remove.

[@10OZDuster]

DIODE=LED=light emitting diode but diodes do burn out from power surges or voltage spikes then you'll have to replace the whole unit. I prefer the standard screw on bulb using LED=DIODE bulbs i can replace anytime choose the wattage I want even a dimming version or choose color like green for christmas orange for thanksgiving red for whatever i'd go for replaceable type bulb[LED] than fixed type with no options a poor choice in my opinion.

[@brave1.0]

I agree, I would install a standard screw in type fixture if I were an electrician like him and I would even tell the customer that I don't recommend the bulb-less style.

[@patandsandytrierweiler2440]

A bit confused. Why did this electrician surface mount the water proof exterior electrical box. why did he decide to ignore the recessed "cut out" area. Doesn't this leave access for water and insect invasion? I hope he (at least) caulked the perimeter of the box. I love the idea of using an anatomical clock

[@matthewward7619]

Are you meant to bond (ground) the post ?

[@MIW_Renegade]

M W Tech channel that’s what the ground wire on the light does

[@ManWander]

i was hoping to see what he did with the two bolts that the new light fixture for the outside of the house attached to. that's what always hangs me up, they are always too long to make the fixture flush against the wall

[@alec4672]

A good pair of wire cutters should have a place wear you can thread in the screw for the fixture and trim it shorter. There so long because of different sheathing options for houses.

[@RichardGMoss]

Does he also use an ATM machine?

[@yowzaabner4314]

yes, but the installation of the ATM machine is shown in a later episode.

[@nunosousa2942]

Tanks now i know how to steal my clients "-I need you to change this light -Well I thint that you need is a new house"

[@Tim_who]

@thisoldhouse what brand light fixtures are you using? I really like the style and no need for a bulb.

[@Honeybearsphone]

That switch would be nice to have in a situation you don't want dusk to Dawn monitoring or can't have it

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

One thing LEDS do that CFL dosent is consume like les amps than a CFL or incandescent

[@jeffgroves4533]

I need help!!! I moved Into my home and I saw that my lamp post had its wires cut. Is this fixable?

[@jhormanlopez268]

Yes it is

[@electriciantv5174]

Yes

[@DoctorSkillz]

I live across the street from this guy. His wife didn’t like the style so they had to hire another contractor to replace the lights. True story. The “diode” was too dim for their liking and they wanted a different design.

[@robwebnoid5763]

Not enough planning & discussion prior, l suppose.

[@LightsandFansGuy1999]

You serious?

[@DoctorSkillz]

@@LightsandFansGuy1999 Yes. Fun fact: they changed the light unit AGAIN.

[@LightsandFansGuy1999]

@@DoctorSkillz did they change the pole for the lamppost too?

[@DoctorSkillz]

@@LightsandFansGuy1999 Nope.

[@robwebnoid5763]

I wish the cylindrical diffuser in the lamp post went all the way up so you get more soft light out of it to radiate laterally.

[@68Squid]

installed a new weather rated box, but with a "dry only" connector for the romex. also, is the romex in the dirt direct-burial? it looks like regular old romex

[@meyersmattj]

"LED diode" smh

[@briancnc]

+matthew meyers I chuckled at that too. He really loves saying diode.

[@Maxid1]

+matthew meyers Yes. As opposed to a non light emitting diode diode...

[@bjjfan4873]

+matthew meyers came here to say exactly this

[@crapper1]

bjjfan4873 diodes make me happy in pants

[@stephensnell1379]

He knows what he is doing as he's a qualified electrician

[@heroknaderi]

I enjoyed it

[@just_a_guy_doing]

Hmpf, I would have guessed that the wire going to the lamp would be UF 14-2 (exterior underground romex) rather than conventional romex. That is code here in New York, would have assumed that was typical everywhere in the US

[@JustinCrediblename]

NEC be damned! :p

[@mmacentee61]

Scotland v England

[@gilbertlaque1417]

Old uf wire used to be white as well

[@sweetpina3875]

I would definitely have added a fine mesh with a circle cut out for the diode before putting on the lamp shade. Just to keep the buggies out lol

[@andreapaolucci7380]

Am I tripping out or was that NMD90 just buried in the dirt by itself?

[@Thumbsdwn]

Surprised this comment isn’t higher up, the cable feeding the post is absolutely not rated for direct burial, and because he did work on that circuit he is now responsible/liable. Huge oversight in my opinion.

[@barbarachipley357]

looks good! nice work!

[@razorcool5011]

2:50 so that cameras just gonna stay underground for 30 years🤔🤔🤔

[@GPSingh19-05]

They should’ve moved the switch inside

[@cup_and_cone]

Was that even UF rated wire for burial??

[@MIW_Renegade]

thechosendude it’s probably covered by conduit

[@Toronto6ix]

safety sally ova here

[@JakeCraftChannel]

Light emitting diode diode

[@marksternweis4598]

We wat to get a new fans and a lights in the diner room

[@ncooty]

@0:41 Just be honest. The guy wanted to replace the damn post. Don't make up a bunch of BS to make it sound like you NEED to replace it. You could have repaired it. Otherwise, why call it "This Old House"? Just tear the old house down and replace it with a new one, right?

[@kirbyyasha]

That fixture will let a lot of wasps in.

[@jonarse]

those open bottoms on the lights look like a bug magnet.

[@TheYonkel]

Wait. Wasn't this just a faulty switch call.

[@gregorall9779]

I was disappointed, on most of his other videos, he managed to include a Madison strap somewhere but I didn't see one in this video.

[@gregbotlin4446]

IT DOES NOT PUT OUT A LOT OF LIGHT

[@benwhite6533]

led stands for light emitting diode then you are saying diode again lol epic fail

[@juanito002]

Scott called the light a "LED diode", does that mean it's a light emitting diode diode? :-)

[@nick4leader]

Obviously

[@Vanilla_Icecream1231]

It’s like saying sin number which mean social insurance number number (it’s Canadian equivalent to social security number

[@roccocroce]

Thumbs up

[@gameralien9076]

Did they really buried their camera under the cement?

[@jose5793]

Yes

[@Tonebone721]

In Wall too surface mount #never

[@commenta586]

I keep thinking this guy looks like vin deisel

[@Honeybearsphone]

comment a yes he kinda does

[@texarkanaandi7393]

What a waste of money. All that's needed was a new light switch.

[@stephensnell1379]

You must have saw in the video that the lighbulb was leaning over that is why that and the switch both got replaced L. E. D. Lights are very efficient and last 10,000 hours or more which means they practically have no point of failure at all whereas incandescent bulbs are extremely inefficient as 90% of the energy they use is wasted as heat and only 10% is converted into visible light and they only last 2,000 hours then totally burn out and blow completely which is the main point of failure

[@electriciantv5174]

He asked the home owner if he liked that idea

[@electricaf365]

It’s a show, relax

[@silverevo9186]

Bad advice...remove the ugly post and add ground lights. Wasn't even recommended. No way he's mounting that switch box on my house....poor

[@Sellipuff]

How come this show never goes to a black household?

[@electricaf365]

Racist!!

[@AverageGuy513]

How to ripoff a house owner

[@formula143]

Totally. I would have sent this dude packing. Total BS

[@mattkrywyj5184]

Does he not own a drill?

[@josephbiron9103]

Good video as a general tutorial, but that selection of light was... not what I would have chosen or what my wife would be happy with, let's just say that. It looks cheap and cheesy.

[@nicholassmith82]

God awful design.