We have a yard lamp on a post in the front yard. The wife likes (me) to put a string in lights around the pole every Christmas. Several years ago, just as a quick and dirty solution, I cut the male plug and about 6-8" of wire from a string of lights. I then put one of those adapters that screw into a lamp socket and provide a couple of outlets:
This has worked for several years, but it's not ideal. I think I'd like to add a permanent outlet to that lamp post. I'd appreciate suggestions as to the best way to do it.
Here are the solutions I came up with:
- Do just what I am doing, but use a short (6-8") extension cord with molded plugs on each end, rather than bare wires. This is the simplest solution, but it requires drilling a much larger hole in the lamp housing base. It also means that either I leave the adapter in the socket year round with the extension cord plugged in and dangling out the bottom, which is mildly unsightly, or I have to take the housing apart every year, which is no big deal.
- Install a permanent outlet on the pole. I would have to take the pole apart and make a splice, then find a receptable that I would mount in a hole cut into the pole. This is a nicer solution, but a lot more work. It would probably be best to put the outlet at the base of the pole, but the pole is in the middle of a round brick planter and I bet the base is 12-18" down. I don't think I'll be allowed to dig it up.
So, unless someone can suggest another solution, I'll probably go with the short extension cord and take the housing apart every year.