Hi Doug!
DK> Just moved into a house built in 1956. It's got your typical light on a DK> metal post in the front yard. It's crooked, and like 99.99% of yard lights, DK> it would blind the police when they came to assist in the event of a DK> prowler. It's also ugly, so I'm removing it. I thought it would be a kind DK> gesture to leave whatever's underground in good shape, in case the next DK> owner wants to put something there. But, I have no idea what I'm likely to DK> find. I'd like to know, so I don't have to make 419 trips to the hardware DK> store. The thing is set in soil about 20' from the foundation. DK> DK> So, let's play psychic electrician. I'd like to know what others have DK> discovered under such fixtures, especially in houses from that era. My DK> fantasy: Conduit terminating under the light in a nice metal box, all held DK> together with stainless steel screws so I don't have to spend the first 4 DK> hours spraying all kinds of crap just to get the rust off. Yeah. Right.
The acronym "ROTFLMAO" comes to mind!
We haven't removed the gas lights here (IIRC they're set in cement; converted to electric years ago -- boy did the gas usage go down!!) I did remove a gas grille two years ago (prior occupants used charcoal in it!!) which was set in a huge poured concrete ball.
If your light is really crooked my guess is there isn't too much cement underground to hold it upright. The two ex-gas lights here are _slightly_ crooked but one really has to look. Personally I would take it out, put a wirenut over the leads (one each) and tape over that with electrical tape; also disconnect or otherwise disable the wire at the supply end. (OK, might be better to disconnect the supply end first and test at the lamp end before applying the wirenuts and tape!) If you want to be "nice" to the next homeowner leave a note with the measurements of where the wire terminates. They can install their new post lamp a couple feet closer than the original location to accomodate the cut wire.
DK> Anyone want to play?
That was fun! :)
- ¯ barry.martinþATþthesafebbs.zeppole.com ®
- Humans turn green with envy, but paperwork turns yellow with neglect.