Garland for Lamp Post

[carolinarider09]

We have three bronze lamp posts (with lamps) along our drive way.  They are powered by an underground 120vac that runs to each lamp along the driveway.  The lamp posts are mounted/instlalled in a concrete pad.  (the total distance is about 120 feet maybe less (about 30 to 40 feet between lamps)

My wife has requested that we consider wrapping the posts in a lighted (lite???) garland. 

I am looking for suggestions about how I might accomplish this.  Powering them from 120VAC is not viable since the power is supplied to each post underground through the bottom of the concrete pad.

What would be ok, would be a a battery powered garland that I could run off a timer or a remote controlled switch.  A dawn to dusk kind of thing would be ok, but I'd rather be able to turn them on and off remotely. 

[Moonshot_1]

We have three bronze lamp posts (with lamps) along our drive way.  They are powered by an underground 120vac that runs to each lamp along the driveway.  The lamp posts are mounted/instlalled in a concrete pad.  (the total distance is about 120 feet maybe less (about 30 to 40 feet between lamps)

My wife has requested that we consider wrapping the posts in a lighted (lite???) garland. 

I am looking for suggestions about how I might accomplish this.  Powering them from 120VAC is not viable since the power is supplied to each post underground through the bottom of the concrete pad.

What would be ok, would be a a battery powered garland that I could run off a timer or a remote controlled switch.  A dawn to dusk kind of thing would be ok, but I'd rather be able to turn them on and off remotely. 

I am supposing that the lights come on and turn off automatically? Dawn and Dusk? If so, where is the sensor?

Maybe there might be a plan there to tap into that.

[carolinarider09]

No in this case the lamps are controlled by a switch inside the house.  I sort of like to be in control and leaving them on all night seemed like a waste of power.  

They are turned on when we go out at night or are expecting someone.  Otherwise they are off.  

And I know that begs the question about the garlands be "lite".  My wife and I will have to discuss this and see what the desired outcome is.

There is a small, but unlikely possibility that I could wire the garlands to the power in the lamp post via a hole drilled into the post and then tied to the lamp power.  

That would allow them to come on and be "powered".

Drawback is I don't really want drill the hole since I have no idea how it might affect the post's structure.

Right now I am sort of looking for ideas "brainstorming".   There are lots of ideas on here.   

[Oldfishguy]

Does the top of the lamp post have a socket for the bulb?

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Splitter-Converts-Polarized-Outlet-UL/dp/B07Y4RBR4J/ref=asc_df_B07Y4RBR4J/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385182567079&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7994643625854594130&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9020066&hvtargid=pla-824710463961&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=80210700644&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385182567079&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7994643625854594130&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9020066&hvtargid=pla-824710463961

[carolinarider09]

Yep.  Let me give that thing a look.

Ok, the issue would be getting the power out of the lamp housing.  This is the housing.

https://www.lightingdirect.com/troy-lighting-p6911-highland-park-1-light-15-post-light-with-iridescent-honey-glass/p524095

This is the post (discontinued now).

https://www.lightingdirect.com/hinkley-lighting-h6660-7-direct-burial-post-with-3-fitter-diameter/p2006745

Sorry I should have posted the links before. 

[Sorcerer]

I'd just run extension cords. I would doubt the garland has much of a power draw. I have a LED 2 bulb flood light on the side of our garage for the dog yard that I run off a remote controlled plug. Plugged into an outlet inside the garage with an extension cord to the light on the eve of the garage. The remote hangs on the wall by the deck door. Turn it on when the dogs go out at night or if we are doing something in the yard after dark. I believe I got the remotes at Costco or Menards, they came as 2 pack.

[carolinarider09]

Yes, remotes are the thing I was thinking about.   In fact I have one that I wanted to use for another purpose but have not done so.

[Moonshot_1]

Install one of these on each pole.

https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Grounded-Convenience-Electrical-Resistant/dp/B07P57RD66/ref=asc_df_B07P57RD66/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=397238247280&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17664588768800820921&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018203&hvtargid=pla-845593918276&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=85332621073&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=397238247280&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17664588768800820921&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018203&hvtargid=pla-845593918276

If you're handy at it, drill the hole. It will not impact the integrity of the pole unless you totally fubar it. (Been there done that) Run the wire. You'll have to come off of the light wiring but should be pretty basic.

You will have power out to your light posts with no extension cords.

Our light sensor for our outdoor light is on the post. Wired through a hole. The post beat back a tree falling on it a couple years back. Light fixture got creamed but the post is still there. Got another light for it.

120' is a lot of ground to cover with extension cords.

[Jess from VA]

When you say light garlands, I think of Christmas lite strings (multi or color of choice).

None of those will stand up to weather over much time (which hasn't made many of my neighbors ever take them down anyway) (every neighborhood has these folks).  And the bulbs burn out, and some won't work with even one bulb out, so you get to check them ALL.  Though some will keep working with a bulb out.

I'm also thinking the nice poles will just get cruddy with the wires holding dirt, leaves, moisture and attracting bugs and spider webs, over time.

And I sure wouldn't fancy putting them up and taking them down, on occasion.  

It might be a nice look, for (pretty) occasional use.  But I wouldn't do it.  (but you don't live with me  )

Compromise with colored light bulbs (but avoid red ones, some people might get the wrong idea)

[The emperor has no clothes]

When you say light garlands, I think of Christmas lite strings (multi or color of choice).

None of those will stand up to weather over much time (which hasn't made many of my neighbors ever take them down anyway) (every neighborhood has these folks).  And the bulbs burn out, and some won't work with even one bulb out, so you get to check them ALL.  Though some will keep working with a bulb out.

I'm also thinking the nice poles will just get cruddy with the wires holding dirt, leaves, moisture and attracting bugs and spider webs, over time.

And I sure wouldn't fancy putting them up and taking them down, on occasion.  

It might be a nice look, for (pretty) occasional use.  But I wouldn't do it.  (but you don't live with me  )

Compromise with colored light bulbs (but avoid red ones, some people might get the wrong idea)

Oh, I assumed he was talking for the holidays ?

[Oss]

OMG  I thought it said Gavin for lamp post   

Eyes are a bit fuzzy when i first get up

[carolinarider09]

Well, the question was raised by my wife and I thought it was not just for the holidays.  I will have to investigate and see what her plans are.

We have garlands all over the front porch and around the door, but not out in the yard area. 

I will have to look and see if I can find a way to "support" the garlands around the post. 

Last night she mentioned a wreath instead of garlands.  So....

Drilling the hole and securing it from moisture is doable.  If I had my way, I'd put a small 12VCD power thingy in there to power the lights.  Draw back is that whenever the lights are powered so is the power supply even it is not connected to lights. 

I do think that is the best answer, beside just having them battery powered and having to turn them on manually locally or remotely. 

When I built the house, the need to power external things, outside of the homes interior was considered and a single switch turns power on and off to 120VAC outlet for garlands on the front and rear porch.  So, no plugging and unplugging is required.

[Serk]

Solar maybe?

https://www.amazon.com/Yosoo-Powered-Artificial-Christmas-Valentines/dp/B07HM184ST

[carolinarider09]

Solar is an option.  I will look.

[carolinarider09]

We have temporary resolved the issue with a "battery powered" Garland we had used for another purpose but its lighting was different so....

We only have the one so, my wife wished it wrapped around the first lamp post as you enter the property.  Funny thing is that it takes "C" batteries and I only have one in stock.  Looks like a trip to the store (well wife is going on Monday).

In reality, since the electronics has a timer in it, I could add a solar re-charging thing and use a rechargeable power supply.  It would take some work but it could be done and I would know how it worked. 

[Jersey mike]

If the lamps take a standard bulb, you can get an adapter the screws in to the bulb socket with a plug and socket.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-2-Outlet-White-Socket-with-Pull-Chain-R52-01406-00W/100200635

[carolinarider09]

Yes, the only issue is exiting the lamp housing with the wire which would require some drilling and well more work. 

I like the housing and posts to be sort of "standalone" items. 

Besides, its been twenty or thirty years since I built a solar power supply. 

[Jersey mike]

How do you access the bulb to change it?

Is there a hinged door or a removable fake vent top section?

If I remember the wiring on Christmas lights is usually a very thin gauge, maybe 16 or 18, it's the plug that's an issue to snake through.

[carolinarider09]

Its got a cap on top that is held in place with a few screws and I could run a wire out that way but then I'd have this "wire" out of the top of the lamp. 

If I had thought about it a little more and if the wife had "suggested" that she would want a "wrap" on the poles I would have included an outlet at the base of each lamp for that purpose. 

I have considered doing that since I believe the 110VAC wiring is direct bury and all I have to do is to dig it up, cut and splice in the wire for the outlet and I have a new connection. 

But, more work.  And right now it works....

[Gavin_Sons]

OMG  I thought it said Gavin for lamp post   

Eyes are a bit fuzzy when i first get up

I are pretty bright.   

[Moonshot_1]

Candles. 100s of candles.

No wiring.

[carolinarider09]

But I'd have to light them each evening.... 

[carolinarider09]

Lamp post example (Yes there is a source of power by the lamp post but only this one)



Lamp post at the drive entrance with the battery powered garland. 

[Jess from VA]

This reminds me of my brother's place (out on a country road). 

He won't put anything out there to identify his place, besides his mailbox with a single reflector on it (like every other house in the county).

If I arrive in daylight, I remember what it looks like.  But if I arrive at night, I could drive around all night looking for his (very long) driveway.  His buildings/home are way back off the road.

[carolinarider09]

Sort of the same, but in the fall, its easier to see the house from the road since the trees are naked (no leaves).

The house is about 50 yards from the main road.  There are three lights, like the one in the picture, along the driveway.  We turn them on if we are expecting someone, or, like now, for Christmas.