How to make a 12' to 15' light post?

[Kirktjohn]

You could try 2" flag posts from Menards, cost about $90. Simple to install as well.

 

[Elembytes]

I purchased some solar LED 300W street lights to place along my driveway. What I did not think of was how to get a post to mount them to. I saw some Youtube videos where people tried 4x4 posts and they said that a 16' 4x4 stuck 3' into the ground with concrete swayed like the dickens in wind with these lights mounted.

I have tried Amazon and Google to find say 12'-18' steel posts, but my fail has been consistent and enduring.

Do any of you folks have an idea for an affordable and functional street light posts?

The lights I ordered:

300W Solar Street Light, 2 Light Set Motion Sensor Dusk to Dawn 15000LM Solar Lights Outdoor with Remote Control

I would suggest you speak to your local utility company and see if you can obtain some old replacement power poles. That is what I did and it's still going strong! I tied it to the back of my pick up and dragged the pole home. (They were replacing poles nearby) I hired an electric professional company and paid them $100 and a case of beer and they came out off the company clock and drilled the hole and set the pole for me.

 

[twowoode]

The new solar lights have come a long way. I have a few and they work great. You will need longer than a 12 to15 foot post if you want to maximize the coverage area. Most light specs call for 20 to 30 foot mounting to get the full benefit of the output. Also I find during the winter when you have a couple cloudy days you will not have lights. The only other draw back I find is that with the solar panel as part of the light you can’t always place it in the best location to get both light and charging.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I bought several 20' lengths of used 4" well casing from a local well driller to use as light posts. They will require quite a bit of concrete to make a secure base for the load you plan to attach.

 

[jeff3590]

Building reclamation/salvage place. They'll have light poles, boring ones and decorative.

 

[Teck]

Maybe not the most economical, but you could get 2” or 2-1/2” OD aluminum 16 gage pipe in 20 ft lengths for about $3.50 to $4.00 per ft. It’s used for plastic pellet material delivery systems. Local supply houses will have it or can get it.

 

[alexpops]

to be more constructive. box your own 6x6 posts out of 2x6 pressure treated lumber. approx 7x7 end result. light weight and hollow for a future wire install.

This is pretty much the way boxed masts are constructed for sail boats, a lot lighter than solid & they are supporting loads heavier than your lights. Use good glue, straight grain wood, long scarfs & support blocking on the interior, & you'll need guy wires, but the utility poles on my property all have guys as well. If you get/fabricate steel collars/base plates, you could simply set them on concrete piers pole barn style -- even add a hinge set-up if you need to drop them via pulleys & come-along to work on. PT will be hard to find in good straight grain, but paint & sealer should keep the rot out. Some older sailboats have these types of masts last 40+ years with proper maintenance.

 

[Treedoc]

We bought a place that has a telescoping flag pole. I've thought about mounting a solar LED security light to the pole. This is a similar pole... Yeshom 25ft Telescopic Aluminum Flag Pole 16 Gauge Fly 2 Flags 3'x5' US Flag Ball Top Kit Telescoping Flagpole Yard Outdoor Garden https://a.co/gt7aUJt

 

[clewis]

I purchased some solar LED 300W street lights to place along my driveway. What I did not think of was how to get a post to mount them to. I saw some Youtube videos where people tried 4x4 posts and they said that a 16' 4x4 stuck 3' into the ground with concrete swayed like the dickens in wind with these lights mounted.

Two low cost options:Try to see if you can get a used 15-20' length of 2" steel pipe, preferably galvanized. I've retired one used as a flag pole. The previous owner had placed two lengths of 6x6 concreted in the ground that were only about 4' high, spaced just a bit wider than the pipe. Then ran two long 1/2" bolts through the assembly - one near the ground and the other just under the tops of the posts. By removing one, the whole pipe could be lowered to the ground for servicing. The main reason I decommissioned mine was that one of the posts tops had been a bit hollow, and rotted out. Thus the pipe was unsafe and could fall, but replacing the posts would have been a PITA.

The second is to see if you can find a used 10' section of triangular TV tower, plus the top section and a section of mast. Not the prettiest thing in the world, but considering the demand for TV antennas these days, you should still be able to find one *cheap*. Erecting a short one is fairly simple. Get a post hole dug, get a mounting plate (a triangle of steel, with three "through pipes" matching the tower posts), fill the hole with wet concrete, and insert the mounting plate and level it. Then drop the tower on the three protruding pipes. Much higher than about 15 feet you'd need guy wires or some other form of lateral support to withstand very strong winds.

If you were in the Ottawa Ontario area, I could offer a deal on either thing real cheap ;-)

 

[cmjohn]

I purchased some solar LED 300W street lights to place along my driveway. What I did not think of was how to get a post to mount them to. I saw some Youtube videos where people tried 4x4 posts and they said that a 16' 4x4 stuck 3' into the ground with concrete swayed like the dickens in wind with these lights mounted.

I have tried Amazon and Google to find say 12'-18' steel posts, but my fail has been consistent and enduring.

Do any of you folks have an idea for an affordable and functional street light posts?

The lights I ordered:

300W Solar Street Light, 2 Light Set Motion Sensor Dusk to Dawn 15000LM Solar Lights Outdoor with Remote Control

I have put up light poles using light metal pipe 4 inches in diameter from fire sprinkling systems. Check with the company that sells fire pipe comes in 20 foot Lanks late enough to handle