Setting a 30' pole - ideas?

[N80]

i bet you could do more with bigger guys

Good one! Truth is, I was skinny, crew chief was old, the other guy was short. Fortunately, the poles where small too!

 

[schmism]

i set my 21' (previously a 30' that i cut down) for my meter base and (will be light)

I used a 1" ratchet strap looped around the pole a couple 3 times, then hooked to the corner of the bucket, and run down the inside edge of the bucket then around the last bucket tooth so that the pole kinda hung off the outside corner of the bucket.

http://www.snjschmidt.com/pics/property/Mar_07/DSC02693 (Large).JPG

(although i was useing a hunk of chain hung from the middle, you get the idea of how you can use the outside edge instead)

I strapped about 7' up on the pole. this made my 21' pole top heavy but not so much that a person couldnt still lift the skinny end (top).

I postioned the base of the pole at the front edge of the hole.

I started raiseing my FEL as i SLOWLY drove forward. My helper pushed by hand, and had a 2x4 push/guide pole to assist.

By chooseing a tight tie off next to the FEL, the bucket side effectivly limits side to side movement while still allowing it to piviot upward.

at about 45 deg things start to "fall into place" and gravity takes over and its fairly easy to stand the pole up. The base of the pole a foot or so in the hole prevents the top from falling back over, and the FEL carries the vertical weight.

at this point you can (surpriseingly easly) guide the pole around (within limit of an inch or so)

then its a simple matter of lowering it into the hole and holding it plumb (both directions) while you back fill and compact the hole by hand. which seemed to take almost as much time as digging the hole by hand did as i wanted to ensure a good compacted hole as i was going non-guy wire installation.

21' pole in a 42" deep hole was as solid as a tree of the same size when i leaned/climbed up the latter.

http://www.snjschmidt.com/pics/property/Apr_07/apr 014 (Large).jpg

and the finished product after the install of the 200A disconnect. (required me to re-wire the entire pole a second time (and another $200)

http://www.snjschmidt.com/pics/property/May_07/DSC02777 (Large).JPG

 

[fishman]

Rather than put the pole in the ground, you can do like I did on my RV port poles and pour a pier with a weld plate set in the top of it. Of course these were only 16' poles max, but I found it much easier to plumb the pole and simply weld it to the plate. It's very sturdy and there is no pole in the ground to rust, although that is likely not a real problem anyway.

 

[Seon]

Good point about the pole being bottom heavy - hadn't thought about that. As far as removing the light, any ideas on how in the world I'd get up there to put it back in? Leaning a ladder against a round pole that will be 24' up in the air cannot be a safe thing...

So how are you going to replace a burnt out bulb .

 

[SpringHollow]

A length of loose chain at the end of the ladder connected to each side rail works well. When you lean it against the pole, the chain wraps part way around the pole and holds the ladder in place. At least it works for me.

Ken

 

[schmism]

ive used the same method with a strap....

its relitivly stable with just the rung leaning against the pole.... or at least enough for me not to ever worry about it.

A length of loose chain at the end of the ladder connected to each side rail works well. When you lean it against the pole, the chain wraps part way around the pole and holds the ladder in place. At least it works for me.

Ken

 

[ldabe]

Try this on for size:

Get the 30' pole, but try to make sure the bottom is the same size as the top.
Get a 25' pole, and cut it in half. Put one half in the hole you already dug, then dig another 6' hole for the other half the distance of the width of the 30' pole. Put the 30' pole in between the two halves up off the ground approx. 4 inches, and put a 3/4 inch bolt through the two halves with the 30 footer in between (use a drill first, of course). Put the bolt about 6 inches from the top of the two halves, and then another 3/4 bolt through about 12 inches from the ground.
Also put an eye bolt into the 30 footer toward the bottom.
When you change the light, back a truck up to it with a chain or rope on the hitch, remove the bottom bolt, slow back the truck toward the pole to lower the top of the 30 footer toward the ground.

I saw a township do this for a flag pole once, using knotty pine and polyurethane.

Looked good.

 

[ToddW]

So how are you going to replace a burnt out bulb .

Unfortunately I have to climb a 24' extension ladder to repair the 3 pole mounted mercury vapor lights I have. No fun.

/Todd

 

[Knotbored]

Rather than put the pole in the ground, you can do like I did on my RV port poles and pour a pier with a weld plate set in the top of it. Of course these were only 16' poles max, but I found it much easier to plumb the pole and simply weld it to the plate. It's very sturdy and there is no pole in the ground to rust, although that is likely not a real problem anyway.

I have some cedar fence poles to set this way-anyone know where I can buy some plywood welding rod?