Our lamp post light needed replacing after vandals smashed it over the weekend. Rather than letting a broken fixture be the end of the story, we turned the repair into a MakerBuildIt tutorial.
In the video, I walk through removing the damaged light, connecting the replacement, mounting it on the existing post, and checking the finished result. If your post is still in good condition, replacing the fixture can refresh the look of your outdoor lighting without replacing the whole post.
Start with the power off
Before handling the fixture or its wiring, switch off the circuit at the breaker or fuse box and verify that no power is present with an appropriate voltage tester. Turning off a wall switch alone is not enough. This precaution is also covered in The Home Depot’s light fixture installation guide.
In our case, we identified and labeled the circuit that supplies the lamp post. Follow the instructions supplied with your replacement fixture and wire connectors. If you are uncomfortable with electrical work, or find damaged wiring, hire a qualified electrician.
Clear the damage and remove the old fixture
The broken light left glass around the post, so the repair included cleaning up the damaged pieces. With the electrical supply safely isolated, the next stage is to remove the old fixture and carefully bring the existing connections into reach.
In the demonstration, I remove the wire connectors and separate the old light from the post’s wiring. The video gives you a close look at the removal process and the connections inside our particular installation.
Connect and mount the replacement
The replacement light connects to the existing supply. Our installation has three connections: ground, black, and white. Your fixture’s instructions determine the correct connections and grounding method; do not rely on color alone to identify an unfamiliar wire.
Use connectors suitable for the wires and installation, following their manufacturer’s instructions. Once the connections are complete, carefully tuck the wiring back into the post and mount the new light with its specified hardware.
The video also shows the final top pieces being fitted and secured. Complete the mounting and assembly, and keep all wiring enclosed, before restoring power for testing.
Test the finished light
Once everything is secured, restore the circuit and check that the new light works. If it does not, turn the power off again before inspecting anything or arranging professional help.
For us, the finished replacement brought a working light back to the post and turned an unwanted repair into a useful DIY walkthrough.
Products linked in the video
These are the Amazon links from the video description:
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