The basement entrance to Sandwell House has a sub-grade set of concrete stairs leading to a patio and entry door. The door is flanked by a porch light and switched inside the building. It burns all day long which compelled me to put the light on a timer. I also added some modern house numbers to one of the brick entry pillars last fall and thought now would be the time to illuminate those numbers at night. A property with a comfortable environment after dark needs to be illuminated in a way that shows some consciousness and consideration for what can be accentuated; and consideration for the house’s tenants so as to not blind them with annoying light. In this case, landscape-style “up” lighting can, I think, meet those needs and showcase the brick and the building numbers. So I’ll put that on the timed circuit as well. Up lighting is under threat from the dark skies initiative because of the light pollution it creates. I like to use down-lighting whenever possible; but up-lighting still has it’s place within moderation.
Parts:
Most of the components came from Kichner whom specialize in outdoor lighting products. For the spotlight I used a post-style junction box buried a foot deep in the ground because I wanted the option to add an outlet at this location in the future (albeit a switched outlet). I used an Intermatic T101 mechanical timer to control the porch and landscape lighting. No transformers here, just line voltage. These timers require a neutral to power the clock. I didn’t have one in my switched box so I temporarily borrowed a neutral from the ground. This isn’t code and not a good approach long term. Next weekend, I’ll return to replace my “drop” into the timer with 12/3 rather than 12/2 sheathed cable. This will then be properly wired and not sabotage the equipment ground.
Labor:
Roughed in the post light to start with by anchoring the flexible conduit into mortar joints on the pier, the box of the overhead decking, and directly into the limestone foundation wall. Don’t forget to use stainless steel screws into treated decking. This went well except when I arrived back on the porch light to make my connections. The conduit is 3/4″ flexible underground conduit and my porch light box had only 1/2″ threaded inlets (gray plastic box). I’ve learned electricity isn’t like plumbing where one might expect to simply install a 3/4″ elbow that reduces down to 1/2″ to enter the box. As far as I can tell no such fitting exists (should have checked McMaster-Carr: they have everything). With a consultation from my trusty neighborhood mechanical genius, I settled on a solution: thread in 1/2″ male box extender, face bushing to reduce from 3/4″ to 1/2″ and receive the elbow, 3/4″ liquid tight elbow to connect the box to the conduit. Silicone on threads and I expect that connection to be watertight for as long as I’m alive.
