Hello,
I want to string lights along a wire on my back patio. The wire will be connected to my house, and to (presumably) a 4x4 post that I need to sink. I am looking for some guidelines for depth of the hole, the need (or not) for a footing, etc. I believe the soil is simple, packed earth for several feet..

On 5/31/2015 1:39 PM, wrote:
Hello,
I want to string lights along a wire on my back patio. The wire will be connected to my house, and to (presumably) a 4x4 post that I need to sink. I am looking for some guidelines for depth of the hole, the need (or not) for a footing, etc. I believe the soil is simple, packed earth for several feet.


We don't know your
- soil conditions
- frost line
- the length of the 4x4 sticking out of the ground
- the tension/side load on your wire

A wild-ass guess, maybe use a 12' 4x4 and bury it 42" deep.

On 5/31/2015 12:54 PM, Auric Goldfinger wrote:
On 5/31/2015 1:39 PM, wrote:
Hello,
I want to string lights along a wire on my back patio. The wire will
be connected to my house, and to (presumably) a 4x4 post that I need
to sink. I am looking for some guidelines for depth of the hole, the
need (or not) for a footing, etc. I believe the soil is simple, packed
earth for several feet.


We don't know your
- soil conditions
- frost line
- the length of the 4x4 sticking out of the ground
- the tension/side load on your wire

A wild-ass guess, maybe use a 12' 4x4 and bury it 42" deep.


+1

Obviously use PT wood. I would also put some gravel in the bottom of
the hole, maybe a cookie (just a dab of concrete allowed to harden
before finishing the job.)

Can't hurt to "paint" the post end and lower 40" with roofing cement to
further seal it.

Then set the post plumb and finish with a bag or two of Sakcrete.

On Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 10:55:17 AM UTC-7, Auric Goldfinger wrote:
On 5/31/2015 1:39 PM, tgibson:
Hello,
I want to string lights along a wire on my back patio. The wire will be connected to my house, and to (presumably) a 4x4 post that I need to sink. I am looking for some guidelines for depth of the hole, the need (or not) for a footing, etc. I believe the soil is simple, packed earth for several feet.


We don't know your
- soil conditions
- frost line
- the length of the 4x4 sticking out of the ground
- the tension/side load on your wire

A wild-ass guess, maybe use a 12' 4x4 and bury it 42" deep.

I don't know how to describe the soil conditions other than as packed earth....perhaps clay deep down? It's in Northern California at sea level in the agricultural belt. The temperature rarely reaches the freezing point. The post would need to 8' (8.5' better) out of the ground.

On 5/31/2015 1:18 PM, wrote:
On Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 10:55:17 AM UTC-7, Auric Goldfinger
wrote:


[snip]

I don't know how to describe the soil conditions other than as packed
earth...perhaps clay deep down? It's in Northern California at sea
level in the agricultural belt. The temperature rarely reaches the
freezing point. The post would need to 8' (8.5' better) out of the
ground.


That 12' 4x is what you need then. In your circumstance you don't need
worry about the frost line/heave but that depth will give you all the
lateral stability you need.

I'd still (unless you're very dry there) go overboard on protecting the
section of the 4x that's in the ground.

why not use direct burial cable?

or protect with conduit?

On Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 11:48:28 AM UTC-7, bob haller wrote:
why not use direct burial cable?

or protect with conduit?

The cable is just to support the string of lights. The lights will plug in conventionally to an outdoor outlet.

On Sun, 31 May 2015 11:52:21 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

On Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 11:48:28 AM UTC-7, bob haller wrote:
why not use direct burial cable?

or protect with conduit?

The cable is just to support the string of lights. The lights will
plug in conventionally to an outdoor outlet.

A string of lights could mean something like christmas lights or some
lights that are really heavy like they use for industrial apps. It would
help for you to explain the lights.

If they are just those patio lights (like christams lights), all you
really need is one of those metal posts like they use for STOP signs.
Just get on a step ladder and drive them in the ground with a sledge
hammer or T-post driver. That would save a lot of work.

On Sun, 31 May 2015 12:39:28 -0500, wrote:

Hello,
I want to string lights along a wire on my back patio. The wire will be
connected to my house, and to (presumably) a 4x4 post that I need to
sink. I am looking for some guidelines for depth of the hole, the need
(or not) for a footing, etc. I believe the soil is simple, packed earth
for several feet.

This http://tinyurl.com/qbhbz65 shows a corner post for barbed wire
livestock fencing.
The corner posts have a lot of stress on them because the fence wire needs
to be tight. It's
with a fence stretcher before being fastened. This second picture might
be more what you're
after. It looks like a gate post for fencing.
http://tinyurl.com/q9ao9mq Burial depth is usually three feet or so in
my area.
I set posts to mount electrical panels. One trick to make the post
solid is to
pour dry gravel mix around the post. I tamp it with a ground rod since I
"always"
have one along.



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