Electrical help needed

[perc-o-prince]

So, we have a couple of post lights in the backyard. I need to put switches on them so they can be turned on/off at the post as I want to leave the switch on in the garage. I'm not finding anything that is both waterproof/weather-resistant and for 120v. 12v car/marine is easy to find.

So far the only things I've found are light sensors that mount on the surface of the pole (they have a mounting plate that is curved to match the pole's curve).

I'm looking for a toggle, rocker or push switch that can be surface mounted or mounted through a hole in the post. Any ideas?

Chuck

 

[turquoisedude]

Chuck, have a look at Home Depot or Lowe's - in the electrical department there should be a section that features conduits (usually grey PVC) and boxes for outdoor use with 120v current.  They usually have switches that can be used outdoors - they're usually big and not pretty (with a honking big red lever as the 'on-off' toggle) but they should do the trick.   

 

[mattl]

THe same boxes and covers you use for exterior plugs can be used with a switch.  they are weatherproof.  Have used them for decades outside without and issue.

 

[dustin92]

Not saying you should do it, but at our old house, we had a standard switch mounted outside to control the pool filter pump in summer and Christmas lights in winter, and never had an issue. Now it was in a plastic electrical box, properly grounded and I don't remember touching it while it was raining.

 

[perc-o-prince]

I should have been more specific.

I know about the PVC boxes, and part of this project has me running two of them for another purpose; one with a duplex outlet and one with a switch. Unfortunately they're not an option as they ARE big and ugly as stated, and would need to be mounted near the top of the pole.

I just did a little more investigating, and may have found something. The link is for one of the offerings- I'll investigate a better-quality one. I'm sure I can use a piece of gasket material to make up the difference where the pole curves a bit, but the hole I'd be drilling is only about 3/4" diameter.

Thoughts?

http://www.amazon.com/Amico-Position-Toggle-Switch-Waterproof/dp/B008TOXMXG/ref=pd_cp_hi_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1WJHFMX62J5E0QPEXVJJ#Ask

 

[artcurus]

Inside the house, seperate the lights from the switch you want to leave on all the time, running a seperate hot off that switch. Put the lawn lights on the second switch.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Thought of it- not an option because of how/where the wire's run. :-(