Lamp Posts

[Viking]

If anyone replaced their lamp post and lantern, did you have to get an approval from The Villages (as long as it's not something strange and sticks out like a sore thumb)? Also, there doesn't appear to be a shutoff from the house, including the circuit breaker. A neighbor told me they were directly wired to The Villages (i.e. similar to the street light).

We wanted to replace the old post and lantern with a little more updated design.

[asianthree]

OUrs was blown out by a storm and our home watch person had it changed for a tidy sum. Then come to find out it would have been cheaper to call the warrenty dept and have their guy do it

[chuckinca]

There is a vendor at LSL market night (Tues & Thurs) that will furnish and install replacement yard lamp posts.


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[REDCART]

...Also, there doesn't appear to be a shutoff from the house, including the circuit breaker. A neighbor told me they were directly wired to The Villages (i.e. similar to the street light).

We wanted to replace the old post and lantern with a little more updated design.

It would be nice if it were true but unfortunately the lamposts are wired to each home, and you bear the cost. My lampost shares the same circuit as the irrigation system. I suspect their logic was that you would never turn off the circuit breaker for the irrigation system, which guarantees the owner will continue to light the lampost. Makes sense from their perspective.

[jane032657]

Well I always chime in when I have experience and well, when those dang blind mosquitos were around (I know, will I ever get over it?), I very much noticed they were all in the front of the house swarming; they were clinging to the light of the lamp post, inside and out. I could not shut that post lamp off for anything but I happen to have an electrician at the house. He disconnected something, I have no idea what, but we killed that light and the difference the next day was amazing, Still had some blind mosquitos in front but not the thousands I suffered with all week. So there is some way to kill it but I know it cost be under $100 to have it done and I wish I could tell you what he did. But for my piece of mind, it a miracle whatever he did. And lesson learned, for the few weeks those blind mosquitos are around, be romantic, turn off all the lights,save on your utility bill, and wake up without a million tiny crunch dead bugs in your doorway and walkway. A win/win!

[chuckinca]

Oh, you mean the chizzywinks.


Chironomidae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chironomidae)


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[jane032657]

Aqua Midges are what they actually called. Ugh.

[Bogie Shooter]

Replaced all the exterior lights. I called and was told AR approval was not required.

[zcaveman]

Well I always chime in when I have experience and well, when those dang blind mosquitos were around (I know, will I ever get over it?), I very much noticed they were all in the front of the house swarming; they were clinging to the light of the lamp post, inside and out. I could not shut that post lamp off for anything but I happen to have an electrician at the house. He disconnected something, I have no idea what, but we killed that light and the difference the next day was amazing, Still had some blind mosquitos in front but not the thousands I suffered with all week. So there is some way to kill it but I know it cost be under $100 to have it done and I wish I could tell you what he did. But for my piece of mind, it a miracle whatever he did. And lesson learned, for the few weeks those blind mosquitos are around, be romantic, turn off all the lights,save on your utility bill, and wake up without a million tiny crunch dead bugs in your doorway and walkway. A win/win!

Are you saying that the light on your lamp post no longer works?

[1978tbird]

"A neighbor told me they were directly wired to The Villages (i.e. similar to the street light). "

That would be nice - TV would pay the electric bill in that case, right? Our lamp post is on the same circuit breaker as the garage door opener and flipping the breaker is the only way to turn it off. (Had to replace the photo sensor a few weeks ago when the lamp quit working.) The only other way to "turn off" the bulb(s) is to loosen them in the socket(s).

[jane032657]

Yes I am saying happily that it no longer works. I am not sure what I have to do to reactivate but it makes a HUGE difference to not having bugs out front.

[REDCART]

Yes I am saying happily that it no longer works. I am not sure what I have to do to reactivate but it makes a HUGE difference to not having bugs out front.

Jane, No one likes paying for street lighting, something we usually take for granted as part of our property taxes. Can you imagine what TV would look like if everyone decided to turn off their lamppost? If you install a CFL bulb in your lamppost that consumes just 15W, you would be economizing and still be a good neighbor. It's really a small price to pay to maintain the quality of life we enjoy in TV.

[jane032657]

I do not mind paying for street lighting at all. It was the bug attraction that was the reason we turned it off as it was overwhelming. We are at the end of the street. When the bugs subside we are happy to turn it back on, but have not been back to do so. But when those bugs are invasive, it is the only solution. We are near the lake and it was more than overwhelming. You would have to see it to understand it. But we are happy to have it on, pay our bills, etc when there is not this intrusion of pests.
By the way, we live in a town of 1000 people outside of Seattle called Woodway. There are no street lights or traffic lights or any lights. It is awesome.

[zcaveman]

According to the Deed Restrictions you are supposed to have a lamp post. I guess they assumed that it would go on at night but it is not written that way.

I think that loosening the bulb would have been the way to go. Now it will take a service call to get the wiring reconnected.

[Viking]

Thanks to all who responded. I appreciate the comments. I'm just looking for someone to replace the post and lantern. I was told Townsend Electric works with The Villages Warranty Department. I've got a call into them and still waiting for a response....zzzzzz. On the power shutoff issue, I was concerned how the person doing the replacement can avoid an electric shock if I can't turn off the power to the lamp, although I don't believe there's that much juice to knock him on his....uhm, kiester.

[Bogie Shooter]

Thanks to all who responded. I appreciate the comments. I'm just looking for someone to replace the post and lantern. I was told Townsend Electric works with The Villages Warranty Department. I've got a call into them and still waiting for a response....zzzzzz. On the power shutoff issue, I was concerned how the person doing the replacement can avoid an electric shock if I can't turn off the power to the lamp, although I don't believe there's that much juice to knock him on his....uhm, kiester.

Turn off the breaker.

[zcaveman]

Lenhart advertises in the Daily Sun for lamp post maintenance. Try them.

And yes there is a circuit breaker to turn the lamp post off. Not sure which one it is but I did post it about two years ago.

[zcaveman]

On the power shutoff issue, I was concerned how the person doing the replacement can avoid an electric shock if I can't turn off the power to the lamp, although I don't believe there's that much juice to knock him on his....uhm, kiester.

Don't bet on it. 110 will kill you as dead as a door nail in the right situation.

I think I would let you test it first.