DIY Outdoor Lighting and Outlet 

Direct burial tip. Sand over top of wire then run red danger tape and more sand. This way, when digging, the tape and sand help raise awareness to something they may cut into.

April, nice job, but I agree with one of the other posts. Also, a few small tips for you from an electrician.... First (and especially in places that have a colder climate and ground is susceptible to frost, at the very least, a small bed of sand above and below the UF cable you are running. A small rock or boney backfill can and will penetrate UF. For the cost of small PVC, we usually run PVC especially in the northeast. Next, when you payout your wire (Whether you are running Romex or UF, do not just pull it off the reel. "Walk Out" the cable by putting the end under something heavy and roll it hand over hand out as you walk as to roll the cable off itself. It will come off the reel perfectly straight and lay in the trench much better and pull through conduit better as well. (Also really helps if you are stapling up wire). Lastly, the weakest point in the install is at the base of the post. While I cannot say 100% because the video did not show it, a better method when you either cut the post or do the install is to leave a spot where the wire comes out so that the weight of the post is not sitting on the wire. Maybe you did that. Also, lots of sand at the base helps make sure that if the post moves, the wire has some give. 99% of the time, that is where the cable failure will be. Not trying to be critical of what you do, really just trying to help. I watch and enjoy a lot of your videos. I wish I working with wood came as easy to me as working with wire. Keep up the great work.

That pipe hammered under the path to make a tunnel for the wires is just BRILLIANT!!!! So much easier then trying to dig a tunnel and something I wish I knew about 20 years ago when trying to run a cable under my Gran's path! 😅👍👍

It's called a trenching shovel! 🤣 Good install. I like this.

Imagine having April as a personal friend to help! ❤

Pro tip, always put in conduit, makes it very easy for upgrades later.🍻

That shovel you trenched with is called a trenching shovel and it's intended purpose is to shovel trenches.

Good job April. Hope you're having a blessed Easter Sunday and I'll see you on your next video. Take care and GOD BLESS.

Started using the foam instead of concrete 3yrs ago. I can't imagine going back. The time and Labor saved is amazing.

As others are saying, locate, locate, locate. Also, I always use HDPE innerduct or PVC jacketed steel armored 12/2 cable for direct burial. Homeowners can pick up innerduct tails (tail ends of large reels that don't get used, but are too small to take back out in the field on a job) at industrial supply houses in cities. Worth the trip.

April, I bought one of those red shovels and it was marketed as a trenching shovel. Before college and university grad school I dug lots of holes. I loved it and now in 67 and pace myself. I used it for a French type drain and it worked great! Much continued success

Great project, thank you. I used that expanding foam for the first time last summer. Amazing. Total game changer. The post saver product is brilliant, thank you.

Hi, April. That was a great project. I did something similar after building a 12' x 16' pergola in my back yard and adding a 2-outlet weather protected GFCI outlet near the top of it so I could add some hidden remote controlled rope lighting behind crown molding. Additionally after my wife and I built a large pond next to the pergola, I wanted a 4-outlet above ground GFCI outlet box that is about 2 1/2 ft above ground and has some backlighting in it so that you could see the outlets at night if you need to unplug anything. Also in line with it, I connected it via and a weather proof quick shut-off switch next to the house to shut the power off to that outlet box with one click (just a safety feature I thought would be cool). Finally after digging somewhere between 18 - 24 inches deep to lay down the wire, I added a red-colored electrical wire warning strip (it says, "Warning: buried electrical wiring!" repeating these words along the entire length of the strip), that I laid on top of the sand that I surrounded the wire with before finally covering it all up in dirt. The reason I did this is because if someday when I either sell this house or I move onto happy hunting grounds and a new owner were to simply start digging anywhere I laid the wiring underground they will hopefully uncover the red warning strip before their digging tool touches the live wiring. Great also if you forgot where the wiring was laid ...... exactly..... and you or someone else starts digging along the wiring path. While all codes everywhere may not require it, it sure is a bit of a emotional saving feeling should that person discover live wire was buried somewhere in the back yard where they happen to be digging. Can't wait to see your next project.

Good to know even April gets roped into helping friends and family with projects!

Looks great, thank you! As others may have mentioned, you may not want a pointed post top at that height, as it is a hazard to anyone falling and being impaled. Similar to an exposed piece of rebar.

We used pressured water through a pipe to clear out under a sidewalk or other obstacles when building swimming pools in Florida. Quick and easy :)

Thanks April for showing us all how to do so many cool things!

very cool project!, this is something I have been wanting to do for several years to accommodate an outdoor fountain in my back yard... thank you!

I know this is rather old but I came here for the post design. Love your videos. A tip on the shovel: Instead of using it like a normal shovel with the handle angled 45 degrees toward your back, shove the handle forward so its about 45 degrees in front of you and the blade is standing straight up. Now you have a smooth surface to stand on top of the blade and can shove the blade into the ground with a simple jump on it. Now pull the handle back toward you and remove the whole plug of dirt at once.

This turned out very unique and very well and I will most definitely be doing this. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend. Keep Making. God Bless.

The narrow shovel is called a trench spade or sharpshooter and is designed and intended exactly for narrow trenches as you used it for. Good show.

What perfect timing! I'm currently in the stages of planning our backyard landscaping (we've been with a dirt lot for too long) and this was something I was looking for on how to do! Thanks and great video as always.

Incredible work April Wilkerson it's really beautiful.

Nice outdoor lamp project April, been watching your vids for a while and you are an inspiration to all aspiring woodworking newbee like me..you have a new fan here from Philippines, take care👍👍👍❤❤❤

The trenching shovel is awesome and first time I have seen one. I started to look closer at it and am going to weld one up with some angle iron and steel tube I have. Thanks for sharing and I really like all you do.

The first episode of "assembly required" aired here in the UK. You came across very well, relaxed in front of the camera, maybe all the hours on RU-vid you have completed.

Just finished doing the trench today. By hand 18” deep 120’ through the yard. Came across a lot of these same obstacles. Cheers!

April - Love your 216 (Cleveland) t-shirt! Also, I used the 2-part "concrete" about 5 years ago, and it's as solid as Quickrete, but faster. It doesn't need water, so I think it's used for places where water is not easily accessible.

Bought the fraction to decimal chart last summer and it has been a real time saver.

A lot of the time you can hook a water hose up to a pvc pipe and the flowing water will push the dirt away and make it move and you'll be able to basically jab the pipe under ground. I've used this to run sprinklers under side walks and down short runs. Also that skinny shovel is for laying pipe in the ground for electric or irrigation so perfect use. Tends to be my favorite shovel for alot of jobs. Precision.

Cant get enough of your videos! So cool!...You're very special!!

Great to see a normal job April. Fab work 🤩

Hi April, Nice video. Happy Easter to you and the family and you all stay safe.

Depending on your soil condition a flat spade can be used to cut a slot in the ground that you push the direct burial cable to the bottom of. I used this method to run power to back yard shed.

You seriously motivate me to complete so many tasks that need done. I think I will start tomorrow with my new mailbox-post!! Gonna see if I can find that foam at ace hardware!

Seriously, great job, very nice tutorial & thanks for the foam tip, haven’t seen that before!

Great video April. My wife and I are planning to build a shed on our property and we were wanting to at least have a light in it. A lot of great tips here that will definitely be useful for us when we come to putting up our shed.

As expected, this job got the immediate attention of every sparky! Small wonder, as we spend far too much time fixing DIY short cuts. My first comment: Forget about “meeting” code. Experience has a aught me “code” often isn’t enough. I like pipe. For burial, PVC, buried two feet deep, Makes it deeper than a casual shovel bite. Using pipe let’s you replace the wire later, if there are problems. I hate digging twice! Use primer to mAke sure the pvc glue holds strong. GFCI protect at the house end; that way you’ll know what f the wire run is damaged. All GFCI’s need to be outdoor rated / corrosion resistant. Look for “WR” on the device.

Good job April, very good information and easy to follow. Thanks for sharing with us. Fred.👍👍👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Cute! Thank you. Always enjoy your videos.

The pipe trick is brilliant. I have not seen that before and I love it

She is absolutely the best & one of a kind

Another video explaining a little more about how you made the post would be awesome I’m actually gonna be doing something like this when I get back from working out of state and wood working ain’t my best but I’d love to replicate this. Totally awesome!

Know this is an older video but didn’t catch anyone mention this. To get under the side walk, if you want to avoid the mess water creates and the beating a pipe. Goto the electrical aisle and buy a flex bit. They are long enough to get across sidewalks and drilling it will have you done in seconds. You can then pull a piece of conduit back (best) or just the cable (likely get tore out if replace sidewalk). A lot of times you can find this for cheap 2nd hand and they come in useful if ever running wires inside as well.

Whoa I really liked that fence post mix foam. Too cool!

Great work on the outdoor lighting and outlet April! Thanks for sharing the video with us!💖👌👍😎JP

That post is the perfect height to top with a combination bird feeder / cat feeder.

Nice job. The simplest ideas are usually the best

Wow, awesome box. You’ve given me some ideas!

refreshing to see an American 🇺🇸 handy woman

Just awesome! Simple back splitting, calorie burning pleasure! Thank-you. -- Woodprobie

Neat project. Thanks for the tip on the post foam. Love the (216) T-shirt! Greetings from Northeast Ohio!

Excellent idea 👌🏼 This helped me make my own using 1x8x8 red cedar to make an almost perfect 8 inch square post sleeve. Turned out to be 8 & a 1/8 inch, I’m hoping the 8 inch topper from Amazon will fit. The larger post sleeve allowed me to mount & hide my Philips Hue transformer for my landscape lights. The sika post fix was super easy to use as well, I only used a little so I didn’t have to cut off the excess. Thank you!

very helpful and useful video. Many thanks April!

Love April’s videos. Great info!

Just ran a cable to my shed. The rules here in Australia apparently include 500mm trench, conduit with a orange plastic tape on top warning of power line. Would also recommend some indicator above ground to warn late comers of power along path because I would be tempted to install a garden bed along said path.Great build by the way, like the post and will be looking for the foam for small retaining wall project coming up.

Very informative. Thank you. A change from the shop videos which is nice (not that I don't really like your vids in the shop, all your videos are awesome). In life, change is good and, at times, needed. Keep the videos coming young lady. I always look forward to the next one.

This video is wonderful as I know so many would love to have a light in their yard. . . I know I WOULD. :)

Down in the 'sand hills' of So. Tx. I have seen digging with a combo of a power washer and an industrial vac on a trailer --- a 2 ft. by 3 ft. by 15ft. cutting thru thumb size roots and under a sidewalk took less than an hour ---

Great show. Thank you. That small spade with the long handle is ( *I believe is a telegraph shovel* ).?? for putting in long post, telephone poles, etc.

Glad I found your channel. I’ve got to get power from the house to a lake fed irrigation pump for a sprinkler system. Straight shot, nothing but 100 feet of grass and pine tree roots. My OCD will make me run the romex thru schedule 80. Instead of bothering you, I’ll find someone I can buy off with pizza and beer to get the pump and timer wired correctly.

Great job looks nice should last a long time. HAVE A HAPPY EASTER 🐣. THANKS 😊!!

Cool, the horizontal "hydro drill" works well in Florida, with our sandy geology, not so much with a denser dirt. Im glad to see the "hammer drill" worked well for you.

Thank you April. I need to do this too.

All RU-vid's should be this good. Nice job.

Great video, this is exactly what I was planning to do in my back yard

The post over post design makes a lot of sense. Especially while adding electrical features. This project gives me an idea for my back fence flower planting area. Maybe some low voltage lights but in the post over post style. Most of the store bought lights for this application do not look as nice or homey. Besides you can custom make to any height desired. Take Care and God Bless

Looks great! UF rated wire is good stuff.

April I have adored you for years and always love your videos and somehow lost track of you but doing a recent online search I again found you on this video and subscribed again for future videos . Great job on this smaller project as I said I have watched before so I know you have done many Big jobs. I like this project so much I may look for this light to add to my outdoor outlet for a nice decorative touch . Laterz Cyber friend - Leland

Bravissima, bella idea per una colonnina per l'illuminazione ed una presa elettrica, molto utile per il giardino di casa. Ciao

Love your stuff April, but any video at all about digging in a yard to run wire or hosing should include the advice "Make sure you've contacted your local power company to make sure no wire already runs through that area." It's not always applicable, but is always a safe option and a good idea. Love the cute post though!

Awesome job April! 😃👍🏻👊🏻

Love the 216 shirt!

Beautiful

When burying you should do something to indicate the live power, there is a tape that serves as a warning. Sand is also an option. You don’t want someone “finding” the wire in 10 years when doing the sprinklers or planting a tree.

Wow looks awesome

Hello, I did a similar trench, but ran #2 Aluminum wire to a shed. Trench was about 55' and again, 12" deep, but used a post hole digger all the way due to lots of gravel and clay in the earth. Had an electrician install and connect a box in the shed to allow me to run a generator when needed. I am adding the lights and receptacles to shed myself (it is a new shed). Thanks for your video. I will tackle running power from house to fountain and/or pond.

Awesome DIY project. I love that "YUUUT" you gave at 7:53. :)

Love from calgary Alberta, awesome job!!!

Very nice April love it !!!♡♡

Getting it done! Great work. Sometime I enjoy getting out of the shop and getting my hands dirty as well.

Your parents must be proud! I know I would be! Your skills are rare. You did more work than many men could or would ever do.

Pressure washer def does the trick. Done it before.

Thx April, I need to change a bunch in my barn

Awesome project!

Looking good April. I wish we would have this foam here to buy.

Great ideas! And a lot of great new products I never heard of two. And you look mighty cute with a tool belt on. LOL

I hope you put a threaded plug on the top of the box mounted on the house. Also when back filling any trench, its a good idea to pack it, as you put the original material back in the trench. Nice job BTW.

Awesome April!!

love the idea, thank you

Enjoyed watching this great content thanks for sharing

nice little project

In France we would have to lay down some brightly colored safety netting over the wire before burial so that in the future someone digging will have some warning that there is an electrical wire down there. I am surprised Texas does not have the same reg?!

Nice loved this a lot

Excellent, always

I like the foam idea.

The narrow shovel is often used for irrigation spray heads. I’m Sure it’s used for lots of different jobs but that’s where I see them used.

Useful information, thank you !!!!

Looks good.... it's so "CUTE" !!! 😁

I welded a coring bit to a length of pipe and attached a hammer drill to the other end. It too just a few minutes to bore under my walkway. You are right. Water boring is messy.