[dexter80]

Good day,

I am trying to replace some outdoor "driveway lights." I removed 1 and I see an electrical junction box (if that's what it's called.) and the new lights I have are post lights and are made to go on top of a square post. It appears to solve this issue I need an adaptor. I've been to HD countless times with photos and I've searched online for hours and I can't seem to find what I need to mount this light on my existing setup.

Photos attached.

 

[Kevin_Essiambre]

I believe you need something like this.

I'm not sure of the size this one is, but I found this one by Google "square post light base mount"

Moving the words around may get you better results.

Sent from my new phone. Autocorrect may have changed stuff.

 

[Sparkyb60]

Z - lite carries an adapter. $$$

 

[Missouri Bound]

Ok, I'll ask.
Why would you buy a light designed to fit a post when you don't have a post?
If you really want those lights, build up the stonework to fit the base of the lamp. Any adapter you find probably won't look right. A course of brick cut to fit the base will give you ample room for wiring.
All you have to do is make it water proof? It doesn't look to be that big of deal if you improvise a bit.

 

[Wiredindallas]

To understand, your new light has a square base? Usually post lights go on a round post.

 

[dexter80]

To understand, your new light has a square base? Usually post lights go on a round post.

Yes, square base. I also found that weird as when I started hitting up the big box stores every post light they sell is round base. I did not purchase this, my wife purchased for me online. Now I'm having to become McGyver to install it. I'm perfectly happy ditching these to get a round base model but I"m back to the question of how to attach ANY light to replace the old ones?? I can't find an adapter from that junction box to square light that I have or a round one I could purchase. I also cannot seem to find lights that are just like I took out (i.e. ones that have screw holes that go directly to the junction box.

 

[dexter80]

Ok, I'll ask.
Why would you buy a light designed to fit a post when you don't have a post?
If you really want those lights, build up the stonework to fit the base of the lamp. Any adapter you find probably won't look right. A course of brick cut to fit the base will give you ample room for wiring.
All you have to do is make it water proof? It doesn't look to be that big of deal if you improvise a bit.

Yes, that might be the best option.

One would think that what I have is a common thing - but I'm finding it's not. I cannot seem to find an adapter from the junction box to the square (wife purchased and told me to install) or round ones (what are commonly sold at HD). I'm even fine going back to purchase lights to exactly replicate how the old ones were installed but that's also a dead end (for me).

 

[longdrive]

Usually the base cover slides. Couldn't you screw the base cover to the square base of fixture and just anchor it the same way the old ones were?

 

[Missouri Bound]

One would think that what I have is a common thing - but I'm finding it's not..

You are absolutely right about that. There are very few rules for the designers.
As long as it is UL listed they can make just about anything they want.
Very often fixtures are designed for a specific project then it gets mass produced because of it's appeal.
I think that you will have more success changing your structure than trying to find any adapter.

 

[rjniles]

Screw it down to the brick with tapcons.

 

[lenaitch]

Screw it down to the brick with tapcons.

And caulk it well, but it seems his problem is the square protrusion won't fit into the octo box.

 

[rjniles]

And caulk it well, but it seems his problem is the square protrusion won't fit into the octo box.

Cut a piece of cellular PVC a little larger that the base of the fixture. Cut a square hole it that to fit the smaller square protrusion. Paint the PVC black.

 

[diyorpay]

The correct design would be to have a square electrical box sticking up out of the brick platform a few inches, like a wood post would do. Then light post stand would set over that and be secured. Water would run off and away, like in a skylight design. Anything else will be a McGyver/Rube Goldberg solution.

If an adapter exists that secures to the electrical box, it might best be found on the light manufacturer's site or lighting store.

If you do what rjniles suggests, use some kind of edge strips with a slot in them and slide onto the 4 sides of bottom, then with some silicone to keep out wet and damp.

However, we can see the 'shadow' of where the old light sat. You say it had 'screw holes that go directly into the junction box'. Why not drill your own holes in the base that align with the screw holes?

Using a wallboard installer trick, put 2 junction box screws in box sticking up. Put a glob of lipstick on top of each. Carefully lower light exactly where it goes and hit tops of screws. Measure real distance between box holes to verify your distance with lipstick dots are the same. Drill holes from underside of base on the dots. Use a Drill bit just wide enough for screw to fit tightly. Using longer screws that also fit the junction box holes, do a dry run through light base. Cut screws to a proper length. Make your electrical connections. Reinsert into light base from top with rust resistant washers with a rubber one on the bottom. If ugly or uglier than those of original light, perhaps caps that snap on the washers like when seating a toilet?

 

[Sparkyb60]

I have a part number that should solve your problem. Z-lite sqpm-orb