[m_ridzon]

I was visiting someone else's house today. Along the long driveway, they had dozens of light poles. At each one, I noticed submerged boxes (see attached pics). What are these boxes and what's their purpose? The only one missing a box, was the last one nearest the road. Why would that one not have a box?

I also noticed a few had protruding receptacles near them (see pics). I've never seen this typing of box tubing used to protrude from the ground for a receptacle. What type of tubing is this?

 

[jmon]

just guesses;

The small green boxes could be some type of underground utility like a phone or cable line. Or maybe for the lamps?? idk.

The outside outlets could be for decorations like Christmas lights, etc. tubing for outside outlets is code. everything needs to be water tight.

You could just simply ask your friend you visited and they would be able to tell you exactly what they are.

 

[m_ridzon]

just guesses;

The small green boxes could be some type of underground utility like a phone or cable line. Or maybe for the lamps?? idk.

I'm doubtful they were for utilities. Each of the light poles had one located right beside it (except one nearest the road). I'm pretty sure they were somehow affiliated with the pole lighting, as opposed to an underground utility. Granted, I could be wrong though.

The outside outlets could be for decorations like Christmas lights, etc. tubing for outside outlets is code. everything needs to be water tight.

Makes sense. Thx!

You could just simply ask your friend you visited and they would be able to tell you exactly what they are.

Unfortunately, it wasn't a friend. It was a home for sale. So my wife and I scoped the real estate for a couple minutes to see this secluded beauty. While there, I noticed these things and was curious. Since we were only scoping and not a potential buyer, it would have been awkward to present my questions.

 

[zhawkeye]

I'm with the others...don't really know...but I would've popped one of the covers for a quick look...

 

[Oso954]

You would most likely find 3 UG conduit stubs in them. One from the house or previous box, one to next box, and one to the light.

Those are pull/junction boxes.

You can get them with labeled covers. Electric, water, irrigation, phone, etc.

 

[m_ridzon]

You would most likely find 3 UG conduit stubs in them. One from the house or previous box, one to next box, and one to the light.

Those are pull/junction boxes.

You can get them with labeled covers. Electric, water, irrigation, phone, etc.

I thought this might be the case. But then I wondered why the installer would not just tie the lines together in the light itself (or its base).

 

[Nealtw]

That box is often used for a sprinkler system, but it could be any thing.

 

[Oso954]

There are a number of different reasons.
One example would be you want to pour the lamp post bases while you have concrete on site vs mixing it or trucking it in later. You just have to install a sweep up thru the form and pour the post base.

Later, the electrician comes in and completes the conduit/wiring/post setting. It's a lot easier to make multiple shorter pulls of wire into and out of the boxes vs longer pulls and more bends going from post to post. Yes, it costs more in materials to do it as shown, but your labor costs are often reduced.

It's also a lot easier to work on later if something goes wrong. You don't have to remove the posts to make a pull from post to post, or fight the pull thru a 3x4 access hole in the post. If you need to replace the run to the post, it's simple to do on that short run even with 180 degrees of bend. If you kept the main conduit run in the same place, you would have a long run with 360 degrees of bend between posts.

Sometimes you use an offset run of conduit so you are not damaging tree or bush roots by running a trencher directly from post to post.

Most of your connections are in those boxes. They are easy to get to/trouble shoot/work on.

 

[cuba_pete]

“Handholes” in code parlance.

 

[m_ridzon]

If the installer used direct burial cable, and laid it 24" subsurface, do these boxes provide any real advantage, other than a convenient open box to splice the runs together? With direct burial, I don't see how a person could pull anything between these boxes, in a repair job.

 

[Amped_up]

If the installer used direct burial cable, and laid it 24" subsurface, do these boxes provide any real advantage, other than a convenient open box to splice the runs together? With direct burial, I don't see how a person could pull anything between these boxes, in a repair job.

In this situation most likely the contractor ran conduit from the source to the quazite boxes and from the boxes to each light as someone else mentioned.
If UF-B cable was used then no, the boxes would not provide any real advantage.