Is there a way to attach an outdoor wall-mount light to a wood post other than cutting out a pocket for an electrical box? If I were to drill a hole from the back of the post and run the wires through then attach the light to the post with long wood screws, am I creating a fire hazard? Looking to put up something like the model below on a few of the posts (8"x8" cedar).



[This message has been edited by 1208HawkTree (edited 7/17/2012 1:44a).]

surface mounted box and conduit.

Electrical connections are supposed to be made in metal boxes to help prevent any sort of fire caused by a spark, but I don't think most people that install these kind of lights hollow out the post for a box. You could drill a hole and use metal conduit and a large fender type washer on the face of the post to isolate the wood from the electrical connection if you wanted to be cautious.

I have some 2x2 slats left over from when the pergola was built and was thinking of making some small frames, attach those to the posts, and slip the boxes inside them. Have to find lights with square base plates, I guess.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_72470-53911-36115+C30_4294722500__?productId=3746921&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1

What about these? Says its for wall installations (most like this I've found specifically state for ceiling mounts).

Those baseplates on the lights are designed to be mounted to an electrical box, not stand alone.

You need to try and find a light that has the base plate built in.

Are you goinng to be able mount them so they are not head knockers?

Also, that round box is not for outdoor use. Find a PVC/plastic box.

[This message has been edited by agracer (edited 7/17/2012 1:06p).]

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Are you goinng to be able mount them so they are not head knockers?

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The more I look at the placement options and think about this, the more I agree with it. The brackets on each post are right where lights should go, so I think we are just going to put up fans with lights. Will make the install a lot simpler, but was trying to separate fans and lighting. May add some small low voltage lighting down the road.