4" sch 40 light pole.. sonotube depth question

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well.. my wooden light pole is rotted at the base and I got a whole bunch 4" pipe ..plan12-15 foot high pole with baseplate3/4" anchors  drilled into the concrete of a 12" sonotube sonotube with the Bigfoot attachmentI'm wondering how deep of a hole for the sonotube would be safe  for this type of pole?this light pole is just an idea right now but it's something I'd like to do.. to heavy duty for a street pole?any information or opinions would be great.. ty in advance
Reply:Just a guess 4'?  That's what I would want on a 15' pole. Instead of drilling in concrete why not use anchors poured in. I don't like drilling. Good luck.
Reply:I did mine with 3'' schedule 40. I welded a standard flange to a 48'' long piece , augered a 8'' hole , stuck in hole, level ,and poured in concrete. Then made up another piece with flange and bolted together. Ran direct burial cable inside pipe. Still standing fine, 30 years later .
Reply:that idea was suggested to me and I remembered when I read your post... to lay the base plate on the sonotube and put my anchors into the wet concrete that way.. weld the base plate edit:that's a great idea too... was the augered hole 8" x 48" deep? also.. wondering how you change the bulb without cross threading it from the groundthat's for your time to post's... just getting ideas nowLast edited by then3wguy; 08-02-2015 at 08:50 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by then3wguythat idea was suggested to me and I remembered when I read your post... to lay the base plate on the sonotube and put my anchors into the wet concrete that way.. weld the base plate edit:that's a great idea too... was the augered hole 8" x 48" deep? also.. wondering how you change the bulb without cross threading it from the groundthat's for your time to post's... just getting ideas now
Reply:Put pole steps on it. Those typical concrete J bolts are cheap enough for that."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:If you're doing a sono tube, use j bolts instead of the wedge anchors. With your 12" sono tube I'd shoot for 3 feet or so, you could probably get away with 2 feet of depth if it's surrounded with compacted soil afterwards.Thermal arc 211iCk flex-loc 150 & 130Clamps, saws & grindersHarbor freight 80 amp inverter
Reply:At least put your pole below the frost line so it won't jack it's self out of the ground.  Maybe there is no frost line where you live.Dan DManipulator Of Metal
Reply:Why bother with a sono tube and anchors? Get a pole 4' longer, and weld a 3/4 or 1" nipple just above ground level. Put a LB or weather tight box to connect your wire. Dig a 10-12" diameter hole and put the concrete about 6" below the grade.
Reply:Originally Posted by M J DWhy bother with a sono tube and anchors? Get a pole 4' longer, and weld a 3/4 or 1" nipple just above ground level. Put a LB or weather tight box to connect your wire. Dig a 10-12" diameter hole and put the concrete about 6" below the grade.
Reply:I worked for various sign companies for many years. While a lot of larger signs are installed with a baseplate and J bolts a lot of smaller and medium ones were direct imbed. As for rusting off,maybe in 50 years or more. It's a light pole, there really is no need to turn the simple into the elaborate.