When organizing outdoor lighting, the nearest power line support (pole) or other suitable wooden structures are often used to mount the light fixture. To save on wiring and for convenient control, the switch is usually installed on the same support in its lower part.
To protect the outdoor switch from rain and snow, a suitable plastic can from motor oil can be used.
The can is cut at the neck at an angle of about 30°, and two holes for connecting bolts are drilled in its back wall. To prevent moisture from reaching the switch contacts through these holes, sealing rubber washers are fitted on the bolts between the cap and the mounting plate.
The mounting plate is made from a steel strip 2–4 mm thick. Holes for fixing screws are drilled at its ends, and two holes for the switch connecting bolts in the middle section. This section is then bent so that after the device is mounted on the support, the nuts can still be unscrewed without removing the plate. If the support is a round pole, the plate tails are bent in an arc.
1 — mounting plate (steel strip s2…4); 2 — cap (polyethylene can); 3 — household switch; 4 — connecting bolt M5 with washer (2 pcs.); 5 — lock nut with washer (2 pcs.); 6 — fixing nut with spring washer (2 pcs.); 7 — rubber washers
The de-energized break of the neutral wire is connected to the switch terminals. To prevent rain from running into the contacts, the cable is brought to the switch from below, with a drip loop of 150–200 mm left after the unit is installed.
To assemble the unit, connecting bolts are inserted from inside into the switch mounting holes and secured with nuts on the outside. Then, with large washers on the bolts, the switch is placed under the cap.
Rubber washers are fitted on the bolts on the outside, the bolts are inserted into the plate holes, and the assembly is tightened with nuts and spring washers.
To avoid accidental damage, the switch on the support should be mounted at least two meters above the ground.
In heavy rain or thick fog, for safety it is better to operate the switch with a dry wooden stick.
The same method used for the outdoor switch can also protect from rain, for example, an exposed outdoor doorbell button and the like.
«Modelist-Konstruktor» No. 8’2002, V. ZELENOV
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