Outdoor Lamp Post Symbol

The Outdoor Lamp Post schematic symbol. Standard-specific details are listed below where available.

Definition: The Outdoor Lamp Post symbol represents a freestanding exterior luminaire mounted on a vertical post — used in residential and commercial landscape wiring diagrams to indicate a yard light, lantern-style post light, or driveway lamp connected via a Hot and Neutral supply, typically on a 120 V AC branch circuit per NEC Article 410.

Also known as: lamp post, yard light, post light, lantern post, driveway light, street lamp (residential).

What the Outdoor Lamp Post symbol means

The Outdoor Lamp Post symbol denotes a fixed exterior luminaire installed on a vertical pole or post, typically 6–10 ft tall, used for driveway, garden path, or yard illumination. In a residential electrical or landscape wiring diagram, the symbol indicates the location and wiring connection of the post-mounted fixture on the site plan or circuit layout.

Lamp post circuits in North American residential wiring are governed by NEC Article 410 (Luminaires) and NEC 210.8(A) (GFCI requirements for outdoor receptacles). The fixture is fed by a 120 V AC branch circuit via underground cable (commonly UF-B or conduit) running from the main panel or a subpanel, with a Hot (black) and Neutral (white) conductor plus a ground (green or bare).

How to identify the Outdoor Lamp Post symbol

The outdoor lamp post symbol is drawn as a vertical line (representing the post) topped by a small lantern or circle shape (representing the light fixture head). In landscape and wiring plan views, the symbol may be a stylised post with a circular or rectangular lamp head at the top. Two connection terminals emerge from the base: Hot (line) and Neutral, corresponding to the underground supply cable entry point. On electrical plans drawn to NEC standards, the symbol is often accompanied by a circuit designation label (e.g. 'LP-1') and conduit/cable specification.

Function and usage boundary

The outdoor lamp post provides fixed exterior illumination from a standard 120 V AC branch circuit. The post houses the supply cable in a conduit or direct-burial cable run from a switch or photocell controller. The lamp head contains a lamp socket (E26 medium base, GU10, or LED module) and may include an integral photocell for dusk-to-dawn operation. Power consumed depends on the lamp type: incandescent 40–100 W, CFL 9–26 W, or LED 6–15 W for equivalent lumen output.

Standards: IEC vs ANSI

IEC 60617	IEC 60617 does not define a specific outdoor lamp post symbol; exterior luminaires are represented using the general IEC lighting fixture symbol (a circle with a crosshair or the luminaire rectangle) annotated with a 'post' or 'exterior' qualifier. Outdoor installation requirements follow IEC 60364-7-714 (outdoor lighting installations).
ANSI/IEEE 315	ANSI Y32.9 (IEEE 315A) defines standard electrical wiring symbols for building plans; the lamp post is typically shown as a stylised post-and-head symbol. NEC Article 410 governs outdoor luminaire installation in North America, requiring GFCI protection and appropriate weatherproof ratings (NEMA 3R or 4X enclosures, IP44 or higher).
Key difference	IEC and ANSI/NEMA wiring plan symbols for outdoor lamp posts differ stylistically but both represent a post-mounted exterior luminaire. IEC practice uses a general luminaire symbol with location annotation; ANSI/NEC architectural drawings use a recognised post-and-lamp-head glyph that is immediately identifiable on site plans.

The displayed SVG is the live editor implementation, not a licensed reproduction or certification of an IEC or IEEE database glyph. Verify the exact official entry and project edition before issuing work.

Logical terminals

Logical ID	Editor terminal name
hot	Hot
neutral	Neutral

Where the Outdoor Lamp Post symbol is used

Residential driveway lighting: post-mounted lanterns at driveway entry illuminating the approach
Landscape garden lighting: lamp posts along garden paths and perimeter fencing
Commercial parking lot perimeter: decorative post lights supplementing high-mast parking luminaires
Neighbourhood streetscape: HOA-managed post lights along public footpaths and communal areas
Building entrance illumination: post lights flanking front doors and walkways for security and aesthetics
Park and recreation areas: post-mounted luminaires on paved paths and picnic areas

Key facts

The outdoor lamp post symbol represents a post-mounted exterior luminaire on electrical wiring and landscape plans, indicating the fixture location and Hot/Neutral supply connections.
In North American practice, outdoor lamp post circuits are governed by NEC Article 410 (Luminaires) and require GFCI protection per NEC 210.8(A)(3) for outdoor receptacles and 210.8(A) general outdoor circuits.
Supply conductors to outdoor lamp posts are typically run as UF-B (Underground Feeder) direct-burial cable at minimum 24 in (600 mm) depth, or in PVC/RMC conduit at 12–18 in depth, per NEC Table 300.5.
The lamp post symbol has two terminals in wiring diagrams: Hot (line conductor) and Neutral, plus a ground conductor; terminal labels follow NEC wiring colour codes (black = Hot, white = Neutral, green/bare = Ground).
Outdoor lamp posts commonly use dusk-to-dawn photocells (built-in or plug-in) to automatically switch the fixture, eliminating the need for a separate manual switch.
LED retrofit lamps for outdoor post fixtures consume 6–15 W for 600–1500 lm output, replacing 60–100 W incandescent lamps and reducing branch circuit load significantly.
Outdoor lamp post fixtures must carry a weatherproof rating of at least IP44 (IEC 60529) or NEMA 3R (ANSI/NEMA 250) to be suitable for general outdoor exposure to rain and wind.

Frequently asked questions

What does the outdoor lamp post symbol look like in a wiring diagram?

The outdoor lamp post symbol is drawn as a vertical line (the post) topped by a small circle or lantern shape (the fixture head). On site plans and landscape electrical drawings it identifies the location of a freestanding post-mounted exterior light. Two wiring terminals at the base represent the Hot and Neutral supply conductors.

What does the outdoor lamp post symbol mean on an electrical plan?

The outdoor lamp post symbol on an electrical plan indicates the installation location of a post-mounted exterior luminaire fed by a 120 V AC (or 230 V AC) branch circuit. It tells the electrician or landscape installer where to route the underground supply cable and where to set the post in the ground.

What electrical standard governs outdoor lamp post wiring?

In North America, outdoor lamp post wiring is governed by NEC Article 410 (Luminaires, Lampholders, and Lamps) and NEC Article 300.5 (Underground Installations). GFCI protection is required per NEC 210.8. In IEC regions, IEC 60364-7-714 covers outdoor lighting installation requirements.

How deep does the cable to an outdoor lamp post need to be buried?

NEC Table 300.5 requires UF-B direct-burial cable to be buried at minimum 24 inches (600 mm) for residential installations. Cable in rigid metal conduit (RMC) or intermediate metal conduit (IMC) requires only 6 inches (150 mm) burial depth; cable in PVC conduit under a residential driveway requires 18 inches (450 mm).

Does an outdoor lamp post need GFCI protection?

Yes. NEC 210.8(A) requires GFCI protection for all 15 A and 20 A, 125 V receptacles installed outdoors in residential applications. While a lamp post without a receptacle may not be covered by 210.8(A) directly, best practice and many AHJs require GFCI protection for all outdoor branch circuits, and NEC 210.8(B)(1) extends this requirement to commercial outdoor installations.

What type of cable is used for an outdoor lamp post?

Underground Feeder (UF-B) cable is the most common direct-burial choice for residential outdoor lamp post wiring, rated for wet locations and direct soil burial per UL 493. Alternatively, THWN conductors in Schedule 40 PVC conduit or liquidtight flexible conduit are used where conduit is preferred for code compliance or future wire replaceability.

Related symbols

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