Having Problems? Let's see if we can help!

Dead receptacles in a few areas or lights out in a section of the house?
Turn off switches and unplug everything that is not working, then reset all the circuit breakers or GFCI receptacles (the plugs with the buttons in the center). Lights flickering or blinking? Turn off the circuit breaker and call us.

Lights flickering or blinking?
Turn off the circuit breaker and call us.

Lights and receptacles out in about half the house (more that 2 circuits)?
Problem is either the main circuit breaker or the utility company's loss of a power line to your building. The power company supplies (2) power lines to your home and the loss of one would cause only half the house to have power. Call LOCAL UTILITY and report part lights. The other possibility, main circuit breaker could have partially tripped. Try resetting the breaker, this might restore power. If not, call us.

Lights and receptacles receiving low power or bright lights (excessive voltage)?
This indicates an open neutral (white wire - return path). If the problem affects half the house, the utility could be the cause. Call LOCAL UTILITY and report flickering lights high voltage. If the problem is limited to a small area, a bad connection in one of the outlets is possibly the cause. Call us.

The heavy smell of plastic burning or the ozone smell of an electrical am?
SHUT OFF all breakers and call us.

A few receptacles out, refrigerator or freezer not working?
First, find a receptacle that has power and connect the refrigerator/freezer with an extension cord. Next, try resetting the circuit breakers and GFCI receptacles. Not working? Call us.

Radio have a buzzing sound?
The major cause of a hum in the AM radio signal to your radio is due to a light dimmer or fluorescent lighting. Try turning off all dimmers and fluorescent lights to see if the problem disappears. Next, turn off the circuit breakers (one at a time) and see if the hum goes away. (This will isolate the problem). Last, try the radio in another outlet away from the problem area. (The problem could be coming from outside). Can't locate the problem? Call us.

Please remember, we are here to help. Give us a call and we'll do our best to help you solve the problem or schedule a service call.

Southern California Utilities
Edison 800.611.1911
DWP 800.342.5397

Exterior Lighting We Make The Night Come Alive! Security and Safety

Common Types of Lighting
HID Commercial and large housing complexes
• Metal halide produces a very white light - great color & long life • High pressure sodium produces a pink/yellowish light - color of a street light, longest lamp life

Fluorescent General usage fro flood and pathway lighting
• Cool white lamp, produces a blue/green white light - office light
• Warm white, produces a pink/green light - pink, close to incandescent color

Halogen Residential applications
• Quartz, produces a white/yellowish light - great color with good detail

Incandescent Residential application
• Tungsten, produces a yellowish warm light - color of an ordinary light bulb

How they stack up
The color of light, amount of electricity consumed and how long the bulbs last are the important issues.
I am ranking these types of light from best to worst.

Residential Applications
Low voltage (12 volt) lighting (Incandescent or Quartz Halogen) is best for infrequent use and is the choice of the do-it-yourself homeowner. The light fixtures are made of plastic, aluminum, brass and copper and can be manufactured smaller and thus can hide discreetly into the foliage. High voltage (120 volt) lighting (Incandescent, Quartz Halogen and Fluorescent) is considered a permanent type of installation and offers the ability to produce more light that low voltage systems. These fixtures are generally larger and are offered in all materials. A conduit system is generally required.

Choosing the right fixture and lamp styles are sometimes confusing.
Let us help with the layout and placement in your yard.