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FAQ - Idaho Falls ELECTRICIAN (208) 540-2212

Blackfoot Low Voltage Tips & FAQ

These are the most common electrical questions asked by our clients in the Idaho Falls, Blackfoot, Rexburg area. Contact us today at (208) 540-2212 so that we can discuss your electrical needs, since each electrical configuration and design is different we will study your case and provide an array of options.

Do you have to be licensed and are you?

Anyone hired to do electrical work on your property requires a license, even low voltage electricians. We are fully licensed and insured. It's just as important to be insured as it is to be licensed, because not every accident incurred is covered by a homeowners policy and a mistake could get costly. Most importantly, though, we constantly train our experienced staff and strive safety first, so we tend to just avoid mistakes.

Can I do my own simple wiring?

In most areas, you can, but in some places you cannot. You need to check with your local zoning board or electrical inspector if you are unsure. You also better be sure you know what you are doing. A simple mistake, even with low voltage wiring, can be very costly in the long run. At the very least, consult with an electrician.

I bought a new home theater system. It's state of the art. Has a manual. Why shouldn't I just read it and install it myself?

First off, if you bought a new home theater system, you spent a good deal of money on high tech equipment that you likely want to use for a long time. So the short answer comes in the form of a few questions. Why wouldn't you want to spend a few dollars more to make sure it's properly installed? Why would you risk such a sizable investment to save a couple dollars? When you hire an expert to install your home theater, you can rest assured it will be installed and work properly. You're simply protecting his investment.

How do I find a good electrician?

As they used to say in school, do some homework. Ask for references. Make sure they are licensed and insured. Ask all questions before you contract them. Also, it's smart to get at least three bids to make sure the company isn't charging too much or too little. Either one could be a problem. Too high, you're getting soaked, too low, you might get soaked a lot more when the job goes sour.

Tips

While with most projects involving electricity, even low voltage electricity, require the hands of an experienced technician, some small problems can be handled by the homeowner. We've listed a few tips to help you if you want to try and tackle that small problem on your own. If you don't, or the problem is too complex, feel free to contact us. We're here, we're ready and able to help. We look forward to hearing from you.

* Never start any electrical project with your power being live. Always, always shut off the power at the source, no matter how small you think the job might be or how experienced you think you are. Working with live electricity can have devastating effects. Shut off the breaker or fuse that controls the circuit you're going to be working on, then you can do the work you need to do.

* Land phone lines can have many problems, if the problem is caused somewhere before the gray box attached to your house, then it's the phone company's problem, but if the problem exists beyond the box coming into your house and you don't have insurance from the phone company, it's your problem. Some simple problems are easy to fix. Buzzing in the line can be caused by faulty wiring, check the wires to make sure they are properly color coded. Static could mean wires are loose or moist. Check inside the phone for moisture and for a loose connection. If you have no sound at all, the power could be unplugged. If it's something more than this or something you can easily identify, you likely need to contact a professional for help.

* So what is low voltage power? Low voltage power is 30 volts or less. So any piece of electronic equipment that runs off of that amount of power is considered low voltage, be it a doorbell, a thermostat or a phone. How is it your 120 volt supply doesn't overpower your 30 volt equipment? That is because a low voltage transformer is transforming the power. Usually transformers are mounted on your junction box. Often, especially when installing outdoor lights for example, you will need to make sure your power supply has a low voltage transformer. You can by them at most hardware stores, they're easy to install and come with directions. If not, we're here to help.