Having the assurance that your home has power and air conditioning in the time of a national emergency is equivalent in value to a home insurance policy. It is an indemnity of your family’s safety, peace of mind, and personal lifestyle.
Hurricane Ike caused 2.4 million people along the entire Texas Gulf Coast, and especially in the Houston area, to lose electrical power. Consequently, emergency power generators have been a highly sought after commodity in almost every community across the region. Emergency generators are being sold throughout Houston in almost every appliance store, home improvement center, and local hardware store. The news media has done a good job of warning people of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to safely install a generator outside their home or garage.
Due to the severity and size of this storm, little time has been devoted to explaining how to select a home generator or what or what size would meet their electrical needs. People are confused and uninformed as to what fuel source and capacity to look for in an emergency power source. It is critical that you make certain that your emergency generator’s capacity is not being exceeded by its current usage. As a service to all of Houston, ILD is offering service calls to check your portable generator setup and make sure its operable, safe and reliable.
Why would I need a service call if my generator is working fine?
We recommend that you have a professional double check portable home emergency generator to make sure it has not been overloaded. Consumer generators will only handle so much electrical load pulled from appliances loads such as your fridge, freezer and selected light circuits. Running extension cords through open windows and doors and plugging too many appliances into multiple power outlets may create an unstable situation. Our professionals can quickly spot and remedy this if this proves to be the case.
Do I need to buy a new generator now?
No. Making plans for emergency power takes time, planning, and careful consideration. Accidents happen when plans are rushed, not to mention added expenses and emotional hardships. Looking ahead to the next power outage, we can help you determine which commercial-grade unit will safely power your home in the event of an emergency.
What should I invest in for the future?
Ideally, you should plan for a future investment in a permanently installed generator that will connect to your home’s circuit panel. Just as a sprinkler system begins with the water meter, electricity in the home begins with the panel. Many ILD customers who made this investment in our specialized electrical services prior to Ike have found it a Godsend during this current crisis.
We can help you start now at the same time we maximize your current portable generator’s usage.
This size of the generator we recommend will ultimately be determined by the number of appliances and home systems you intend to power with the unit. Emergency generators rated at the commercial-grade level that are professionally wired to the home’s circuit panel are a much safer and more reliable source of emergency power for Houston homeowner’s. Installing such a generator by yourself is not recommended. It will take a professional, licensed electrical service technician to correctly install a permanent generator for emergency power and home lighting controls.
What will ILD do to help me plan for the future?
Before recommending a generator, ILD electricians isolate critical circuits to major home systems and appliances, and they determine any potential hazards in new home wiring design. This is for good reason. If your home wiring was not initially designed to handle a specific electrical load, hooking up a generator prematurely could blow a fuse or destroy an appliance. If we identify a potential problem area, we can easily implement a provisional wiring scheme that will safely route power to vital home systems such as the air conditioner, home automation devices, and security systems. If necessary, we will install dedicated circuits to essential home appliances such as computers, televisions, and refrigerator/freezers. A commercial-grade generator will be able to then deliver specific loads of power to each of these areas that have been calculated in advance to ensure both safe operation and continued emergency power performance throughout the remainder of this crisis. With the proactive service of advanced electrical home wiring by Illuminations Lighting and Design, you and your family will be prepared for the next hurricane, tropical storm, or local blackout.
Can you install my current portable generator at my service panel?
It is most likely that we will recommend something larger than the standard 5600 Watt gasoline-powered generators that many people have installed on their back porches. We recommend as well an alternative source of fuel besides gasoline power (which remains in short supply throughout much of Houston.)
Generators that run on diesel and natural gas will soon be available through ILD, so both the service and the products you need can be quickly obtained by a phone call to our office. Our phone lines are working and operators are standing by to get your home’s emergency power management plan implemented and underway as soon as possible. Call toll free 800-863-1184 or locally 713-863-1133 to lean more about Houston home construction and how an emergency backup generator can benefit you!
Illuminations Lighting Design is a full service design build firm specializing in residential and commercial indoor lighting and outdoor lighting, electrical service and maintenance as well as home automation, home theaters, emergency generators, surge protection systems, phone systems and lighting control systems.
We are located in Houston Texas but provide lighting and design services in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.Labels: Electrical home back up generators, Emergency Power Generators, Houston Electrical Contractor, Houston Home Construction
Why is whole house surge suppression the very best safeguard against the hazards of transient surge?
Because technology has evolved to the point that virtually every electronic device in today’s home contains a printed circuit board like the type found in computers. Professionally installed whole house surge suppression is the only reliable safeguard against catastrophic equipment failure. Whole house surge suppressors also safeguard against fluctuations of power in rural areas known as “dirty power.” These fluctuations occur due to long distances between small communities and generating stations, and they will often wreck havoc on kitchen lighting systems, satellite dishes, kitchen appliances, home audio automation, and of course, computers.
Many people remain unaware of these hazards, believing that retail power strips traditionally used to shield computers and printers are all that is required to protect sophisticated electronics. This is a dangerous myth to place faith in, because in today’s world virtually every subsystem coming from the service provider is a potential threat that requires whole house surge suppression to counter.
Can I install a whole house surge suppressor myself?
You can but, we do not recommend this. These devices are difficult for the self-trained electrician to correctly install — and almost impossible for the novice. It is better to invest in the services of a certified electrical contractor such as ILD who has the training and experience required to choose the right device and to configure it for optimal home protection. This brings home electrical generators, commercial grade service and technology to the residential environment in the safest and most affordable fashion when one considers the long term benefits that result.
Illuminations Lighting Design offers the best whole house surge suppression technology combined with over 20 years of training and experience.
Exactly what does whole house surge suppression protect?
The most important thing it protects is the electrical panel itself that controls and modulates the distribution of power into the house. Many homeowners are surprised when they learn that newer electrical service panels also contain printed circuit boards just like computers. If the voltage spike of a transient power surge reaches a panel, the panel itself can burn out and thus destroy devices and systems throughout the home.
Illuminations Lighting and Design can minimize the likelihood of catastrophic power loss with sophisticated whole house surge suppressors engineered to block transient surge from dirty power and lighting. Our typical size whole house surge suppressor has been will block fluctuations of up to 300,000A and is only 50% the size of equivalent devices.
Larger and smaller units are also available based upon the size of the panel and the total capacitance of the new home wiring systems and installed components. Most people in larger homes now have up to four televisions and one wall-sized plasma TV. We often enter such dwellings to find that the plasma TV is plugged directly into the wall—and therefore waiting to be the first device destroyed without effective whole house surge suppression to protect it. Other home automation systems like security alarms, satellite dishes, and telephones also must be protected with a low voltage surge suppressor for each component.
Whole house surge suppression is not only necessary, but mission critical for any homeowner using home automation or home theater equipment.
Home automation devices are in actuality sophisticated electrical subsystems operating within the homes overall electrical system. Calculating the precise level of whole house surge suppression needed to safeguard everything from electronic equipment to lighting control programming requires not only certified electricians, but also a team like Illuminations Lighting and Design with an entire division and successful track record in the discipline of home automation itself.
Illuminations Lighting and Design not only installs whole house surge suppressors, but we can also perform any electrical upgrades relevant to safety and industry evolution.
As a multi-specialist consulting firm blending the technical and the aesthetic, we strive to be all things to all residential clients with a level of commercial sophistication that makes us the leader in multiple disciplines throughout Houston and Greater Texas.
Contact us, visit our lighting blog or call us at 800-863-1184 to learn more about Phantom Lighting, whole house surge protectors, advanced electrical installations and home automation services.
Labels: Emergency Power Generators, Houston Electrical Contractor, Lighting and Home Automation, Whole House Surge Protection
Wiring a modern home takes careful thought and planning. Some of today's residences range from 1,500 square foot custom homes, to as much as 35,000 square feet on some mansions. Add to the growing size of homes the sheer diversity of electrical equipment that has arrived on the residential scene--such as home theaters, home automation systems, security systems and outdoor lighting--and you might as well be wiring a small commercial building! Gone are the days of providing a few extra circuits, looping the telephone wire from room to room, or installing simple dimmer controls. Today's electrical contractors must understand and manage a plethora of subsystems that include everything from emergency generators to lighting control systems. Where there were once traditional switches on the wall, you now find keypads and touch screens. Standby generators have become the norm, rather than the exception.
Illuminations Lighting Design is a licensed electrical contractor servicing the Houston area and numerous surrounding municipalities in the Texas Gulf Coast region. From new home wiring, service changes, and remodeling--to basic troubleshooting of electrical problems--Illuminations can handle all of your electrical contracting needs from start to finish.
For over 25 years, Illuminations Lighting Design has built and nurtured a reputation for unparalleled performance, reasonable rates and fast, friendly service in the demanding custom home market. Our experienced staff of design professionals and licensed electricians are dedicated to providing innovative electrical solutions that incorporate emerging technologies for both residential and commercial customers.Our full time master electrician oversees a staff of over thirty licensed electricians who ensure that all work is efficiently and safely laid out, and conforms to the National Electrical Code and all local codes. Each of our fine apprentice electricians are required to attend a four-year training program at the Independent Electrical Contractors School while gathering valuable experience on the job before taking the journeyman's exam. All journeymen electricians are required to attend periodic continuing education courses to keep them updated on electrical codes and new technologies.
Simply put, our staff is Illuminations Lighting Design's greatest asset. We are fortunate as an electrical contractor to employ and retain such a highly skilled workforce of craftsmen and mechanics who enjoy what they do. Working carefully and efficiently, they will treat your home with respect while ensuring the job gets done right. Their pride, persistence, quality and determination are the hallmark of Illuminations Lighting Design's tradition. Our testimonials page offers proof of that fact.
Illuminations Lighting Design is a full service electrical company. We take great pride in our ability to help customers solve their electrical problems and meet their personal objectives. Whether that service comes in the form of assistance from Illuminations management team, supervisors, or any of our 50 plus employees, Illuminations Lighting Design is ready to help you meet your goals. Call 713-863-1133 to inquire about our quality lighting and electrical services.
Labels: Electrical contractor Houston Texas, Emergency Power Generators, Exterior Lighting Contractor, Houston Residential Electrical Contractors, Residential Electrician, Specialty Lighting Contractor
When facing any kind of electrical work, one must also face the potential hazards both to safety and property that go with it. Today's new homes often feature architecture that makes even the simplest work on electrical panels and wiring more complicated than it should be. Trying to work on an electrical issue or remodel yourself can often result in unforeseen damage to the structure of your home, and it can also result in electrocution or fire if you overlook one small detail. For these reasons, Illuminations Lighting and Design has developed a systematic approach to electrical work that not only involves troubleshooting and fixing basic problems, but also brings increased comfort, safety, and even higher resale value to your home!
People throughout Texas, and especially the greater Houston area, come to us any time they need electrical work that revolves around new lighting fixtures and schemes. As a vendor of lights and lighting equipment of all kinds, we can not only handle the wiring requirements of your electrical work, but we can also help you acquire virtually any device necessary to illuminate your home, garden, or patio. This is important when you consider that electrical work requires more than simply knowledge of electricity and wiring. It requires knowledge of how basic components integrate into specialty lighting fixtures for ceilings, patios, walls, and outdoor lighting. If you are looking to add chandeliers or a chandelier lift to your decorum, consider how we can benefit you not only from the perspective of professional work in full compliance with electrical safety and quality regulations, but also from the many designs we can implement to add style and comfort to your living room, den, or even kitchen and bathroom.
Homeowners looking to sell their homes should consider contracting basic electrical upgrade work prior to listing the house on the market. Sometimes even the simplest of additions can add several thousand dollars to a home's list price, and it goes without saying that homes perceived as top-quality and highly safe will sell faster than those with questionable value. For such clients, we offer electrical work as a comprehensive resale value package that will immediately attract a buyer. Every home, (whether being sold or not,) should have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) installed as safety features. A GFCI protects human life the same way a circuit breaker or fuse protects the circuit panel. If a wire gets wet or frayed and the current suddenly spikes, the GFCI will sense the upsurge and shut down the circuit, thus minimizing the treat of electrocution. Imagine how the value of your house will rise from this one simple element of electrical work! We don't have to stop there, however. If you are really serious about electrical work that brings you the highest return on investment, then consider adding a generator and emergency lighting system to the property. Potential buyers will certainly be attracted to the extra security and convenience you are providing them, and they will be more inclined to meet your asking price at a faster rate than otherwise. Best of all, ILD can top off whatever electrical work you hire us to do by including the electrical inspection report for any home resale. We truly are a one-source solution shop for home sellers throughout Texas.
If you recently moved into a new home and have decided it is time to really celebrate with a new level of entertainment, call Illuminations Lighting and Design for any type of electrical work pertaining to home entertainment. We can install your cable TV wiring at affordable rates and eliminate the hassles people often encounter when they deal directly with cable TV providers. If you want to add new outlets in your home but are worried about phone company charges, call us instead. Our team of electrical specialists can work on phone lines as easily as circuit breakers; and we will time our visit to accommodate your schedule and your convenience - something big phone companies often cannot do for you. If you live in Central or North Texas and have decided to install a new 220V water heater, we can provide you both with the unit and do all the electrical work crucial to making it compliant with regulations and safety codes.
Electrical work will never be easier than it will be on the day you call Illuminations Lighting and Design to handle your next project and eliminate the and headaches of unforeseen dangers and damages that can easily result without professional certification and experience. Call 713-863-1133 and request a design consultation!
Labels: Advanced Electrical Installations, Emergency Power Generators, Houston Electrical Panel Upgrades, Houston Residential Electrical Contractors, Lighting and Home Automation
Illuminations Lighting Design located in Houston, Texas specializes in residential emergency generators for any size home. Our experienced Journeyman electricians, under strict supervision from our Master Electrican, can install and maintain any size whole house emergency generator from Onan.
Extreme weather conditions, construction mishaps, and many other unforeseen complications can interrupt the electrical power you and your family depend on to continue your daily activities. When electricity is lost - day or night - you can be assured that your home will have all the comfort and convenience you depend on from
Illuminations Lighting Design.
Clean, efficient, quiet, and neighborhood friendly, all Onan emergency generators run on either natural gas or propane. Since most homes in Texas have natural gas, this is the most popular and sensible solution. Why, because even under the worst possible conditions, natural gas is available usually without interruption. We can arrange for a professional plumber to make the necessary provisions to connect your new generator for a
turn-key solution.
Onan offers many models ranging from 11kw to 45kw residential emergency generators:
RS12000
Power Ratings: 60 Hz/9-11 kW
Weight: 575 lbs (261 kg)
Length: 45 in (1143 mm)
Width: 34 in (864 mm)
Height: 39 in (986 mm)
Sound Ratings: Less than 70 dB(A) at 23 ft (7 m), average
RS15000
Power Ratings: 60 Hz/14-16 kW
Weight: 1,213 lbs (550 kg)
Length: 58 in (1473 mm)
Width: 28 in (711 mm)
Height: 37 in (940 mm)
Sound Ratings: Less than 71 dB(A) at 23 ft (7 m), average
RS20000
Power Ratings: 60 Hz/20 kW
Weight: 1,135 lbs (515 kg)
Length: 64 in (1626 mm)
Width: 28 in (711 mm)
Height: 50 in (1270 mm)
Sound Ratings: Less than 71 dB(A) at 23 ft (7 m), average
RS45000
Power Ratings: 60 Hz/42-47 kW
Weight: 2668 lb (1160 kg) Natural Gas2752 lb (1197 kg) LP
Length: 101.5 in (2578 mm)
Width: 41.3 in (1049 mm)Height: 71.8 in (1824 mm)
Sound Ratings: Less than 66.3 dB(A) at 23 ft (7 m), average
Nothing is more important to your family's emergency needs than an automatic transfer switch to insure a safe orderly transfer from the power company to stand by emergency power. Onan makes a automatic transfer switch for all there emergency generators.
RST Automatic Transfer Panel
Power Ratings: 60, 100 or 200 Amp120/240V, 1 phase
Weight: Varies by model and enclosure type; see spec sheet for details
Dimensions: Varies by model and enclosure type; see spec sheet for details
RSZ Automatic Transfer Switch
Power Ratings: 100 or 200 Amp120/240V, 1 phase
Weight: Varies by model and enclosure type; see spec sheet for details
Dimensions: Varies by model and enclosure type; see spec sheet for details
Onan provides the power that keeps you going - on the water, on the road, in your work, and at home. Whether you live in Houston, Austin, San Antonio Texas, you never know when a storm may blow in. Why not give yourself peace of mind with an emergency generator from Illuminations Lighting Design.
Onan is a registered trademark of Cummins, Inc.
Labels: Electrical home back up generators, Emergency Power Generator Installation, Emergency Power Generators, Houston Emergency Backup Generators, Houston Texas Contractors
